2000 News and Views

Fundamental Evangelistic Association
News and Views - 2000
^{^{^©}}FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W.Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt Costella, Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor

Index of Articles

FOUNDATION Magazine : Current and Past Issues

1997 News and Views
1998 News and Views
1999 News and Views

Index of FOUNDATION Magazine News & Views for 2000:

A New Interfaith Holiday Has Been Created By An Episcopal Priest
Anglican and Roman Catholic Leaders Discover "Common Ground"
Baptist World Alliance - Holds General Council Meeting in Cuba
Billy Graham's Amsterdam 2000 Conference
Billy Graham's Recent Crusade for Unity
Billy Graham's Stated Purpose - Forge Ecumenical Unity
Charles Stanley and Divorce
David Yonggi Cho and Women Pastors
Earth Charter 2000 - Global Charter for Conduct
Ecumenical Evangelicals Speak at Moody Conference
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe Contends for the Faith
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Episcopal Church Ecumenical Agreement
Episcopal Church Refuses to Take a Stand on Same-Sex Marriages
Evangelicals Hoping for Worldwide Revival from Ecumenical Fasting and Prayer
Jim Bakker Believes Holocaust Victims Saved Regardless of Belief
Lutheran World Federation Says Fundamentalism A Serious Threat to Mankind
Liberal Southern Baptists and Humanism
Liberty University Now Officially With The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
Local (Central Coast) Ecumenical Unity
March for Jesus Movement Is Changing Its Focus
NAE and SBC and Catholic Bishops Unite to Define Institute of Marriage
National Council of Churches Welcomes Liberal Alliance of Baptists
Official Dialogue Between Baptist World Alliance (BWA) And Anglican Consultative Council
Pope Says Mary Cooperates In Salvation
Presbyterians and Communist Chinese Meet for Ecumenical Cooperation
Promise Keepers Mail A Special Millennium Video
Robert Schuller Addressed 15,000 Muslims At The Abou Nour Mosque
Robert Schuller Celebrates
Southern Baptist Convention President Paige Patterson Predicts An Inevitable Split
San Antonio Pastors Breaking Down Doctrinal Barriers
The Canadian Council of Churches - Canada's Ecumenical Body
The United Religions Initiate Charter (URI) - Unification of World's Religions
The World Exposition 2000
What Do Paul Crouch and Fidel Castro Have In Common?
World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) Dialogues With Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Youth Specialties 2000 Convention

A New Interfaith Holiday Has Been Created By An Episcopal Priest in the United States who hopes that the holiday will be embraced and celebrated by all religions of the world. Rod Reinhart, pastor of Trinity Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan, is calling the new holiday the "World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation" and has scheduled the first celebration for January 22, 2000. Thereafter, the World Sabbath is to be held on the fourth Saturday of January. Reinhart told Ecumenical News International (ENI), "We see the millennium as a good symbol for us because we are trying to begin a whole new thing" (ENI, 11-5-99). The ENI report said the World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation has two goals: "To create the first holy day to be shared by all religions of the world, and to teach religious leaders how to publicly oppose hate campaigns and religious wars." Thus far, the World Sabbath holiday has been endorsed by the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the Temple Israel of Ann Arbor, the Detroit Muslim Center, the United Religions Initiative, the Parliament of World Religions and the National Council for Community and Justice. The World Sabbath website states, "Through the World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation, no one will be asked to abandon or weaken the teachings of their faith," but any Christian who unites with those of other faiths to celebrate this holiday automatically abandons" or "weakens" the teaching of the Christian faith, for God's Word forbids worship and unity with any who preach a false gospel or reject Jesus as the only Savior of the world. [FOUNDATION Magazine Jan-Feb 2000, p. 45]

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All Forms Of Religious Fundamentalism Are A Serious Threat To Mankind and can only be countered by increased interfaith and interreligious dialogue. So says Gunnar Staalsett, former general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), who told an audience at a peace festival in Augsburg, Germany, that "political and religious fundamentalism . . is one of the most serious threats to democracy and human development" (Ecumenical News International, 8-23-00). Staalsett, the current bishop of Oslo, Norway, and a member of the Nobel peace prize committee, said increased interreligious and interfaith dialogue is the only answer to countering fundamentalism today. Staalsett's warning not only applied to religious extremists in Asian, Muslim and African nations but was addressed to any group of individuals who believe that truth is absolute. He said fundamentalism was "first and foremost similar to intolerance. It promotes the opinion that my version of faith and religion is the only truth in all respects . . . this tendency exists within parts of all religious communities." According to ENI, Staalsett cited the signing of the Lutheran-Catholic Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification as a promising development towards countering religious fundamentalism. Alluding to fundamentalists as those who are ignorant and unbelieving, he said, "It has become clear for thinking and believing people that Christians cannot ignore what unites us in the Christian faith. We can no longer place more emphasis on what separates us than on what unites us." This unbiblical mindset is the dominating philosophy embraced by millions of individuals and religious leaders around the world. Bible-believing Fundamentalists must continue to declare, however, that truth is absolute, that Jesus is the only way to eternal life, that all who believe otherwise are destined to eternity in hell and that all who refuse to separate from false doctrine and heathen religions will face God's judgment. [FOUNDATION Magazine Nov-Dec 2000, pp. 45-46]

