C-67 Mini-Conferences

The Confession of 1967: Mini-Conferences

"The C-67 Road Show": An Adventure in Theology

a special report from Kent Winters-Hazelton [5-20-02]

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Confession of 1967. In bringing attention to this landmark document during this year, The Witherspoon Society has sought to offer serious reflection on our theology and praxis as we encounter attempts to limit the social witness of the PC(USA). Chris Iosso planned a conference on the topic "The Hope and Challenge of Reconciliation Today," held at Stony Point, in February. The May-June issue of Church & Society Magazine will reproduce the papers presented at that conference. Witherspoon has also developed a resource guide based on the papers presented at the Stony Point Conference for further reflection and discussion of the Confession. (This resource guide will be available as soon as the Church & Society issue is published. Contact Ann Euston at P. O. Box14069, Albuquerque, NM 87191. Phone her at (505) 296-4885, for details, and to place orders. Better yet, send an e-mail!)

Out west, Kent Winters-Hazelton and Witherspoon Program Coordinator Ann Euston planned a series of smaller gatherings that we have called the C-67 Road Show. The first stop was at the Davis Community Church, where we heard a keynote address by Jim Kitchens, its pastor. Jim spoke on the topic, "C-67 For Our Times." He began by focusing on the tribulations of our denomination. "It was the best of times and the worst of times," he noted; we have made great progress in forming a church that is truly inclusive, but progressives are also waiting for the knock on the door as the so-called judicial season dominates the church's agenda.

Jim reminded us that in this Confession, God calls us to live out the unity of Christ in the mode of reconciliation. Reflecting on the writings of Miroslav Volf in his book, Exclusion and Embrace, Kitchens asked, can we embrace our opponents within the church with open arms? Before reconciliation can be achieved in society, he argued, it must be practiced within the church. Quoting from the Confession, he reminded us, "The new life takes shape in a community in which [human beings] know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are. They therefore accept themselves and love others, know that no [one] has any grounds on which to stand except God's Grace." [9:22]

The next day we were at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto where our speaker was Dr. Phil Wickeri, Professor of Theology and Mission at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Wickeri offered his reflections on the topic, "The Church and Religious Pluralism." C-67, he argued, took religious pluralism seriously. In recognizing the diversity of our world, it calls the church to reassess the boundaries it places before the world, including its religious language which precludes dialogue with other faith traditions. In a critical point, Wickeri pointed out that C-67 made a distinction between religion and revelation, a hindrance to interfaith dialogue. Yet, at the same time, the confession offers a Christocentric universalism, thus leading to his conclusion, (with the World Council of Churches in their statement at the San Antonio Mission Conference), that "we point only to Jesus as a way of salvation, but we cannot put limits on the saving power of God." [We'll post this presentation as soon as we receive it. Your WebWeaver]

The final stop on our road trip was in Eugene, OR, where the pastor of the Peace Presbyterian Church, Bruce Cameron, addressed the topic, "The Times They Are A-Changing." The Confession, he noted, addressed key issues of its day, but did not seek to rewrite the doctrines of the Church. Referring to the passage in 9:06, "our generation is in particular need of reconciliation in Christ," Cameron noted that the pace of change at that time seemed out of control. C-67 offered a theology for a particular context. What it offered was a word: reconciliation. He quoted Ed Dowey, the principal figure associated with the writing of the document, who wrote, "reconciliation epitomizes the whole Gospel in one word." That biblical mandate continues to challenge the church as it faces its own issues for its own age. After quoting from Bob Dylan, "The times they are a-changing," Cameron pointed to the work and ministry of Jesus as the prime example and model for reconciliation in our world today.

The mini-conferences offered an excellent opportunity to hear three different reflections of one important defining document of our faith, to engage in conversations with Presbyterians from various parts of the Pacific northwest, and to organize Witherspoon chapters in local areas.

This fall, we are planning a mini-conference in the Los Angles area, featuring Jack Rogers as the keynote speaker. Other conferences are being planned. If you would like to schedule a program in your region, please contact Kent Winters-Hazelton at kwinhazel@aol.com, or 909-624-9693.