(Long version)
Celebrating the Significance of the Declaration and Address
Peter M. Morgan
The Declaration and Address is like an artesian stream which flows to the surface every one hundred years. This stream is largely unseen; its benefits are inestimable.
The headwater for this stream was the American frontier right here in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1809. The Declaration and Address is a visionary, yet practical, expression of a forty-six-year-old Irish immigrant named Thomas Campbell. In the summer of 1809 he called together an association, later called the Christian Association of Washington, to work toward transcending denominational division. On August 17, they met to determine that a statement of purpose and objectives be drafted. The resulting Declaration and Address expressed their gospel vision for Christian unity. It rode along on the currents of an exuberant frontier freedom enlivened by the just-over-thirty-year-old American experiment in liberty.
This artesian stream for two hundred years has been significant but largely unseen. Its significance is a verdant religious reformation. That reformation, today called the Stone-Campbell Movement, is growing above the hidden stream in three denominations which emerged from Campbell’s vision and have been nourished by their common heritage. The Declaration and Address is even recognized across Christianity as one of the primary source documents of the modern ecumenical movement.
The benefits of the largely unseen source are inestimable. The Declaration and Address helps us understand God’s intention. In fact, Thomas Campbell speaks of God’s “intention” in the document’s best-known phrase: “the church of Christ upon the earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.” God not only intended the church to be one body; God created it that way. How significantly that insight enhances our theological understanding. We do not work to make the church one; it is already one. Our calling as church is to be faithful to what God intended and to what God created! The church is, simply, in Campbell’s words, “all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ and obedience to Him in all things according to the scripture.” That’s it. It isn’t complicated.
Campbell calls the church to its apostolic simplicity. Notice the importance of scripture. Our unity is based on forming our beliefs and practices from the Bible. Yet, our human systems and inventions and, at times, our sinfulness, have complicated what may not be as pure and simple as it seems. Campbell knew that it is not only impossible but even undesirable for all to hold the same opinions and the same views of scriptural teaching on what we are to believe and practice. He knew that his vision of unity is possible only in a spirit of grace which encourages freedom and diversity.
Campbell’s vision is itself a catalyst for hearty debate. Go back to the first phrase. Disciples have diverged from Christian Churches and Churches of Christ on even the meaning of “constitutionally one” in the phrase “essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.” Disciples, while prayerfully studying the Bible to guide the church’s worship, witness and life together, do not see the scripture as a constitution. Constitutions and organizational structures are human inventions that, guided by God’s Spirit, must constantly be changed to serve the church so that it can remain effective in different and changing times. Thanks to Thomas Campbell’s theological teaching on the nature of the church the debate is vigorous. When his teaching on freedom and diversity has been remembered the debate has been productive.
The significance of the Declaration and Address is in its practicality. Christian ways to live with each other are crucial for the church to live faithfully its God-given unity. Campbell celebrates freedom to be different. Our differences are not to exclude us from the fellowship of Christ’s people. Campbell’s teaching even lures the church to practice radical hospitality. His words say it best. All who through grace profess belief in Christ and obedience to him are to…
consider each other as the precious saints of God, should love each other as brethren, children of the same family and father, temples of the same spirit, members of the same body, subjects of the same grace, objects of the same divine love, bought with the same price, and joint heirs of the same inheritance. Whom God hath thus joined no man should dare to put asunder. (Proposition 9)
When we, the heirs of Thomas Campbell, have been our best we have been a community of diversity and grace extending to all Christ’s hospitality.
The Declaration and Address’s greatest significance may be that time and time again it called our people to be a dynamic, flowing source for Christian unity and time and time again inspired us to be faithful to that calling. It appeals to our “Campbellite” make-sense, logical minds as well as to our hearts. Historian and educator W. E. Garrison said of it, “Few more logical or more impassioned appeals (for Christian unity) have ever been written.” (cited in D. Duane Cummins, The Disciples/A Struggle for Reformation, p. 46)
This inspirational stream flows on. J. H. Garrison, editor and father of W. E. Garrison, wrote one hundred years ago in anticipation of our 200th anniversary celebration: (We look forward and pray that) “those who join in celebrating our second centennial will have occasion for thanksgiving to Almighty God for the realization of aims and ends which neither our fathers before us, nor we today, have been permitted to see, except by faith.” (Program of the International Centennial Celebration and Conventions of the Disciples of Christ, Pittsburgh, 1909, p. 16)
In 1909 our movement was dealing with the hard reality of division. Just three years
earlier the Disciples and Churches of Christ had been officially recognized as different denominations. Campbell’s vision was in shambles. That gathering for the Centennial in 1909 in Pittsburgh, however, became an opportunity to bring out the Declaration and Address and to let the church hear again its chartering vision. The twentieth century has been called the century of ecumenism, Christian unity. Our people, with a surge of momentum from that rereading of the Declaration and Address, have contributed disproportionately to that great movement of Christian unity. Peter Ainslie from Baltimore, for example, was celebrated at the 1948 first Assembly of the World Council of Churches as one of the twelve apostles of the modern ecumenical movement. Today that legacy of unity surges on. Our people give major leadership in current ecumenical endeavors: Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches; Patrice Rosner, Director of Churches Uniting in Christ; Richard Hamm, Executive Administrator, Christian Churches Together.
