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‘Expands
United Methodists, whether con­
and mission, has attracted thousands
tradition o f tolerance.
servative or liberal theologically,
o f supporters and the focused atten­
Yet, movement leaders reject
foresee a period o f critical decision­
tion o f UM C’s leadership
this characterization.
making approaching on the mainline
That attention should only in­
We re not try ing to define one
denomination’s horizon
crease next April with the church's
narrow thing you've got to believe,”
Though membership declines
quadrennial general conference.
says John Ed Mathison, chair o f the
have lessened in recent years, the
Confessing Movement leaders
movement’s
steering committee and
United Methodist Church (UMC) is
say they have assembled a coalition
senior pastor o f Frazer Memorial
often perceived as a “sick denomina­
o f UMC moderates, traditionalists,
United Methodist Church in Mont­
tion,” one that requires serious re­
evangelicals, conservatives, and
gomery, Ala. “But how much lati­
thinking and recommitment if it is to
charismatics to prevent the denomi­
tude can you have0 When you’ve got
play a role in modern culture.
nation from losing its historic faith
some people who say you don’t need
M em bership in the U nited
and doctrinal distinctives.
Jesus ( hrist for salvation, you've
States, now at 8.6 million, has been
I o that end, they urge the church
gone too far.”
decreasing for more than 25 years.
to begin a vigorous internal discus­
The C on fessin g M ovem ent
Several movements within the
sion on the lordship and uniqueness
sprang from an invitation-only meet­
UMC are dedicated to furthering re­
o f Christ, the status of its founding
ing ofabout 90 United Methodists in
form in the church. Perhaps none has
documents and statements o f faith,
Atlanta last year.
the potential for controversy as much
and its duty to carry out the Great
That meeting produced “An In­
as the so-called Confessing Move­
Commission
vitation to the Church”— a call to
ment Not even two years old, this
I he Confessing M ovem ent’s
reformation and doctrinal reinvigo-
movement, which seeks to reground
critics assert the movement has set
ration— which subsequently attract­
the church explicitly in its historic
itself up as the arbiter o f orthodoxy
ed 13,000 signatures o f support. In
statements o f theological doctrine
and thus is a threat to the UMC’s
April, an open meeting in Atlanta
saw about 900 attendees adopt “A
Confessional Statement.”
This statement emphasizes the
centrality o f Christ and takes the
church to task for tolerating pagan­
ism, disregarding the w orld’s poor,
accepting modern norms ofsexuality
and marriage, resigning itself to ra­
cial and gender injustice, condoning
homosexual practices and abdicat­
ing its role o f support for the unborn
and the mother.
At its heart, the Confessing
Movement seeks to put boundaries
on what is acceptable practice and
belief within United Methodism.
It is also a reaction to nearly a
century o f liberal Protestantism ,
which it sees as drifting into the orbit
ofradical Protestants “who are creat­
ing their own religion,” according to
Prof. William J. Abraham, o f Dal­
las’s Southern Methodist Universi­
ty-
A iter natives: ‘.Relief R rom Eamine
in \1 I saac s
Everyone agrees that this world
is in a “bad shape” . Life is more
transient; ignorance prevails; the
people of this world are cold, hungry,
diseased, discouraged, homeless and
hopeless. A great number are god­
less. There are wars and destruction
in diverse corners o f the world. Tor­
nadoes, bombings and floods are top
news on our communications net­
works, and more and more hopeless­
ness is apparent in the faces o f the
people ofthis world. We are in a state
offamine; famine in state and federal
governments; famine in spirit, cor­
porate and individual. Our very souls
crave the return o f plenty and a disap­
pearance o f fear. We desperately need
to be fed, filled, sated with that elu­
sive thing that brings about a feeling
of well being. What is really fright­
ening is the evidence that G od’s peo­
ple are losing their resolute devotion
to H im who has prom ised rel ief from
all types o f famine. When life seems
gloomy and completely out o f our
control; when nature vents it’s fury
upon us; when food and clothing is
lacking and our basic needs for life
weigh upon us, we, nevertheless,
should have faith enough to know
that nothing will keep G od’s purpose
for us and this world from being
accomplished.
Fasting is a self-preparation to
come before Almighty God. It is not
a hunger strike to force God to change
his Will. Biblical fasting has as its
objective a desire to hear from God
and to know His Will. Churches are
fasting almost in a frenzy, it seems.
