World meeting of Moravians is challenged by diversity, debate and encroaching change

By John Railey 
JOURNAL REPORTER 

As Moravians from around the world finished meeting in Pennsylvania this week, one thing was clear to several of the participants -the denomination is struggling with its very identity.

     Betsy Bombick of Home Moravian Church here, one of the delegates to the meeting, said that "the diversity of languages, cultures, perspectives, customs and practices" she heard about at the conference has encouraged her to think about what it means to be Moravian.

      Here in the Southern Province of the Moravian Church, that question has been behind debates about salvation, with many Moravians arguing that Jesus is the only way to heaven and others saying that's not necessarily so. That debate surfaced at the Unity Synod meeting in Bethlehem, as did other debates within the church, ones about homosexuality and the charismatic movement in congregations both here and overseas.

      In trying to find unity on those issues, some Moravians say, the synod held once every seven years failed. "That gray area seems to have been the message of the day," said the Rev. Kenneth Frack of Ardmore Moravian Church. "We approve lots of gray area, but will not stand up and say anything," said Frack, who attended some of the synod but was not a delegate. 

     The Rev. Bob Sawyer, the president of the Provincial Elders' Conference of the Southern Province, said: "I don't see it so much as finding a middle ground that waters down everything. I would rather say. ..we do have standards. There are things that the church has said.

      "But there are many things in which we need to live in a dynamic tension. That dynamic-tension metaphor recognizes that we have deeply held feelings that we do not have in common." 

     The denominations motto is "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love." Some Moravians say that it's not easy translating that to reality. Although the denomination of about 800,000 members is declining in numbers in North America, it's growing overseas. As the denomination crosses cultures, there are theological debates within provinces and in the greater church. A resolution that the synod passed about homosexuality underscored those debates. That resolution urges the provinces toward "further, in-depth examination of the subject homosexuality and the church. Until this in-depth examination is finished, the synod places a moratorium on additional changes by the provinces in this matter.

     " Those who believe that homosexual behavior is a sin say that the resolution is inadequate, especially since the Northern Province of the American church passed a resolution in June that included this phrase: "Homosexual individuals shall be supported and affirmed by being allowed to celebrate their lives as individuals and/or couples completely within the bounds of  the church and under the grace which our Creator imparts to all persons."

      Critics say that the resolution that the unity synod passed should have overturned the resolution from the Northern Province. "The one thing they did not say is you need to undo what you've done, Frack said.

      " Another critic of the resolution, the Rev. Jarek Pleva, the president of the province in the Czech Re- public, said that "the primary issue is not homosexuality, but 'What do you believe about the Bible?' Do you believe the Bible?' "

      Pleva, who was a delegate to synod, is visiting Frack here. 

      Obviously, Sawyer said, the authority of Scripture is an issue. "But the reality is that people who consider Scripture authoritative and believe that Jesus is Lord can come out at different places."

      Most of the more than 50 delegates to Unity Synod approved the resolution on homosexuality, including delegates from conservative provinces in the Third World. Frack and Pleva said that may have happened because of translation problems and because the financial , support for those provinces primarily comes from more liberal provinces In Europe and North America. "There's a cultural humility that goes with it," Frack said. ''It's hard to bite the hand of your spiritual father." , In other action, the unity synod passed a resolution that grew in  part out of a controversy that  erupted here this year when the Rev. Truman Dunn wrote that Jesus , is not the only way to salvation.

      According to that resolution: "Whereas postmodern culture challenges Christian teaching - especially the unique saving work of Christ and the authority of the Scriptures -and whereas in a time  of cultural and social upheaval, the church needs to be reminded of its biblical roots and theological foundation, therefore, be it resolved, that this Unity Synod strongly reaffirms our historic faith as set forth in The Ground of the Unity."

      The Ground of the Unity, the Moravian statement of beliefs, says,  in part, that "there is no salvation  apart" from Christ.

      Pleva gave a presentation about the charismatic movement at the synod meeting. During his visit here, he said that he was disappointed that there wasn't more interest in the presentation. For the  past few years, there have been tensions between Moravians who believe in their denomination's traditional style of quiet worship and those embracing the style of the charismatic movement, which includes rousing music and emphasizes the gifts of the spirit, such as speaking in tongues. 

     That movement has swept through the Czech Republic, as well as through Frack's church. Advocates say that the movement brings spiritual renewal with it. 

     The Rev. Tim Byerly of Mount . Airy, who was the chairman of the synod committee that looked at the charismatic movement, said that there is room for the movement in the Moravian faith. "I wish we'd had time to affirm that." 

     Byerly said he came away from  synod with ,a good feeling about his  denomination. "My impression is there is a strength of the unity within  the province and there's a strong  sense the unity in the whole (denomination ). Even though divisions go quite deep....it would be a mistake  to see the unity as coming apart." .