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Billy Graham's Amsterdam 2000 Conference For Itinerant Evangelists is scheduled to convene July 29-August 6, 2000. Over 10,000 evangelists, pastors, theologians and denominational leaders from around the globe are expected to attend the conference and learn how to effectively reach the lost for Christ in the new millennium. As in years past, this conference for itinerant evangelists will feature a diverse mixture of speakers from a wide range of theological backgrounds. Graham's Amsterdam 2000 International Prayer Network Newsletter listed several renowned Christian leaders who are expected to speak at the conference, including Dr. Billy Kim, president of the Baptist World Alliance; Dr. J. I Packer of Regent College in Canada; Dr. Ravi Zacharias of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries; Mrs. Anne Graham Lotz who will speak on "The Evangelist and the Bible"; George Carey, the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, who will speak to those in attendance on "Preaching Christ in a Broken World"; and Dr. John R. W. Stott. A July 5, 2000, Baptist Press report listed several other speakers including Charles Colson, president of Prison Fellowship and leader of the Evangelicals and Catholics Together movement; Elmer Towns, dean of the School of Religion at Liberty University; Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Valley Community Church and author of The Purpose-Driven Church; and contemporary Christian singer and evangelist Al Denson who will discuss "Reaching Young People with Music." [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, pp. 42-43]

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Billy Graham Plainly Stated That One Of The Primary Purposes Of His Crusades is to forge ecumenical unity among churches of all denominations. Roman Catholic participation has been an established policy for decades. Trained Roman Catholic counselors direct those Catholics who come forward at the crusades to renew their commitment to the Roman Catholic Church. The same is true for a wide spectrum of other liberal, Bible-denying churches. The ecumenical spirit flourishes in a city following a Graham crusade. Following his recent crusade in Jacksonville, Florida, Graham said, "One of the purposes we have here is to bring a new union among the churches." A November 6, 2000, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association press release also stated that "more than 650 churches representing 51 denominations mobilized over 25,000 volunteers from the Jacksonville area to participate in the yearlong crusade preparations, exhibiting denominational and racial unity unprecedented for Billy Graham crusades in recent years." Members of the crusade's executive committee included, among others, local United Methodist, Baptist Assemblies of God and Christian Church pastors. The crusade also featured a Christian rock concert for youth. Graham told those in attendance at the crusade that he plans to continue his crusade ministry as long as his health will allow, stating, "I'm sure that we will have two or three crusades next year. [FOUNDATION Magazine Nov-Dec 2000, pp. 45]

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Billy Graham's Recent Crusade At The Adelphia Coliseum In Nashville drew tens of thousands of individuals from various theological backgrounds. The Tennessean stated that in addition to Graham's Gospel presentation during the June 1-4 crusade, he and other podium speakers urged greater unity among denominations. "Podium speakers stressed their hopes that the crusade will bring reconciliation of the races and unity of the churches across doctrinal lines," the newspaper reported (The Tennessean, 6-2-00). Over 600 churches helped organize the crusade. The paper added that Graham "made a plea for Christian unity at the end of his talk" by stating, "The Baptists, the Presbyterians, Church of Christ–everybody needs to love each other. That's how we tell the world about Jesus–by our love." [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, p. 44]

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Charles Stanley, A Renowned Southern Baptist Author and pastor of the 13,000 member First Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA, refuses to step down from his pastorate following his May 11, 2000, divorce from his wife. In August 1995, shortly after Stanley's marital problems became public, Stanley told his congregation he would resign if his divorce ever became final. According to World magazine, "the church's rules prohibit men from serving as deacons or ministers if they are divorced." Yet shortly after Stanley's statements in 1995, "the deacons intervened and by a vote of 35 to 3 recommended the congregation retain him as pastor. Nearly 90 percent of about 5000 members at an October 1995 meeting voted to accept the deacons' recommendation" (World, 7-1-00). Today, Stanley said he is committed to "remain faithful to God's call" as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta despite his divorce. Sadly, Stanley and the church that he pastors are blatantly ignoring God's Word, which states that in order to quality as a pastor one must "[rule] well his own house" and "have a good report of them which are without" (I Tim. 3:4,7). Although the Stanley's marital situation is a sad tragedy, the honorable and Biblical act would be for Stanley to resign and for Atlanta's First Baptist Church to uphold its Biblical rules which prohibit divorced men from serving as pastors or deacons. [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, p. 45]

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David Yonggi Cho, Pastor Of The World's Largest Church In Seoul, South Korea, has challenged American and European pastors to allow women to become more involved in ministry including fulfilling the role of pastors/ teachers in their local assemblies. Cho, who founded the 700,000-member Yoido Full Gospel Church, recently wrote in an article for a Dawn Ministries publication that the key to church growth is to empower women in the congregation. According to a July 6, 2000, Charisma News Service (CNS) report, Cho wrote, "In ministry, [women] are equal with men. They are licensed, they are ordained. They become deacons and elders, and they become the cell leaders." According to the CNS article, "400 of Cho's 600 associate pastors are women, as are 47,000 of the church's 50,000 cell group leaders." What is Cho's answer to the Biblical passages that forbid women to function as pastors/teachers in the church? He explained, "Once women are called into ministry, they no longer belong to the category of women. They are messengers of the Lord." This same twisting of Scripture and disregard for the clear teaching of the Bible regarding women pastor/teachers is being exercised by a wide variety of individuals and denominations. Most mainline denominations today ordain women into the ministry. Thousands of Charismatic / Pentecostal churches are pastored by women. Even some Southern Baptist churches are led by women pastors. But God's Word explicitly declares that women are not to teach men from the Bible nor to be in a position of authority over men in the church. In 1 Timothy 2:11-15 God gives two reasons why women are to refrain from such a position: First, because God has prescribed a particular order in the church (vv. 11-13) and second, because this particular order is a reminder to mankind of the fall in the Garden of Eden (vv. 14-15). While some women may indeed be wiser or even more knowledgeable, discerning or skilled than some men, God's order is set in stone in His Word, and man must not reject nor distort God's specific instructions. [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, pp. 45-46]