Groups o f people are coming togeth­
er for prayer. Prayer chains and group-
fasts are being established through­
out neighborhoods; from all this ac­
tivity one would surmise that there is
a universal return to the belief and
worship o f the one God, (who is)
more powerful than anything in cre­
ation. But...are the motives for such
fasting cemented in a desire to ac­
knowledge and accept the power o f
God, or is this a frantic activity used
as a means o f bargaining with God to
change that which has been prophe­
sied; set in time and in the Will of
Almighty God? Are we saying to
God, “ I will fast if you will feed the
children; I will pray if you will an­
swer by demolishing sexual abuse,
alienate hunger; If you will abun­
dantly bless the poor with riches, I
will share your Word and fast and
pray regularly". Have we forgotten,
or did we ever really know that what
is predestined will not change.? Are
we so brain washed with the much
preached doctrine “that God will
answer any sincere prayer and that
fasting and praying will change any­
o f G od’s Promises can transform
thing”? Have we forgotten that we
despair into hope.
are warned against foolish prayers’
Wailing about the loss of gov­
and warned against' vain fasts’, which
ernment money and programs is a
seek to change that which G od’s
blatant waste o f precious time. Time
Word tells us will happen? The signs
better spent in reaching out to each
which we now see, hear about an
other, sharing not hoarding, our bless­
experience are there to warn us to be
ings; exhibiting a confidence in G od’s
sober and w atchful’, looking unto
Word. We will struggle because we
our own salvation.
live in a world o f fear and doubt, but
Our options for quick relief o f
we can learn to trust in the works o f
the suffering o f the people are few if
G od’s hands, even when it seems
not nil. Many seek the cities, hoping
unreasonable to do so. We do not
to obtain relief from government
well (when we bemoan the fate o f the
agencies and charitable organiza­
world): This day is a day o f good
tions, etc.. Others seek the suburbs
tidings, II Kings 7:9, which must be
and outlying areas hoping to escape
shared by the people and not left
the crime, disease and high cost o f
entirely to the Ministers and theolo­
living; to preserve and save that for
gy graduates. God holds the faithful
which they’ve labored. A few are
and trusting person accountable not
taking a good look at where this
for results (this is in G od’: hands),
nation began, and the deep faith that
but for a faithful proclamation o f His
existed in the hearts o f the people.
Powerful Message.
These few are turning or returning to
To relieve the famine in our
the God o f our Fathers; accepting
souls, we must establish a life style
that which they cannot change; that
that testifies to an unshakable belief
which has been pre-ordained and
that God is just and right. We do that
prophesied; these few are looking for
by following him, even when things
the “promised re lie f’, the end o f all
are tough. Others need to see us
suffering. They have relinquished
humbly submit ourselves beforeGod;
their selfish fasts and prayers; know­
Admitting our deep eternal need for
ing that God knows each o f us and
the Redeemer. Acts 16:3. This is a
cares for us; they loosen their hold on
hard lesson for some people to learn,
worldly possessions and fervently
but it is our only relief from all types
teach that the truthfulness and power
o f famine.
Divorce Hurts!
Are you separated, divorced?
Dealing with pain and confusion from a broken relationship?
Portland hirst Church o f the Nazarene if offering a Divorce Recovery
Workshop "Picking Up the Pieces & Rebuilding Your Life"
6 Tuesday evening sessions
7-9:00pm , Oct. 3 - Nov. 14, Cost: $49
and with advanced registration Childcare to age 11
Portland First Church o f the Nazarene
6 1 0 0 S W Raab Road
(Sunset Hwy at Sylvan Exit)
Phone 297-6100 to register
(Ebctober Q^ible
The October Bible Drive is again underway. The need for Bibles is
very great so everyone is encouraged to participate and tell their friends.
The collection centers this year are:
• Christian Supply Center Stores in Portland, Oregon City, Beaverton,
Wilsonville
• The Christian Marketplace in Tigard
• Emmanuel Gospel Supply in Vancouver
• Higher Ground Christian Resource Center in Newberg.
Contact Bible Foundation, 538-4897, for questions or assistance.
CfawLofi
Grief Recovery
Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be devastating,
especially if you are going through it alone.
Portland hirst C hurch o f the Nazarene is offering
a G rief Recovery Workshop
6 Tuesday evenings, Oct. 3 - Nov. 14, (No session Oct 31)
Cost: $15
Additional costs for childcare
Portland First Church o f the Nazarene
6 I0 0 S W Raab Road
(Sunset Hwy at Sylvan)
Phone 297-6100 to register
103 NE Morris St., Portland, OR 97212
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Sunday School - 9:30am
Sunday Morning Worship Service - 11:00am
Sunday School Teacher’s Meeting Tues - 6:30pm
Bible Study Wednesday 6:00pm
Prayer Meeting Wednesday - 7:00pm
Church Phone Number
287-7457
We Invite You To Come And Worship With Us.
The Church Where Everybody is Somebody And Christ Is All.
