June 20, 2000 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) -- The following is from Foundation magazine, Jan.-Feb. 2000 [Fundamental Evangelistic Association, P.O. Box 6278, Los Osos, CA 93412. 805-528-3534 (voice), 805-528-4971 (fax), http://www.FundamentalBibleChurch.org/ (web site)]

After decades of division, the "a capella" Churches of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ are attempting to lay aside their differences and establish unity around their common message and heritage. A December 21, 1999, Disciples News Service (DNS) press release reported that six members of each of the three church groups met in Indianapolis, IN, from November 29-30, 1999, and "shared worship together and spent time getting acquainted with each other." The Indianapolis meeting served as the first of three scheduled meetings called the Stone-Campbell Dialogue. The stated purpose of the Dialogue is to "develop relationship and trust within the three streams of the Stone-Campbell movement through worship and through charitable and frank dialogue 'that the world may believe.'"

The purpose of the first meeting was to discover what could have been accomplished differently in the past in order to have avoided division among the three movements. Historically, the primary differences among the groups center around music and missions. In addition to pinpointing past mistakes, those in attendance agreed that more attention needed to be given to the Gospel and less upon that which has divided them in the past. One participant stated, "Division is essentially an attitude. So is unity. I pray that these meetings will promote an attitude of understanding and unity...." The second dialogue meeting will be held in June 2000, and participants will gather to discuss the "common ground" that exists between the three movements.

The Stone-Campbell Dialogue is a representation of the many attempts at unity that have become so popular in recent years among a great number of churches, denominations and para-church organizations. Churches that formerly held fast to their doctrinal and ministerial convictions are now rejecting any form of dogmatism or absolutes and, rather, are attempting to unite around only that which they hold in common with others.

Believers must beware of the dangers of the Stone-Campbellite churches, which not only teach that baptismal regeneration is a necessary step for salvation but also reject the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer and are adamant in their rejection of dispensational theology. Furthermore, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), unlike the Churches of Christ, is extremely ecumenical and is a member of the World Council of Churches and often associates with many compromised evangelical groups as well. The fact that the Stone-Campbellite churches are striving for unity with each other, and even with those outside their fellowships, means that believers must be especially careful that they do not become involved in a church or program that accepts the Stone-Campbellite churches or unites with them for worship or evangelism.