I attended my first Anderson camp
meeting/youth convention in 1944, the year E. Stanley Jones spoke. When I
attended Global Gathering 2013 following years of conventions/camp
meetings my family and I attended, following my Dallas, Texas ordination in
1952. I could count the number of times I missed during those years on one hand.
I was never good at being a “yes” man, but I remained keenly aware of the
institution. My family afforded those things even when we could not afford
other necessities and if I didn't, my wife insisted!.
Yes, I was a “company” man. If
pastor of a Church of God congregation, I made it part of my job description to
attend state and national camp meetings, although I was never what you would
call a “camper.” I made it part of my expectation that the church I pastored
used Warner Press materials by Church of God writers. I felt attended General
Assembly although I seldom said anything. I was comfortable to agree or
disagree with whatever, BUT, I always respected the word and ways of the
Assembly.
Bob Reardon told this story at
the close of the 1992 General Assembly. E. A. Reardon, Bob’s father, was the
first chair of our Assembly. As chairman there came a time when he offended the
Assembly with some blunt remarks about the sectish spirit building in our midst
at that time. Consequently. E. A. Reardon was voted out as GA Chair. When the
Assembly met the following day, everyone cautiously awaited Reardon’s response.
As Callen reports it, the senior
Reardon stood to his feet, faced the Assembly and said in his typically blunt
manner: “Well, I’ve been over and looked at the Assembly vote. I see you voted
me off both of these boards (Missionary/ABTS). Amid the dead silence, the
disenfranchised chair said, “I have just one thing to say to you. The Assembly
gave, the Assembly has taken away, blessed be the name of the Assembly” (Callen/Journeying together/1996/17). Italic added.
With all due respect to God’s prophets who
brought the word of the Lord from time to time, this Movement has generally found
the voice of God within the body politic—God works through His People. And
while I personally have always emphasized the democratic nature of our polity,
I seldom strayed from the unanimity of The Body, locally or nationally.
Thus, it comes as quite a
surprise when I read the letter of protest by my respected friend, Dr. Jerry
Grubbs, former dean in the AU system. Grubbs is an institution within itself in
the Church of God, going back to J. C. and J. D. as far as I know. I became
familiar with the Grubbs brothers when pastoring in the old South. They reared
sons and cousins who have had great ministries. Best known of all now is Marty,
by virtue of being the popular pastor of the Oklahoma City mega-church at the
crossings. And what a ministry Marty has had, a real tribute to Dave, his dad,
and his upbringing at old Dayton Salem aka Clayton Salem.
As host to our recent 2014
Convention/GA Marty received a letter from his cousin, Dr. Jerry Grubbs,
protesting some of the protocol in relocating the Convention from Anderson to
Oklahoma City (see attachment). When first I heard of the move, I applauded
guardedly, having supported a relocation of the Assembly from Anderson from the
mid-sixties forward, with counsel from some of our national leaders
I still remember the year my
friend E. E. Wolfram took me aside as a pastor in Mississippi attending
Birmingham Convention. Sitting me down in a quiet corner of the Pinehurst
narthex, Ewald encouraged me with, “There was a day when you could not do
this!” I was editor of the Mississippi Co-ordinator and actively campaigning to
move our Assembly back and forth across the four time zones, in a manner
similar to Southern Baptists Messengers.
We still find it difficult to
deal honestly with our diversity and so we struggle with dialogue, either
honest or dishonest. This year is no exception, except circumstances
continually force us to reconsider “our diversity.” So, although a
midwesterner, I applauded the election of Jim Lyons, a west coaster and his
diverse ways—sometimes different, as was Bob Pierson, another westerner, except
we fired him.
However, I candidly confess that
when I first heard of the “tickets at the door” to which Jerry alludes; that
was so utterly contrary to the Church of God’s open door policy of camp
meetings that I thought my informant had “lost her marbles!” My wife had talked
to someone in OKC via phone and learned of it. She has been critically ill, and
I questioned that she was sliding into dementia—only to learn that she knew
whereof she spoke … an ungodly truth.
Historically, the Gospel Trumpet
Company underwrote Anderson camp meeting and grounds, until the church found it
expedient and necessary to assume that cost. If the Assembly cannot find support
in “our budget” for this needed item, then lets chuck it – kill it dead!
Needless to say, this minister of
more than 60 years was mortified …
appalled … shamed that the Ministry Council had supported Jim Lyons in
doing what was done in OKC recently. Making someone pay to get into one of our
services is OBSCENE AND SINFUL. Experiment with moving the Convention! Call it
NAC! Call it whatever, or meet wherever! BUT, DON’T USE A TECHNICALITY TO
END-RUN AROUND THE ASSEMBLY. AND,
don’t insult the majority of our ministers and parishoners by putting a price
tag on our most institutionalized meeting.
From Warner’s World, this is
walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com asking the Ministry Council to “man up”! How
could you do this to us? (following is Dr. Grubbs letter to cousin Marty, with permission.)