Dr. Joe S. Hardie, Pastor
Richard Charles Payne
Richard C. Payne was born
on Nov. 17, 1944 and died Satur­
day, Sept. 30, 1995.
One o f the Payne brothers, he
was born in Salem and raised in
Portland.
He attended Holiday and
Eliot elementary schools and was
a member o f the class of 1962 at
Benson High School. He gradu­
ated in 1967 from Willamette Uni­
versity in Salem and from the Uni­
versity of New Hampshire in 1969
with a masters degree in business
administration.
He was a wonderful human
being and a joy to be around. He
was a husband, father, brother,
uncle and role model for many
individuals throughout his life. He
always made time for you, you
were important to him and he
wanted you to know that.
He was the pioneering brother
of the family. He travel to Central
and South American researched
the family tree and was a proven
example of what you can do and
be in life. He provided the family
focus and leadership that the
brothers are known for in the
community.
He returned to Portland in
1993 after spending 27 years liv­
ing on the East Coast and in the
San Francisco Bay area. He was
e m p lo y e d by M u ltn o m ah
County’s Department o f Envi­
ronmental Services as a manage­
ment assistant for the director.
He is survived by his wife
F lo rin d a ; ste p so n Jo h n n ie
M ondragon o f New Mexico;
stepdaughters, Irene Gomez of
C a lifo rn ia
and
M a rc e lla
Mondragon of Vancouver; broth­
ers David L. Payne of Vancou­
ver, Dennis G. Payne of Cleve­
land, Ohio and Russell J. Payne
of Portland; and a sister, Kathryn
Johnson of Richmond, Va. He
also has many other family mem­
bers and friends throughout the
country.
Funeral services will be held
at I p m. Friday, Oct. 6 at Van­
couver Avenue Baptist Church
in Portland.
Ufezv Church‘E st ah [ished
On July 7, 1995, M ar­
tin L u th e r M em o rial
Lutheran Church was offi­
cially recognized as a mem­
ber congregation o f the
Lutheran Church, Missou­
ri Synod.
“Thisaction is historic
in that this is the first time a
p re d o m in a n t
A fric a n
American group has estab­
lished a Lutheran Congre­
gation in Portland.” Noted the Pas­
tor. Rev. Rozel I Gilmore.
He went on to state that The
Lutheran Church has a long history
among Black people in the south
and north eastern states but very
little in Portland. And for that rea­
son most have very little knowl­
edge o f its message, ministry or
worship style.”
The Church gets it’s name from
its founder. Martin Luther, a Cath­
olic Priest who, in 1517, led a pro­
test against some of the teaching o f
the Catholic Church. It is consid
ered by historians to be the Mother
Church o f the Reformation.
The Congregation’s meeting
place is the Lutheran Inner City
M in istries Commun ity Center, 4 2 19
NE MLK. Jr Blvd. at Skidmore.
Sunday worship time is 10:00
A.M., Sunday School is 11:45 A.M.
Rev. Gilmore extends an invi­
tation to the public and all who want
more information about the Church
and its ministry. Ph. 281-5251 or
281-7036.
<7/iy/l TER FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTE r \
CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST
Invites You to Worship with Us!
Sunday Morning 11:30am
106 N. Killingsworth St. __ > ■
Mt Olivet
Baptist Church
S501 N. Chautauqua Blvd.,
at Willis Blvd.
W orship Services 8:00arn & I 1:00am,
.Church School 9:30 to 10:30am,
Bible Study. Wednesdays, 10:30am & 7:00pm
Radio M in istry each Sunday, 8:00am on KB M S
ATeaching Church With A Reaching Ministry
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
(503) 240-PRAY
FAITH TEMPLE CHURCH
4224 S.E. 62nd Avenue
(between Powell <& Foster)
Portland, Oregon 97206
SUNDAY
Sunday School 9:30am
Morning Worship 10:45am
Evangelistic Service 7:30pm
Tuesday Pastoral Teaching 7:00pm
FRIDAY
Evangelistic Service 7:00pm
DAILY
Prayer 12:00pm & 6:00pm
(503) 774-5470
PASTORS: Bishop Robert Simpson, Jr • Dr Ida M Simpson
t
Come and enjoy Christ centered Praise and Worship
And
The anointed Preaching/Teaching ministry of our Pastor
Rev. H. Bernard Ings, Jr.
Order of Services
Sunday School - 10:00am
Morning Worship - 11:30am
Sunday Evening - 6:30pm
Tuesday Evening - 7:30pm
Prayer/Bible Study
1st A 3rd Friday • 7:30pm
Evangelistic Service
O NE SERVICE C O U LD CHANGE
YOUR ENTIRE LIFE