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Earth Charter 2000 - Global Charter for Conduct
A new document designed to lay the groundwork for world peace and social, economic, democratic and ecological stability for the planet in the years to come was recently launched in Paris, France. The Earth Charter is described by the Earth Charter Commission as "a statement of ethical principles similar to the UN Declaration on Human Rights that will guide the conduct of people and nations towards each other and the Earth to ensure peace, equity and a sustainable future." Over 100,000 people from 51 countries reportedly have contributed to the final text of the charter, the drafting of which began eight years ago. Backed by notable figures such as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and United Nations Undersecretary-General Maurice Strong, the document will appear before the United Nations for full endorsement in 2002. Mohamed Sahnoun, special United Nations envoy for Africa who helped draft the Earth Charter, said, "We hope it will provide a third pillar after the International Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter to help govern people's relations with each other and the environment" (Associated Press, 3-14-00). In 1993, Mikhail Gorbachev founded Green Cross International, an organization that has played a key role in the drafting and publicizing of the Earth Charter. According to Gorbachev's Green Cross International, the Earth Charter "embodies fundamental values and principles and is intended to serve as a universal code of conduct to guide people and nations towards a sustainable future." The charter is extremely socialistic in nature, calling for "equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations" and for countries to "renew their commitment to the United Nations." Clearly, the authors and supports of the Earth Charter are deceived into believing that this new document is the answer to the moral, ethical and political problems that are so prevalent within society. [FOUNDATION Magazine May-June 2000, p. 45]

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Ecumenical Evangelicals Speak at Moody Conference
Speakers at this year's Moody Bible Institute Founder's Week Conference included a variety of New Evangelicals and ecumenically-minded Christian leaders. The six-day conference, held January 31-February 5, featured Larry Crabb, a psychologist and professor at Colorado Christian University; Greg Laurie, founder of the Harvest Crusades and Crawford Loritts, associate director of Campus Crusade for Christ's U. S. ministries division. Other speakers included David Jeremiah, E. K. Bailey and Joni Eareckson Tada. John MacArthur, who was scheduled to speak, cancelled his appearance due to physical limitations. It is sad to see how far Moody Bible Institute has strayed from the Fundamentalist position it once held. Speakers at the early Moody Founder's Week Conferences included such stalwart Fundamentalists as M. H. Reynolds, Sr., Dr. James M. Gray and Dr. Harry Ironside to name only a few. Today, Moody is no longer an institution that seeks to distance itself from theological compromise. Instead, it appears to endorse such behavior by regularly inviting speakers who are openly opposed to the Fundamentalists' attempts to obey the Word of God by practicing the Biblical doctrine of separation. [FOUNDATION Magazine Mar-Apr 2000, pp. 45-46]

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Episcopal Church Refuses to Take a Stand on Same-Sex Marriages
The Episcopal Church has refused to take an official position on same-sex marriages. The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church, which was asked by the General Convention in 1997 to issue a report on the theological aspects of same-sex couples, is calling for more dialogue on the issue. According to a February 15, 2000, Episcopal News Service (ENS) report, the commission's current conclusions read as follows: "We are not ready, theologically or scientifically, to say a defining word about the life of homosexuals in the church." It added, "In the context of reverence-and humility-it seems best not to take absolutist positions on a national level." The report urges each individual diocese to come to its own conclusions concerning the blessing of same-sex couples and the ordination of homosexuals. Bruce Jenneker, chair of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, said the commission is "looking for a way to live with our differences." The commission's report will be discussed at the church's national convention in July. [FOUNDATION Magazine Mar-Apr 2000, pp. 46-47]

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Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe Contend for the Faith
We commend the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) for refusing to participate in interfaith dialogue with Muslims, Hindus and those who follow traditional African religions. An April 14, 2000, Ecumenical News International (ENI) report details the EFZ's refusal to participate with the Zimbabwe National Forum for Inter-Faith Dialogue which will officially begin its work in June 2000. Useni Sibanda, communications coordinator of the EFZ, told ENI, "We don't believe in inter-faith dialogue. We believe the only way to God is through Jesus. Any other religion which does not subscribe to our thinking, we view it as a cult." The report stated, "Leaders of these [EFZ] churches strongly oppose the blending of Christianity and traditional African religion" and added, "Sibanda also said that the EFZ would also have a I serious' problem sharing a platform with African traditionalists who believed that ancestral spirits were a way to God." The EFZ's position is certainly refreshing in a world where interfaith dialogue and the mixture of Christianity and worldliness are so prevalent even among Evangelicals. These fellow believers in Zimbabwe possess a discerning mind and, therefore, clearly reject the blending of paganism and Christianity. Sadly, a vast majority of Christian leaders in the United States and around the world today lack discernment and are doing everything they can to capitulate to ungodly and pagan practices and cultures. [FOUNDATION Magazine May-June 2000, p. 47]

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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Episcopal Church Ecumenical Agreement
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has reaffirmed its decision to enter into full communion with the Episcopal Church. Despite opposition from a dissident group within the ELCA known as "Word Alone Network," the Church Council of the ELCA recently voted to implement the ecumenical agreement with the Episcopal Church on January 1, 2001. Known as "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), the ecumenical agreement means that the two church bodies will share clergy and sacraments and make joint decisions on important issues. In addition, the ELCA will be required to "accept the tradition of the 'historic episcopate,' the belief that only bishops tracing their succession back to Jesus' apostles can ordain new bishops" (Ecumenical News International, 4-20-00). While Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and Episcopalians have traditionally believed the historic episcopate to be an essential element of the church, most Lutheran churches have rejected the concept. Martin Luther staunchly objected to the belief in the historic episcopate in 1517, yet the ELCA is now ready to compromise one of its foundational beliefs in order to cooperate with the Episcopal Church. The ELCA already celebrates "full communion" status with the Presbyterian Church USA, the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ and the Moravian Church. Dissenters within the ELCA, including "Word Alone," say they do not plan to leave the ELCA but remain committed to working with their denomination. The presiding bishops of both the ELCA and Episcopal Church are staunch supporters of the CCM. [FOUNDATION Magazine May-June 2000, p. 46]

