Moravian Church splits

This letter was sent to John Railey, Winston-Salem Journal editor, asking for a correction to misleading information given in his article on Jan. 10, 2004 on the Split at Mizpah.

Jan. 13, 2004

Hi John,

I want to thank you for what appeared to be a very sincere attempt to present the Story of Rev. Luke Bell and the issues that he and others have with the Leadership in our Moravian Church.

It is difficult to distill down a response to 250 words, while still making it clear that quotes you have from Rev Bob Sawyer are examples of the problems that continue in our church.

Sawyer noted that "he and other province officials have always emphasized that Jesus is the only way to salvation." This is simply not true as can be confirmed by his official response published in the Journal May 16, 2002 in his guest editorial entitled "Tradition values thoughtful dialogue." It has been observed by many who have watched this story closely that conflicting messages, and even doubletalk, continue to be a problem with our leaders.

Your account that Truman Dunn now affirms his belief in Jesus was not accurate. The actual letter that Truman Dunn submitted was very clear that he felt that he only would affirm that doctrine of the church was doctrine of the church, not his personal belief.

It concerns me that many came away from this inspiring article asking "what's the problem?"

Conflicting communication from our leaders is a big reason there is still a problem. They seem to say one thing to one person and another thing to someone else. What is true today is false tomorrow. They seem to forget easily things they say.

With that said, below is a draft of a response that I feel will help clarify why things are not resolved. I need your help to make this fit the standards for print. If you want me to provide any documents to substantiate anything, I can provide them. All are available on our www.Moravians.org web site. The web site is maintained by members of the Moravian Church to preserve such things.

In response to article Jan. 10 "Split at Mizpah ..." It would have been helpful for readers who have not followed this story if you had included the official statements issued by Moravian leaders that continue to fuel the passion of Rev. Bell and many others.

The following article by PEC president Bob Sawyer appeared in the May 16, 2002 issue of the Winston Salem Journal represents their official position and was not seen as a stand for Salvation through Christ:

"Compiling a list of current teachings and labeling each teaching as true or false is not always helpful. Such a list might well include items that can and should receive a clear and ringing affirmation. Other items may have different meanings to different people. For this, as well as reasons of relationship and respect for one another, in our tradition, prayer, study and conversation are more appropriate ways of dealing with beliefs than a simple affirmation or denial.

An example is this statement from The Ground of the Unity: "We believe and confess that God has revealed Himself once and for all in His son Jesus Christ, that our Lord has redeemed us with the whole of humanity by His death and His resurrection; and that there is no salvation apart from Him."

Our recent synod chose not to adopt a resolution focused on this statement, not because Moravians deny it, but because we do not want to force a meaning from the statement that is not really there. Increasingly we live and minister in a context where we have much closer contact with people of other faiths and cultures."

Rev Dunn's lectures seemed to put Jesus on trial again as an imposter. Church leaders approached by media and others asking if we know Jesus, as Savior, chose not to answer the question.

Readers of the Split.. article must have wondered why Rev Luke Bell and others continue to be concerned about our Church's leadership, when Rev. Bob Sawyer states in this interview that he and other leaders have always emphasized that Jesus is the only way to salvation.

If the official position of Provincial leaders has indeed changed, I am truly thankful. The fruits of their work must reveal this.

My second concern about the "Split.." article is the impression left that Truman Dunn now believes that Jesus is the only way to salvation: "he affirmed his belief in Jesus."

The actual written statement by Truman Dunn that was submitted during the May 6, 2003 meeting of ministers, where the PEC announced that Dunn would remain, did not say that doctrine of the Church was now his personal belief.

"As Moravians, we understand our faith to be, first and foremost, relational. And, all relationships change and grow, whether they are with Jesus, or with one another. As my relationship with the Lord has changed and grown over the past year, I have found that I indeed affirm the Ground of the Unity as the belief of our church, even as I seek to be a part of our continual search for sound doctrine"

Truman Dunn had actually said nothing about his personal belief on salvation. He only said that he affirms that the Ground of the Unity is the belief of our church.

Even as I write this response, a selected Core Group of Church Leaders are in meetings authoring a simple statement of "Who we are and what we believe," a process that has been going on for 4 years. A simple statement that, if completed, may say volumes about our Church leaders.

Lee Sprinkle
Member of Olivet Moravian Church