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[The following is from the Digging in the Walls section of O Timothy magazine, edited by David W. Cloud, Volume 12, Issue 2, 1995. This material cannot be stored on BBS or Internet sites without permission from the author. Any articles which are redistributed by e-mail or print must be left intact and nothing must be removed or changed, including these informational headers. All rights are reserved. O Timothy is a monthly magazine. Annual subscription is US$20 FOR THE UNITED STATES. Send to Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org. FOR CANADA the subscription is $20 Canadian. The Way of Life web site is located at http://www.wayoflife.org/]
The following is from the San Antonio Express News, San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 19, 1994:
"Ecumenism has reached a new level for a group of North Side churches that have co-sponsored ecumenical Lenten lunch-and-worship gatherings the past 10 years.
"Besides Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant churches, Southern Baptist and Church of Christ congregations have been involved for several years, and a Mormon congregation will participate for the first time this year.
"The Rev. Vernon Burrow, pastor of Stone Oak Presbyterian Church, said his inviting his Mormon next-door neighbors made some members of other area churches nervous, but most veteran participants in the annual lunches welcome the chance to learn more about a religious body of which they understand very little. ...
"The situation is much like the 1960s, when Catholics first became involved with Protestants in ecumenical endeavors.
"Despite good will on both sides, there was uneasiness but it dissipated only through time.
"`Some people have prejudice toward the Mormons, but I can remember when we treated Catholics and Pentecostals the same way,' Burrow said.
"Burrow, whose church is adjacent to the Mormon ward chapel, said members of the Mormon Church's San Pedro Ward are good neighbors whose faith is centered in Jesus Christ.
"Theological differences haven't kept the two-congregations from becoming fast friends and helping each other celebrate milestones in their community life.
"He hopes the same will be true with other churches in the neighborhood.
"`We have to be concerned about presenting a united front in fighting evil in our society, not quibbling over differences among ourselves,' Burrow said.
"Dick Lacy, bishop of the San Pedro Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, agreed and said he's excited about being a part of the lunch series.
"`We're responsible for the program March 16, and it's not going to be anything radical or different from what people would hear from their own ministers,' Lacy said.
"`We certainly teach a strong faith in Jesus Christ, we celebrate Easter and we teach about the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus on the cross,' he said.
"`If our participation in these lunches helps clear up some misunderstanding about our teachings, we're happy about that, but the main point in our participating is to be a part of a community promoting Christianity,' Lacy said.
"`We're not a sect or a cult as some people characterize us.'"