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Evangelicals Hoping for Worldwide Revival from Ecumenical Fasting and Prayer
Evangelicals are hoping worldwide revival will result from their latest united fasting and prayer effort. A new worldwide movement called PrayWorld! 2000 is currently being organized by Ben Jennings, international coordinator of PrayWorld! 2000 and advanced by the new Great Commission Global Roundtable (see article on page 35). According to a Religion Today report, "evangelicals from every part of the world will fast and pray with a common purpose for 40 days this Lent" (RT, 1-26-00). Jennings, who works under the auspices of Campus Crusade for Christ, said the purpose of the movement is to unite churches in every country in order to bring about "lasting global revival." He added, "We hope to see 60 million people or more uniting during the season of Lent" through simultaneous prayer and fasting. While Christians must certainly pray for sound, Christ-honoring ministries throughout the world, they should separate from any ecumenical, cooperative evangelism efforts that seek to forge a unity among churches and denominations that do not even agree on the definition of the Gospel message itself. PrayWorld! 2000 is seeking to unite many such churches. [FOUNDATION Magazine Mar-Apr 2000, p. 47]

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Jim Bakker Believes Holocaust Victims Saved Regardless of Belief
Jim Bakker believes all who died in the Holocaust are now in heaven regardless of whether or not they believed in Christ. The former pastor and leader of the PTL ministry told Larry King in a January 25 interview on CNN's Larry King Live broadcast that he believes "every person who died in the Holocaust is in heaven." King asked, "What you're saying, in a sense, is you don't have to believe in Christ to go to heaven...?" Baker replied, "I believe that decision is in God's hands, not mine." King responded, "If they all died Jews or many, most died Jews, then they're in heaven?" Baker replied, "That's right." While the tragedy of the Holocaust is a prime example of suffering and a reprehensible picture of the sinfulness of mankind, in no way do those who have rejected Christ as their Savior gain entrance into eternal glory with the Father, despite the fact that they have suffered greatly. Thousands of people of all nationalities have suffered and are currently suffering at the hands of oppressors. Yet their suffering does not allow automatic access to heaven. Such faulty theology must be rejected. Man can only be assured of heaven and a right relationship with God by personally believing that Jesus Christ died for him and that He rose again as a perfect substitute on his behalf. [FOUNDATION Magazine Mar-Apr 2000, p. 46]

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Leaders Of The National Association Of Evangelicals (NAE), the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) have united in an effort to define and strengthen the institute of marriage in the United States. Recognizing the rising divorce rate in the United States, the three organizations, under the leadership of NAE president Kevin Mannoia, issued a joint document entitled "A Christian Declaration on Marriage" in which they call on American churches to do their part to strengthen marriages through prayer, encouragement education, pastoral care and social and cultural influence. Signers of the declaration, which was publicly released on November 14, 2000, included Mannoia (NAE), Bishop Anthony O'Connell (NCCB), and Dr. Richard Land (SBC), Dr. Robert Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches (NCC), originally endorsed the declaration on marriage but later removed his signature from the document after facing pressure by gays and lesbians. The document defines marriage as between one man and one woman. At the NCC Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgender breakfast at the NCC's General Assembly in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 1 6, 2000, Edgar was questioned about his endorsement of the document and said he supported same-sex unions (PCUSA News, 11-17-00). Edgar apologized to the NCC assembly delegates and said he would remove his name from the marriage statement. [FOUNDATION Magazine Nov-Dec 2000, pp. 46-47]

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Leaders Of The World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) And The Seventh-Day Adventist Church are planning to hold joint meetings in order to dialogue and get to know one another better. A November 14, 2000, Adventist News Network press release cites Dr. Bert Beach, director of inter-church relations for the Adventist Church worldwide, as stating that the meetings "will aim to break down stereotypes and foster greater understanding between the two groups." The dialogues were proposed by Beach and Dr. James Stamoolis, executive director of the WEF's theological commission, at the Adventist Church world headquarters on November 8, 2000. Beach said, "We want to move beyond false stereotypes, to see where we agree and disagree, and to explore areas where we could mutually benefit by working together, such as on religious liberty initiatives." Dr. George Reid, director of the Adventist Church's Biblical Research Institute, said neither party is interested in ecumenism. Rather, they are interested in understanding each other better and will "review areas of doctrinal agreement and disagreement and discuss biblical interpretation." [FOUNDATION Magazine Nov-Dec 2000, p. 47]

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Liberty University Has Now Officially Joined Ranks With The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The executive board of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV) voted on November 15,1999, to "recognize Liberty University as a fully cooperating institution affiliated with the SBCV" (December 1999 National Liberty Journal). According to an official letter from H. Doyle Chauncey, executive director for the SBCV, the new partnership means Jerry Falwell's Liberty University becomes an SBC school and cooperates more closely with the SBCV. In a letter to Jerry Falwell, SBC president Paige Patterson wrote, "For the great Liberty University to be a part of our Southern Baptist Zion ... is an answer to prayer for us all." He added, "Across the years to come I am certain that ever-increasing numbers of students from Southern Baptist homes and churches will find their way to Liberty University." Liberty president John Borek, Jr. responded, "We look forward to providing quality Christian education to the students of 47,000 Southern Baptist churches, while we continue serving thousands of others from many different evangelical backgrounds." Liberty's new status as an SBC school reveals the extent to which Falwell has plunged into the depths of the New Evangelical camp. The SBC not only tolerates liberals ("moderates") within its Convention but is home to many compromising New Evangelical pastors, leaders and churches. [FOUNDATION Magazine Jan-Feb 2000, pp. 45-46]

