PASADENA—The year 2002 concluded with a whirl of
activities for ORM (Office of Reconciliation Ministries)
overseas efforts.
Curtis May, ORM director, and his wife, Jannice,
conferred with ministers, lay members and workshop
attendees in Northern Ireland and Scotland in September;
conducted reconciliation conferences in London, England,
and Cork, Ireland, in October; conducted interdenominational
meetings in Bacolod, Philippines, in November; and
enjoyed a one-day visiting and conferring session
with a pastoral family in Tokyo, Japan.
Here are the highlights of this worldwide effort.
Northern Ireland: Mr. May spoke to WCG members in
Belfast, Sept. 21. Mr. May left the audience "speechless," according
to Jim Herst, ORM chapter leader. His topic? The
racial insensitivities that plagued the WCG and other
Christian groups. It was an education, some parishioners
commented afterward.
Stephen Cave, general secretary of the Evangelical
Alliance of Northern Ireland, shared his understanding
of the need for reconciliation.
ORM met with Paul Redfern, a Church of Ireland priest,
and his wife, Betty. Their church is located in Belfast,
where the Redferns are trying to work with both Catholics
and Protestants in this troubled city.
After viewing ORM’s flagship video, Reconciliation—A
Move of God, Betty said: "That was great. I
wish that everyone could see it!" Paul gave
a powerful message during that service to WCG members,
encouraging everyone through Jeremiah 29:11: "For
I know the plans I have for you," declares the
Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future."
On a tour of the Catholic areas of Belfast, Dr.
Herst and Mr. May noticed murals depicting scenes
of the U.S. Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and
1960s. Catholics identify with the African-American
struggle. They find hope in it. Mr. May, who grew
up in segregated Alabama, was pleased to note how
the struggle for civil rights in America has cast
such a long shadow.
Edinburgh and Perth, Scotland: Mr. May was pleasantly
surprised to meet Peter Sheppard, a WCG member whose
father was a leader in the British Israel World Federation,
a group with theories about the alleged privileged
origins of the Anglo-Saxon people. ORM meetings quite
often deflect British-Israel teaching, so the experience
of bridge-building between two such groups struck
a soft note in what could have been a hard-edged
exchange.
Peter mentioned that in his father’s experience
with British-Israelism, more emphasis was placed
on prophecy than race as one would find in America.
Even the emphasis on prophecy was flawed.
Another Scotsman Mr. May met related an experience
he had when he was around 12 years old. He said he
asked a Catholic woman if he could escort her 12-year-old
daughter to a school activity. She retorted: "I
will not let my daughter go out with a dog! I would
slit your throat." He was Protestant. This incident
helps illustrate how walls and broken relationships
are built and perpetuated.
In Perth, a Canadian woman was greatly moved by
the message on how Christian groups subtly perpetuate
embedded racist stereotypes. "I had no idea," she
told Mr. May through streaming tears.
London, England: Chapter leader Olivier Carion of
the North London church organized a workshop where
the theme of forgiveness emerged clearly and loudly. "This
was the first round two workshop for ORM in any city," Mr.
May said, "so the atmosphere was forward-looking
with a broader use of the Scriptures on this vital
subject." One health care counselor who attended
the meeting praised the ORM approach: "We are
doing the same type of work as you are—helping people
heal."
Cork, Ireland: Mr. May was joined by chapter leader
Evelyn O’Callaghan in Cork, where a pleasant small
group atmosphere prevailed. "Evelyn gave an
outstanding message on forgiveness, which has to
be part of any workshop we do in the future," Mr.
May said. One Christian woman gave ORM what she felt
was a word from the Lord. It was from Isaiah 54:17: "No
weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will
refute every tongue that accuses you." This
was a welcome bit of Irish plain-speaking.
Bacolod, Philippines: After addressing the WCG congregation
in Metro Manila, Mr. May traveled to Bacolod accompanied
by Pastor George Escara, area superintendent. "The
Bacolod group was interdenominational," Mr.
May said. "There were Baptists, Pentecostals,
Christian Reformed and others." The group viewed
three videos on reconciliation issues followed by
small group discussions. "The feedback was lively
and humorous," Mr. May said, notwithstanding
the seriousness of the subject matter.
Following is a sample of the feedback we received:
"It’s really good! Reconciliation is needed
and starts with individuals coming to God. Then it
will flow to our family and church. We are ambassadors
of reconciliation. Very good indeed is the seminar!" (Pastor
Rolly Pondia—Sanctuary in the City Church)
"Reconciliation ministry is much needed here
in Bacolod with 36 denominations and a history of
church splits. The lecture is a challenge for us
to implement it. It must be offered to a larger body." (Leah
Aguirre—missionary)
"It’s edifying because it builds bonding in
our relationships as Christians and understanding
of God’s will regarding acceptance of one another
regardless of differences.
"One of our friends in another church, upon
hearing positive comments about the lecture and workshop,
inquired if you’re still in Bacolod so they can invite
you to speak in their church." (Pastor Leonor
De La Cruz—Mount Olives Ministry Faith)
Tokyo, Japan: At the request of WCG Philippine national
leaders, the Mays spent a day with Shunsuke Nakagawa,
a pastoral team member, and his wife, Shizuko, and
their three children. The WCG congregation in Japan
is made up of mostly expatriate Westerners and Mr.
Nakagawa is himself a former Lutheran minister now
serving the WCG in Japan. This was a small but refreshing
reminder of one of ORM’s major themes: interdenominationalism.
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