The position clearly expressed in this lecture series presented by a minister
in the Moravian Church reveals the basis of the call for a "New Theology" that 
does not recognize "Scriptural Truth" as its source.

The Moses Lectures Summary
A view of our “Dying Moravian Church”

	Rev. Truman Dunn, pastor of Messiah Moravian Church in Winston Salem North
Carolina presented his 3 part Lecture delivered in Bethlehem in April 2001.  He later wrote a
shortened review that was printed in the Moravian publication “The Hinge” last year.
	Rev. Dunn did not want to have  the original version reprinted here preferring to speak
about this on a personal basis with anyone who wanted more information.  Dr. Craig Atwood,
editor of  “The Hinge” did not want the review that appeared in his publication to be reprinted
quoting copyright concerns and suggested that that issue had already been reprinted once
and they were out of copies again. ( a third printing might be available in the future ) 
	I will attempt to give an accurate review after having studied both the original  50 page
lectures, and the 6 page review in “The Hinge”.
	For those of you who believed that this paper was significant because it brought to light
that a leader of our denomination believed and was teaching that there was more than one
way to salvation than through Christ alone may be further surprised to find what is said about
what the role of scripture should be in our denomination today, with our diverse culture. 
	Rev. Dunn expresses much concern about the decline in membership in the Moravian
Church here in America.  He Quotes statistics that in the last 10 years the Membership has
declined 12%. 
	Rev. Dunn talks of the “graying” of the Moravian Church as a concern.  He notes that
few young faces appear at such traditional Moravian gatherings as Holy week services, and
church bands. As he reasons why the younger generation aren’t coming out for these
wonderful and very special events that are at the heart of what it is to be Moravian, Rev Dunn
suggests that the usual conclusion that is drawn is that the rising generation just is not as
dedicated and appreciative of the specialness of Moravian practices. It is assumed that young
families are too busy and preoccupied with children’s soccer games, weekend vacation
homes, and working long hours to buy new boats and bigger televisions in order to keep up
with the materialistic standard that our society sets.
	Rev. Dunn  sees that given all the wonderful things that we think are happening in the
Moravian Church our denomination is dying.  He further characterizes the efforts to turn this
decline around as a survival mode that our church has been in for years.  He writes that the
primary driving force for most of our provincial and congregational decisions has been
institutional preservation. ( it will be clear to anyone who studies the documents on this site
from provincial leaders and synod actions that this suppositions is well supported.)
	Rev Dunn notes that even attempts to attract Generation X and Y with mega-church
visits, casual worship, hymns flashed on the walls and even removing the word Moravian from
the sign out front to minimize impressions that we are a white shirt, thin tie and bicycle
denomination have not helped.
	Rev. Dunn writes “that  while our denomination is growing in the Third World, here in
America and in Europe, what the church has to say about God, Jesus, and the Bible is making
less and less sense to more and more people. In other words, I believe that the  reason for
our slow but sure death as a church are primarily theological in nature, rather than whether or
not today’s generation are attracted to our worship styles, customs and traditions.”
	Rev. Dunn then reveals what troubles him most about what we proclaim as “truth” is that
“Jesus is the only way to salvation” because this is what we proclaim in our doctrines. hymns
and liturgies.  He claims that more and more people no longer accept such claims and are
questioning the authority of the Bible as the “truth” revealed by the Word of God!
	Rev. Dunn expresses concern that those who do not accept the “major tenents“ of the
church  feel they will be judged as inadequate or less faithful and not be able to let go of the
guilt for not believing what they are” supposed” to believe.  In Rev. Dunns words “many in
today’s generation no longer see the Christian world-view as the only way to experience God
and spirituality”, “they would rather come to conclusions for themselves rather than ..what the
church teaches”.
	Rev. Dunn writes about a shift towards “reflexive spirituality” where each individual is
willing to concede that what one believes is only his view and is not “truth”.  He suggests that
if  we stand firm that we have the answer, revealed once and for all that there is one way to
salvation we should not wonder why fewer and fewer people are finding their way into our
church.