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National Religious Broadcasters Convention Participants
The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) held its annual convention at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, February 5-8, 2000. Participants at the convention included Jack Hayford, Pat Robertson, Billy Kim, Tony Evans, Jill Briscoe, Greg Laurie and Rick DeHann. Musical entertainment was provided by Christian-rock/contemporary artists such as Michael W. Smith, Bob Carlisle, Kathy Troccoli, Chris Rice and Big Tent Revival. Official sponsors of the ecumenical NRB 2000 convention included Radio Bible Class Ministries, Pat Robertson's Regent University, Campus Crusade for Christ and Nelson/Word publishers among others. Those in attendance at the convention were encouraged to network with other ministries at the many receptions and special functions. Exhibitors at the convention included Trinity Broadcasting Network, the World Evangelical Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, Youth With A Mission Publishing, Strang Communications (publishers of several Charismatic periodicals), Habitat for Humanity and many other organizations which encourage ecumenism and compromise among believers. In all, the convention featured over 200 exhibitors. [FOUNDATION Magazine Mar-Apr 2000, p. 47]

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Official Dialogue Between The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) And The Anglican Consultative Council recently began in London, England. The September 21-24, 2000, meeting at London's Norwich Cathedral was the first of what is expected to be a five-year dialogue between Baptists and Anglicans who hope to find common ground in order to work together in various aspects of ministry. Tony Cupit, who led the Baptist team in London, stated that "the whole purpose of these conversations is to see what we have in common and how that can be used to further the gospel of Jesus Christ" (Baptist Press, 10-3-00). A BWA news release stated that two of the objectives of the meetings are to "share with each other the understandings of the faith and to work towards a common confession of the Apostolic faith" and to "look for ways to cooperate in mission and community activities and increase fellowship and common witness to the Gospel." Timothy George, dean of Samford University's Beeson Divinity School, was a member of the Baptist delegation in London. George also signed the Evangelicals and Catholics Together "Gift of Salvation" document in 1997. Both the American Baptist Churches USA and the Southern Baptist Convention are active supporters of the Baptist World Alliance. [FOUNDATION Magazine Nov-Dec 2000, pp. 46]

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Over 30 Local Pastors From A Variety Of Denominational Backgrounds Meet Once A Month on the Central California Coast to unite in prayer and fellowship. "Not our agenda but God's" is the theme of their monthly gathering, according to an article in San Luis Obispo County's Five Cities Gazette newspaper (Gazette, 5-1 1 -00). The gathering began seven years ago when two pastors, one from a Nazarene church and one from an Evangelical Free Church, met for "prayer and mutual encouragement." Now, over 30 pastors gather each month. Ron Salsbury, pastor of the New Life Community Church (Nazarene) in Pismo Beach, told the Gazette, "The various churches are as individual family units but the body of Christ is one body. Each church has a distinctive anointing." Salsbury added, "Our vision for the future is to keep focusing on prayer and to look for ways to reach our community with a unified strategy resulting in an effective outreach." Steve Carr, pastor of Calvary Chapel in Arroyo Grande, explained that the pastors have discovered that they have more similarities than differences. "We want to hear from God and lead the Central Coast according to His agenda and not ours," Carr said. Salsbury admits that the theological distinctions among the participating pastors are vast. "We are a very diverse group but unified in the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Bible is true and that prayer works," he said. The article noted that "the denominational barriers that have been in place for so many years are coming down." Sadly, these pastors truly believe that they are pursuing God's agenda rather than their own, but such is certainly not the case. While men strive for unity based on "common factors," God explicitly forbids ecumenical unity in which many do not adhere to sound doctrine or even agree on the means by which one is justified in the sight of God. To truly follow God's agenda is to lovingly separate from those who teach and preach false doctrine, not to pray with them nor find common cause with them. [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, pp. 43-44]

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Over Two Dozen Anglican And Roman Catholic Leaders met near Toronto, Canada, from May 15-19, 2000, in order to discover common ground as a basis for unification. Both groups agreed to establish a joint commission to "explore ways to reunite the two churches" (Ecumenical News International, 5-24-00). In an ecumenical prayer service in Toronto's Roman Catholic cathedral, Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey told those in attendance that "polemics lead to hatred and division. Partnership leads to the promise of mutual service and eventual union" (Episcopal News Service, 5-25-00). Cardinal Edward Cassidy read a letter from Pope John Paul II in which the pope said he hoped the meeting would "bear lasting fruit" and hasten the unity between the churches. Both groups agreed that unity is necessary and that they hold much in common. [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, p 46]

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Pope Says Mary Cooperates In Salvation
The pope says Mary cooperates in God's saving plan. In his address to the General Audience on January 12, 2000, Pope John Paul II declared that God the Father "desired Mary's presence in salvation history" and that while her role in salvation is subordinate to Christ's, she nonetheless possesses a mediating role in mankind's "journey to the Father." While stressing that her mediating role is neither greater to nor even parallel to Christ's mediation for men, the pope declared that "Mary's unique place is owed to the merits of Christ." According to the pope, "Mary's mediation ... is essentially directed to bringing us into a more intimate and profound encounter with [Christ]." The pope believes that because Mary served as the human instrument to bring Christ to the world and because she "encourages the Church and believers always to fulfill the Father's will revealed to us by Christ," that she is worthy to be exalted as a link between fallen man and the Heavenly Father. According to his speech as transcribed in the January 19, 2000, issue of L'Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper, Pope John Paul II believes that even today Mary is pointing mankind to Christ. Of course, such teaching is not only unsubstantiated by Scripture but is actually refuted by It. The Word of God says that mankind's reconciliation to the Father is a result of Christ's work on Calvary's cross alone. No other human person, including Mary, plays any intermediating role between God and man. [FOUNDATION Magazine Mar-Apr 2000, p 45]

