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Alliance Council 2019 Wednesday

Today’s Banner highlights the process of change as John Stumbo launches a two-year discussion on what kind of change may be needed to take us Beyond.

After a series of encouraging reports during the Wednesday morning service about God at work among the Alliance family, John Stumbo walked us through a timeline highlighting some of the significant changes our family has experienced together over the past 50 years. He then turned to others on the stage and said, “Respond to what you just heard.” Kelvin Walker, superintendent of the Metropolitan District, vice chair of the C&MA Board, and morning service worship leader answered.

“Movements were never intended to be monuments,” Kelvin responded. “And when movements become monuments, they become edifices of brick and mortar that crumble and fade away. God has not called us to be a monument. God is continually calling us to be a movement—and this next phase of change is about movement.”

With that, John launched what he described as a two-year discussion about some changes he believes God is prompting our Christ-centered, Acts 1:8 family to consider— addressing the language we use to describe ourselves, our theology, and the way we conduct our ministry in this era of human history—that could ultimately help determine our effectiveness as one of God’s end-times families.

John notes, “Living organizations have to take a step back and ask, ‘Are we doing what we need to do to the best of our ability with the fewest barnacles attached to the ship to be a forward-moving, mission-advancing, kingdom-declaring body of believers with as few things slowing us down as possible?’” John urged us to assume good intent of one another as we enter into these discussions from diverse perspectives. “Family, would we learn to trust and stand with each other? [Can we] not assume someone who disagrees with us is automatically in the heretical category?”

“I raised the corporate blood pressure by announcing it’s a season of change,” admits John. “As I launch into a new season of conversation, [I pray] we can show the world how to disagree in a gracious manner.”

The Day in Pictures

  • Connie (left) and Denny (4th from left) Krajacic of Butler (PA) Community Alliance Church, pray for Andy Burchett (2nd from left), pastor of Chico (CA) Community Church; Josh Gallagher (3rd from left), pastor of Paradise (CA) Alliance Church; and Javier Gomez (right), superintendent of the C&MA Puerto Rico District.
  • Kelvin Walker, superintendent of
the Metropolitan District, vice chair of the C&MA Board, leads Council attendees in deep, expressive worship Wednesday morning.
  • Church Ministries vice president Terry Smith (L) interviews Eddie DeJesus, lead pastor of New Hope Community Church in North Port Florida (C) and Ivan Marti, assistant vice president for Church Multiplication (R) about U.S. church multiplication priorities.
  • Council attendees engage in a meaningful dialogue about what Jesus is doing in their lives and ministries.
  • John Stumbo prays for Andy  Hawkins, pastor of the Village Church in Ft. Myers, FL, as he assumes his role as the new Council moderator.
  • Gary Friesen and Mitch Kim address the nuances of the newly revised Alliance Statement on Sexuality.
  • The Grace Church worship team leads the Alliance family in exalting Jesus.
  • Worshipping Jesus at the Wednesday evening service
  • Bryan Loritts, pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Silicon Valley, CA, delivers a powerful message on the beauty and diversity of Christ's Kingdom during the Wednesday evening service.
  • The Nyack College Choral Ensemble ends the Wednesday evening service with roof-raising worship.
  • The Nyack College Choral Ensemble, which recently appeared at NYC's Lincoln Center, performed A. B. Simpson's classic hymn, "Yesterday, Today, Forever," to close the Wednesday evening service.
  • Alliance World  Fellowship (AWF) President Jura Yanagihara (4th from left) is joined on the Council stage by presidents of other AWF member church networks.

Seen and Heard

“Ethnic diversity is not a social justice issue; it is a Kingdom of God and gospel issue.”

Bryan Loritts, Pastor of Abundant Life Christian
Fellowship, Silicon Valley, CA

Extras

Following are some additional items to remind you of today’s session.

    • Download The Banner for Thursday
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Related Stories

  • Alliance Council 2019 Saturday June 2, 2019
  • Alliance Council 2019 Friday June 1, 2019
  • Alliance Council 2019 Thursday May 31, 2019
  • Alliance Council 2019 Tuesday May 28, 2019
  • The Alliance Family Gathers for its 115th Council! May 21, 2019
  • The Nyack School of Music Performs at Lincoln Center May 3, 2019
  • Notice of Amendment to Special Rules of Order March 7, 2019

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