Note : No offer was made to address the resolutions of the Northern or Southern Synod that were specifically pointed to as being problematic.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Sunday 9,2003

For those of you who have seen the article on the Moravian Church in today's Winston-Salem Journal, I would like to make a few corrections. I have already sent to you a copy of the press release sent to John Railey. Here is the thrust of the statement:

1. The Board of World Mission is very clear about the basis for our mission. It is the Great Commission and the uniqueness and finality of Jesus Christ.

2. The Board is also very clear about priorities and will continue the work we are engaged in. We have prepared a message to the church explaining that we are immediately developing plans on how to do that. Specifically, we are exploring with Sonna Schambach and Linda Faber how we can do that.

3. The Board deeply appreciates the faithful service of its staff and respects the personal convictions that led them to make costly decisions.

It is patently wrong to say that the Board (or the PEC, for that matter) is "leaving unresolved the thorny argument over... salvation that prompted the departures." There is no argument over the belief of the church. Please see the press release. It is quite true that disagreements growing out of deep convictions continue over homosexuality, but we were also very clear that those disagreements are not an insurmountable barrier to the ongoing mission of the church.

I urge you to turn first to the BWM messages I have sent, not to the Winston-Salem Journal, for an accurate understanding of our present and future as a Moravian Church. The BWM meetings were difficult, but we had a strong sense of God's presence and leading. That presence and leading are continuing, and we give thanks and praise to him!

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Sawyer