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Presbyterians and Communist Chinese Meet for Ecumenical Cooperation
Presbyterians and Communist Chinese officials recently met to encourage closer ecumenical cooperation between Presbyterians and the Communist Chinese Christian Council. According to a report in the April 7, 2000, issue of the Presbyterian Church USA's (PCUSA) Newsbriefs, ten delegates from the China Christian Council (CCC) recently gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, with representatives of the PCUSA to "celebrate a growing partnership of mutual understanding and cooperation." The report noted, "The groups worshipped together, discussed the work of their churches, and paved the way for closer ties by building upon guidelines approved by the Presbyterian Church in 1983 and 1988 regarding relationships with Christian communities in China." The PCUSA and CCC, the communist government-established council to regulate Christianity in China, approved a new mission statement that lays the framework for closer relations among the CCC and the PCUSA's Worldwide Ministries Division. According to the News briefs report, "The statement also affirms the 'Three-Self Principle' the Chinese Church has embraced, which calls for self-government, self-support and self-propagation within the Chinese Christian community. "The CCC's associate general secretary said, "There is no massive persecution of Christians in China today." He added that the persecution of Christians in China is directed either toward cultic groups or those Christians who violate China's laws or regulations. The PCUSA has sold out to the oppressive, deceptive communist regime and is harming the true "underground" church in China by uniting with the CCC, the enemy of the cause of Christ. How sad it is that the PCUSA believes the lies propagated by the communist delegates. [FOUNDATION Magazine May-June 2000, p 47]

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Promise Keepers Mailed A Special Millennium Video titled "Hope for a New Millennium" to every church in the United States. In an accompanying brochure and in a special video introduction, pastors were urged to show the video to their congregations on New Year's Eve and throughout the year "to inspire Christians toward greater prayer, service and hope." The brochure suggests that pastors "view it in a multi-church setting to promote Christian unity" and that they "use it to lead into a time of congregational worship, prayer or discussion." Through emotional appeal, the video exhorts believers to unite and address societal ills through declaring that Christ is the only answer to life's problems and through social programs designed to benefit the poor, needy and neglected. The video never defined how one could come to a saving knowledge of Christ, for the many denominations viewing the video do not even agree on the Gospel message itself. Speakers included Kay Arthur, Henry Blackaby, David Bryant, Tony Evans, Jack Hayford, Billy Kim, Anne Graham Lotz and John Maxwell. [FOUNDATION Magazine Jan-Feb 2000, p. 47]

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Robert Schuller Addressed 15,000 Muslims At The Abou Nour Mosque in Damascus, Syria. The December 17,1999, speech at the mosque is described by the Crystal Cathedral Ministries as "the first time a Christian leader has been invited by the Grand Mufti to speak at the holy mosque." Schuller and the Syrian Republic's Grand Mufti discussed the need for peace in the Middle East and issued a joint message to Syrian and Israeli peace negotiators in Washington, D. C. According to a PRNewswire release issued by Crystal Cathedral Ministries, the patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church of the World called the appearance "historic" and told Schuller, "You are a testament to peace between Muslims and Christians here in Damascus." Schuller said, "We have all failed, Christians and Muslims, to treat each other with respect and dignity, but now that must change." Last July, in reference to the tension between Christians, Muslims and Jews, Schuller told the Orange County Register, "We need to bring positive people together. Smiling faces will make peace on earth happen." Such an unbiblical assessment of "world peace" is not surprising coming from one who not only refuses to warn of false teachers but embraces them with open arms. [FOUNDATION Magazine Jan-Feb 2000, p. 46]

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Robert Schuller Celebrates
Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power" television program celebrated its 30-year anniversary in February. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Schuller credits his popularity to the fact that he emphasizes a message of "possibility thinking." Schuller said, "I don't try to be a teacher. I'm not trying to convert people. I'm just a witness for Jesus Christ" (Los Angeles Times, 2-6-00). The Times article contained a brief history of the Crystal Cathedral and Scuhller's rise to fame, citing Billy Graham as Schuller's mentor who urged him to proceed with the "Hour of Power" program despite financial difficulties 30 years ago. The "Hour of Power's" 30-year duration is surpassed only by three other secular network news programs. Also refer to Successful Church
Leadership-According to Whom? [FOUNDATION Magazine Mar-Apr 2000, p. 46]

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San Antonio Pastors Breaking Down Doctrinal Barriers
San Antonio pastors are breaking down denominational and doctrinal barriers as they unite to pray for unity and revival. Oak Hills Church of Christ minister Max Lucado and seven other pastors in the San Antonio, Texas, area began meeting two years ago to encourage each other and pray for one another. But the February 19, 2000, issue of the San Antonio Express-News reported that now over 100 pastors meet each Tuesday morning to pray for unity and revival. "We've seen the importance of unity," Lucado told the Express-News. "We've seen reconciliation and forgiveness (among the pastors)." Cindy Daniel, co-pastor (with her husband) of the charismatic Expect a Miracle Church, added, "It's totally God-ordained." The article stated that "charismatic and evangelical ministers are beginning to put aside differences to deepen their personal relationships." Daniel added, "We need to see what we do agree on, which is Jesus Christ. We will never agree 100 percent on everything." Newman "Soapy" Dollar is another local pastor who, with Lucado, served as one of the original eight pastors who met to pray for unity and revival. Dollar, who works with Campus Crusade for Christ and is pastor of City View Christian Fellowship, is excited about the weekly gatherings but hopes they eventually become even more ecumenical. He told the Express-News that he would "like to see more pastors from black, Hispanic and Catholic churches attending." This is but one further example of the extent to which even professing evangelicals are clearly disobeying the Biblical doctrine of separation from errant brethren and false teachers. [FOUNDATION Magazine May-June 2000, p 46]