	Rev. Dunn  states that he has had discussions  with countless lay people, both
Moravians and unchurched, who no longer believe in “essential truths”. He notes that it seems
that we are unable to state clearly what  the “essentials” of our beliefs are all though we speak
of “essentials” in our “motto”. He even challenges us to look at the The Ground of the Unity 
where he suggests we might be surprised to  find it clearly stated “we believe and confess that
God has revealed himself once and for all in his Son Jesus Christ... and there is no salvation
apart from him”.  He asks how those in today’s generation who are much more reflexive in
their spirituality, much less willing to accept the exclusive truth claims, will  find a spiritual
home in the Moravian Church when we proclaim such doctrinal statements as The Ground of
the Unity  .	
	Rev. Dunn writes of his personal belief, “I do not believe that Jesus is the only way to
find “salvation.”...Nor do I believe that Moravians or Christians have a lock on religious “truth”.
He wonders why we insist that  “Christianity” is somehow superior to all other pathways to
God.
	Rev. Dunn calls for a reformation through death of the Moravian Church as we Know it,
allowing the “old ways”  of exclusive “truths” to die.   He says the first “truth” that must go is
“the narrow and arrogant claim that Jesus is the only way to salvation”.
	Rev. Dunn devoted the last part of his 3 part lecture discussing the role of “Scripture” in
the Moravian Church.  He observes when “essential truths” are subject to interpretation by
many individuals and groups who claim that the Bible is the “authoritative source” of “truth”
that many versions and many “truths” will emerge and conflict will arise.  For this reason and
for the sake of harmony and community Rev. Dunn suggests that the Bible should no longer
be revered as the source of law, truth and instruction for our walk with God toward our
salvation.
	In making his case, Rev Dunn suggests that many Christian Churches may  worship the
Bible as an “idol”, drawing  attention away from worship of God.  He points to the importance
of individual freedom in beliefs and relationships with God and community that might not be
supported by  interpretations of  “essential truths” defined by scripture. By reducing the
Bible’s status from an “essential" source element for our theology to simply a "ministerial" tool,
Rev. Dunn  writes, we can remove the Bible as a weapon against those who disagree with it
or it’s interpretation.
	Rev. Dunn notes that authority of scripture rather than authority of the church has
prevailed since Luther elevated it during the Protestant movement. I must take exception to
Rev. Dunn’s statement that “the Bible has never been an “essential” for us as Moravians. (
Note that in the The Ground of the Unity  we proclaim the Holy Scripture of the Old and New
Testament is the only source of our life and salvation: and this Scripture is the sole standard
of the doctrine and faith of the Unitas Fratrum.) If our forefathers did not think the Bible was an
“essential” they certainly proclaimed it as the standard for “essentials of their faith”
	I certainly have not done justice to the writings of Rev. Truman Dunn.  I personally found
much of his writing was thought provoking and relevant to social thinking today.  I kept asking
myself as I read page after page, is the most important role of the Church  “Community
Building” or “Salvation”.  This question seems to have escaped discussion in this paper. I
suppose that both could exist together as long as the “message of Salvation” is not
compromised. For many of us who feel that the primary function of the Christian Church is to
provide inspiration and Instruction for our walk with Christ, we are saddened that it would be
suggested that there is no source of instruction that should be offered in fear that it might
offend someone.
	It is no wonder that ministers and missionaries are leaving a Moravian Church that finds
it difficult to affirm “essential Truths” about salvation. Missionaries question their mission work
if they don’t have a message to give to a culture that already has its own religion.  If our belief
is “to each his own” then  shouldn’t we  leave each culture alone with their own religious
beliefs.  We would even have to question the role of our churches and ministers in (our culture)
if there is no longer a “true” message to teach.
	This paper is the work of one individual Moravian Minister, supported by many members
of his congregation.  As PEC responded to issues that evolved from the teaching of these
ideas they echoed  the views of Rev. Dunn and seemed to adopted the position that “personal
relationships” are most important.  Even recent Synod actions suggested that “relationships”
are of greater importance than defending and upholding the message of  scripture.
Review by
Lee Sprinkle
member Olivet Moravian Church