REFLECTIONS
ON UPCOMING CHURCH OF GOD NORTH AMERICAN CONVENTION
As I am packing and getting ready to go
to Oklahoma City for the Church of God North American Convention, I am thinking
about the theme that has been selected for this year. It is BE BOLD!
Is it being bold to ignore the
vote of the General Assembly two years ago to “experiment with a satellite site
outside of Anderson in 2014?” That was an affirmative vote by those
present and voting. No one to my knowledge (and I have talked to scores
of persons who were present) assumed that Anderson, Indiana, the headquarters
of the Church of God for over 100 years, would be the “satellite” and the
convention moved to another city. If acting independently of the vote and
wishes of the General Assembly is being bold, then, I am not in favor of
being bold.
Is it being bold to ignore
twelve congregations of the Church of God in Madison County, their
Pastors and Members in making the decision to move the convention? These
congregations have graciously hosted the thousands of persons who have come to
Anderson each year. And if being bold is to ignore them in the decision
making process then, I am not in favor of being bold.
Is it being bold to ignore
our largest university which has graciously hosted this convention for nearly
100 years? Anderson University has opened its campus, living facilities,
dining facilities and classrooms to the convention. And if ignoring this
fine institution in the decision process is being bold, then, I am not in favor
of being bold.
Is it being bold walking
away from the city of Anderson whose leaders, people and businesses have opened
themselves to hosting this convention for over 100 years? Is it
being bold to speak in such negative terms in newspaper interviews
about the people and facilities of Anderson? Anderson, Indiana is more
than able to provide everything needed to host and support the Church of God
convention and to imply otherwise is a slap in the face of our Headquarter
City. I have checked the prices of lodging in Oklahoma City and it is
clear that only those with real financial means will be able to attend the
convention. If this is being bold, then, I am not in favor of being bold.
Is it being bold to insinuate in an
Anderson newspaper interview that the Church of God has become more cultured
than in past times whenever people came in their campers and RV’s to the
convention? What does such an insinuation say to the thousands of persons
across the years who have come and enjoyed the family atmosphere of the “campgrounds”
and met and made friendships that have lasted a life time? What does it
mean that we are “more cultured?” By the way, I am attending the Oklahoma
convention in my RV, uncultured soul that I am. If such put downs of the
thousands of persons who have found this experience fulfilling is being bold,
then, I am not in favor of being bold.
Is it being bold to structure the
program of the North American Convention so as to totally exclude children and
youth from participation? For decade upon decade, this convention has
been a place where children and youth are instructed in the way of Christ and
in a call to service within this Reformation Movement.
Literally
thousands of youth across the years have made their way to the altar or to a
prayer room where they have received Christ as Savior and Lord and for many
thousand more who have received a call to Christian ministry as Pastors,
Teachers and Missionaries. If ignoring these precious children and youth
is what it means to be bold, then, I am not in favor of being bold.
Is it being bold to move away from
conferences which provide opportunities to explore Worship, Christian
Education, Church Administration, Church Finances, etc.? Pastors and lay
persons alike have come to the convention for learning opportunities that could
be applied in their back home situation. If being bold terminates these
learning opportunities, then, I am not in favor of being bold.
Is it being bold to price the
convention out of the reach of many persons? Is $95-$120 in Oklahoma
City and $40 to sit in front of a screen in Anderson appropriate in this
economy? What does such a financial requirement say to those who have
experienced for over 100 years worship and educational opportunities at
little or no cost? Are we being asked to underwrite high priced
entertainers to come and perform as we watch instead of asking our own Movement
worship leaders and preachers to plan effective worship services which are
consistent with our heritage and traditions? If such a change in our
approach is being bold, then, I am not in favor of being bold.
On a more deeply personal level, I
raise the following. Our Grandson is serving in the United States Air
Force and is stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. We
discovered that he would be able to attend the Tuesday evening service of the
convention with us. When I contacted the National Office I was informed
that he could attend and they would be selling tickets at the door. I was
shocked. In almost 74 years of being in the Church of God I have never
paid to here the Gospel or charged anyone to come in to hear the Gospel.
For 100 years our convention has been open to any and all and thousands
across the years have come in freely, heard the Gospel message, responded and
went out to serve their Lord. I am absolutely appalled that we now tell
those who might want to come in to one of our “performances” that they have to
buy a ticket. What, dear Lord, have we come to? If this is being
bold, then, I am not in favor of being bold.
Instead of a theme of BE BOLD, we
would have been better served by choosing a theme of BE FAITHFUL. What
would it really mean for the Church of God Reformation Movement to reflect on
being faithful to her founding, history, heritage, theology, message, mission
and ministry in the 21st century? I see the Church to
which I have given a life-time of commitment and service slowly slipping away
under the guise of being bold. I, for one, am really saddened by what I
see taking place. I may just be one voice crying in the
wilderness…or maybe not.
Dr. Jerry C. Grubbs
Anderson, Indiana
June 10, 2014
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