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Several Liberal Southern Baptists Affiliated With The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) have enunciated their solidarity with secular humanists in a new book titled Freedom of Conscience: A Baptist/Humanist Dialogue published by Prometheus Press. According to Baptist Press, the book calls "for a common view of religious liberty that includes abortion rights and opposition to the growing public influence of conservative evangelicals" (BP, 5-5-00). Contributors to the book include several Southern Baptists associated with the CBF, including Paul D. Simmons, Molly T. Marshall, E. Glenn Hinson and Robert S. Alley as well as several secular humanists. Simmons, the editor of the new volume, writes, "I have not come to bury humanism but to praise it" in the book’s first chapter entitled "Thank God for Humanism!" Simmons and the other Southern Baptist writers focus on the similarities between the beliefs of liberal Southern Baptists and secular humanists and continually attack conservative evangelical theology. Marshall criticizes the belief that salvation comes through faith alone in Christ and says such a belief "unfortunately, fostered a deep suspicion about the efficacy of any human effort in matters of salvation." [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, p 46]

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Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Paige Patterson Says He Predicts An Inevitable Split Within The SBC between the conservatives and moderates, although he added that he did not know when the split would occur or how many churches would leave the SBC. The December 7,1999, issue of the Biblical Recorder, the journal of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, quoted Patterson as saying, "We're much farther apart theologically than some people imagine." In 1991, liberals ("moderates") within the SBC formed the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) as a protest to the conservative leadership which had taken control of the SBC. Since then, tension between the two groups within the SBC has continued to increase, and churches are taking sides. Many affiliated with the CBF reject the inerrancy of Scripture and other doctrines of the Christian faith. Patterson views the inevitable split as "best for Christ's kingdom," not because error will be distinguished from truth, but because he believes a greater outreach will result. The Biblical Recorder noted that in a telephone interview, "Patterson said that even though some people panic over such division, they need to realize that when Paul and Barnabas disagreed over John Mark, what resulted was two evangelistic teams instead of one." Yet what Patterson fails to consider is that while Paul and Barnabas disagreed over John Mark, both Paul and Barnabas believed the Word of God to be absolutely true and faithfully declared God's counsel. The CBF, on the other hand, does not. [FOUNDATION Magazine Jan-Feb 2000, p. 46-47]

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The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Held Its Annual General Council Meeting In Havana, Cuba, from July 3-8, 2000. During the week, new BWA President Billy Kim of South Korea urged all Baptists worldwide to strengthen their commitment to unity with one another in an effort to effectively evangelize, plant churches and battle persecution around the world. According to a July 11, 2000, Baptist Press report, outgoing BWA President Nilson Fanini agreed with Kim and stated in an interview that "theology sometimes divides us, but evangelism and missions bring us all together." The report noted that Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee president Morris H. Chapman also agreed with Kim and Fanini, saying that missions and evangelism are priorities for all Baptists, including those Baptists who differ on such issues as female pastors. "Some theological differences should not prevent us from ministering to a lost world," Morris stated, adding that he thinks "Southern Baptists will benefit by remaining very active participants in the Baptist World Alliance." Currently, the BWA unites more than 43 million Baptists in 110 nations. In the United States, the Southern Baptist Convention, the American Baptist Churches USA, the Baptist General Conference, the National Baptist Convention, USA, and ten other Baptist denominations are all members of the BWA. [FOUNDATION Magazine Nov-Dec 2000, pp. 44-45]

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The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) Canada's Primary Ecumenical Body, recently elected Andre Vallee as its first Roman Catholic president. Vallee, Bishop of Hearst in northern Ontario and member of the CCC's governing board, was instrumental in uniting the Roman Catholic Church with the CCC in June 1997. Now, as president of the 56-year-old CCC, Vallee purposes to bring about further unity among churches and denominations in Canada. "The ultimate goal is to achieve unity," he told Ecumenical News International (ENI). "I don't think we will achieve unity tomorrow, but at least we should move slowly towards unity" (ENI, 5-10-00). The CCC's general secretary, Janet Somerville, told ENI that the CCC "serves as a forum through which member churches can come to understand each other's varied traditions more deeply, speak honestly to each other as disciples of the same teacher, and grow in mutual respect and love." The Roman Catholic Church is Canada's largest church with over 12 million members. The CCC's membership also includes Anglicans, Baptists, Friends, Lutherans, Presbyterians, the United Church of Canada and several Orthodox churches as well. [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, p 42]

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The March For Jesus Movement Is Changing Its Focus In The United States, according to an October 28, 1999, Charisma News Service (CNS) report. The final worldwide, ecumenically-oriented March for Jesus event, called "Jesus Day," is scheduled to commence on June 10, 2000, but only after participants conclude their personal involvement in a social-action program among the sick, homeless or abandoned. National coordinator Tom Pelton said, "The vision is for a day on earth 'as it is in heaven.’" He continued, "When you think about heaven, it's where no one goes hungry, no one suffers alone, and no child is fatherless, and the streets are filled with singing." The CNS article reported that in the future, the movement will center its focus on involvement among the poor and needy rather than visible marches down city streets. "We want to see a 'Jesus Day' leading to a Jesus way of living," Pelton said. International coordinator Nick Curry emphasized the ecumenical nature of the movement, saying, "The March for Jesus events have done much to encourage and increase unity among churches." The new focus of the event is consistent with the majority of New Evangelical and ecumenical thrusts for the years ahead, focusing more attention upon the alleviation of social ills rather than emphasizing the need for spiritual regeneration through belief in Jesus Christ alone. [FOUNDATION Magazine Jan-Feb 2000, p. 47]