In 2009 we can also celebrate the significant momentum in healing the divisions within our own family. The movement away from each other in 1909 has become a movement toward each other in 2009. This Great Communion celebration can be added to other significant endeavors of convergence and reconciliation: the ten-year history of the Stone-Campbell Dialogue, the joint publication of the Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, and the current effort to publish a world history of our unity movement. The Declaration and Address, that underground stream, has watered and nourished a verdant, living witness to the great gift of God of one whole and healed church.
In 2009 the Declaration and Address has flowed to the surface once again. As you read the thirteen propositions in the Address, drink deeply from this artesian stream. Refresh your understanding of God’s gift of one church. As you read Thomas Campbell’s classic, let yourself be cleansed and forgiven for those moments of division caused by inhospitality and hostility to those who think differently and practice their Christian faith differently. As you read our founding document, immerse yourself in the reading with a prayer that your church may be buried again with Christ to rise in newness of life.
Peter M. Morgan is president emeritus of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society and historian of National City Christian Church, Washington, DC.
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(Short version)
The Two-Hundredth Anniversary of the Declaration and Address
A Celebration of Unity
Peter M. Morgan
The Declaration and Address is like an artesian stream which flows to the surface every one hundred years. This stream is largely unseen; its benefits are inestimable.
The Declaration and Address is a visionary, yet practical call for Christian unity by a forty-six-year-old Irish immigrant named Thomas Campbell in 1809. It rode along on the currents of an exuberant frontier freedom enlivened by the just-over-thirty-year-old American experiment in liberty and today is recognized as a primary founding document of the Disciples of Christ, Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.
This artesian stream for two hundred years has been significant but largely unseen. Its significance is a verdant religious reformation. That reformation, today called the Stone-Campbell Movement, is growing above the hidden stream in these three denominations which emerged from Campbell’s vision and have been nourished by their common heritage.
The benefits of the largely unseen source are inestimable. The Declaration and Address helps us understand God’s intention. In fact, Thomas Campbell speaks of God’s “intention” in the document’s best-known phrase: “the church of Christ upon the earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.” God not only intended the church to be one body; God created it that way. How significantly that insight enhances our theological understanding. We do not work to make the church one; it is already one. Our calling as church is to be faithful to what God intended and to what God created! The church is, simply, in Campbell’s words, “all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ and obedience to Him in all things according to the scripture.” That’s it. It isn’t complicated.
The significance of the Declaration and Address is in its practicality. Christian ways to live with each other are crucial for the church to live faithfully its God-given unity. Campbell celebrates freedom to be different. Our differences are not to exclude us from the fellowship of Christ’s people. Campbell’s teaching even lures the church to practice radical hospitality. His words say it best. All who through grace profess belief in Christ and obedience to him are to…
consider each other as the precious saints of God, should love each other as brethren, children of the same family and father, temples of the same spirit, members of the same body, subjects of the same grace, objects of the same divine love, bought with the same price, and joint heirs of the same inheritance. Whom God hath thus joined no man should dare to put asunder. (Proposition 9)
The Declaration and Address’s greatest significance may be that time and time again it called our people to be a dynamic, flowing source for Christian unity and time and time again inspired us to be faithful to that calling.
This inspirational stream flows on. J. H. Garrison wrote one hundred years ago in anticipation of our 200th anniversary celebration: (We look forward and pray that) “those who join in celebrating our second centennial will have occasion for thanksgiving to Almighty God for the realization of aims and ends which neither our fathers before us, nor we today, have been permitted to see, except by faith.” (Program of the International Centennial Celebration and Conventions of the Disciples of Christ, Pittsburgh, 1909, p. 16)
In 1909 our movement was dealing with the hard reality of division. Just three years
earlier the Disciples and Churches of Christ had been officially recognized as different denominations. Campbell’s vision was in shambles. That gathering for the Centennial in 1909 in Pittsburgh, however, became an opportunity to bring out the Declaration and Address and to let the church hear again its chartering vision.
In 2009 we can now celebrate the significant momentum in healing the divisions within our own family. The movement away from each other in 1909 has become a movement toward each other in 2009. This Great Communion celebration can be added to other significant endeavors of convergence and reconciliation: the ten-year history of the Stone-Campbell Dialogue, the joint publication of the Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, and the current effort to publish a world history of our unity movement. The Declaration and Address, that underground stream, has watered and nourished a verdant, living witness to the great gift of God of one whole and healed church.
In 2009 the Declaration and Address has flowed to the surface once again. Drink deeply from this artesian stream and refresh your understanding of God’s gift of one church. Let yourself be cleansed and forgiven for those moments of division caused by inhospitality and hostility to those who think differently and practice their Christian faith differently. Immerse yourself in your church’s call for unity with a prayer that your church may be buried again with Christ to rise in newness of life.
Peter M. Morgan is president emeritus of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society and historian of National City Christian Church, Washington, DC.
Four Guiding Principles in the Declaration and Address
human opinions should be at rest; restore unity and peace.
alone as our salvation.
D. Duane Cummins, The Disciples/Struggle for Reformation. Chalice, 2009, p. 45