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The National Council Of Churches Has Welcomed The Alliance Of Baptists Into Its Membership. The Alliance of Baptists, founded in 1987 by liberals within the Southern Baptist Convention, is described by its executive director, Stan Hastey, as a group of "progressive or even liberal Baptists, none of whom are any longer connected to the Southern Baptists" (PCUSA News, 11-17-00). Since its inception in 1987, the Alliance of Baptists has unashamedly embraced and propagated the same liberal political and theological views of the mainline denominations in the United States and has attempted to forge ecumenical unity with such denominations. Other Baptists denominations that are already members of the NCC include the American Baptist Churches USA, the National Baptist Convention of America, the National Baptist Convention USA, the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America and the Progressive National Baptist Convention. The decision to include the Alliance of Baptists into the NCC membership occurred by unanimous vote at the NCC's General Assembly meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 16, 2000. [FOUNDATION Magazine Nov-Dec 2000, pp. 47]

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The United Religions Initiative (URI) Charter, A Document Designed To Lay The Groundwork For The Unification Of The World's Religions, was officially signed June 26, 2000, at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, during the six day URI Global Summit. The signing of the Charter officially launched the United Religions Initiative, an "international grassroots organization" which purposes to "bring religions and spiritual traditions to a common table, a permanent, daily, global assembly." An Associated Press report stated that 225 URI Global Summit participants who "want to establish a global group that could speak for the religions of the world" were involved in the signing of the Charter which "includes prohibitions on aggressive recruitment" (Los Angeles Times, 7-1 -00). Faiths represented at the Global Summit included Hindus, Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hoa Haos, Buddhists, Taoists, Wiccans, Cao Dais, Baha'is, Sikhs and Indigenous Peoples. Episcopal Bishop William Swing founded the URI and currently serves as its president. [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, p 43]

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The World Exposition 2000, Currently Being Held In Hanover, Germany, featured a day of ecumenical reflection and celebration for all "Christian" churches on June 11. Expo 2000's "Pentecost Day of the Christian Churches" at the Christus-Pavilion began with a Roman Catholic service and concluded with an ecumenical service later in the evening. According to Ecumenical News International (ENI), Margot Kassmann, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, and Josef Homeyer, Catholic bishop of Hildesheim, delivered the opening speech in which "they told those gathered in the pavilion that the day of churches should demonstrate that Christians all over the world were united in the Church of Christ and in the ecumenical movement" (ENI, 6-15-00). They said, "Christians have a common home in their faith, despite their differences." The evening's ecumenical service featured South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who told those in attendance that good will always overcome evil and cited Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela as examples of "good" people. Tutu added, "in everybody there is a space that only God can fill. Everybody can find this space–and God-within oneself. And because everybody is a God-carrier, all are brothers and sisters; all are one family that can live in peace. Then evil will be overcome and God will say: 'You are my children. Help me to realize my dream’" (ENI, 6-15-00). Expo 2000's theme is "Humankind-Nature-Technology: A New World Arising." It concludes on October 31, 2000. [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, pp. 44-45]

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What Do Paul Crouch, Founder Of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), And Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro Have In Common? Both men have said they believe Jesus Christ was, in some ways, a communist. Crouch's comments came while in the process of defending his agreement with the Chinese government to broadcast his TBN network in Nanching, China, despite China's extensive persecution of unregistered Christian churches. According to a September 8, 2000, Charisma News Service report, Crouch said he met with a Chinese leader who wanted to know more about Christianity. Crouch blasphemed the name and cause of Christ by telling the Chinese official, "If you will look just at the pure teachings of Christ and not what some religion teaches about Him, in some ways Jesus was a Communist He said, 'Feed the hungry, clothe the naked."' Earlier this year in Havana, Cuba, at a National Assembly debate on the Cuban fishing industry, Communist dictator Fidel Castro likewise stated, "Christ chose the fishermen, because he was a communist." Castro's brother, Raul, who is second-in-command in the ruling Communist party in Cuba, agreed and added, "I think that's why they killed Jesus, for being a communist, for doing what Fidel defined as 'Revolution' . . . that is to say, changing the situation" (South Africa's Independent On-line, 7-15-00). [FOUNDATION Magazine Nov-Dec 2000, pp. 44]

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"Youth Specialties 2000" Is Hosting Its National Youth Workers Convention in three U.S. cities this year-Anaheim, St. Louis and Atlanta. The convention will feature a variety of Evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic speakers who will come together to teach youth workers how to be effective, successful leaders. Speakers include Tony Campolo, Jerry Falwell, Doug Fields, E. V. Hill and other male and female pastors as well as a host of ministry leaders who specialize in areas ranging from "preventative holisitc training" to "evangelism, reconciliation and inner-healing." In addition to the general session speakers and workshop leaders, over 30 "Christian" rock bands and individual artists will perform at the various locations including Audio Adrenaline, Jars of Clay, Rebecca St. James, Skillet, Ken Medema and Gospel Gangstaz. [FOUNDATION Magazine July-Aug 2000, p 44]

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Related Resources:
1997 News and Views
1998 News and Views
1999 News and Views
Watchman's Trumpet - 1997
Watchman's Trumpet - 1998
Watchman's Trumpet - 1999
Watchman's Trumpet - 2000
Watchman's Trumpet - 2001

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