Being a Witness

"There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear...
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down"
- Buffalo Springfield, For What It's Worth

There is something happening here, although it is clear that it's something good that's going down in the ECC. These are interesting days; this is a very interesting and critical point in our history as a denomination.

And I feel like I'm a witness.

I've been able to personally watch the 5-fold test emerge from a brainstorming session in an Ethnic Commission meeting into a movement of the ECC. (photo: Gary Walter tallying responses at the 5-fold round table in 2004)

I've been able to watch as the position of director of congregational vitality went from proposal to funding approval to hiring to practice. And the word is spreading. Churches around the country are excited and hopeful of reigniting that spark again.

I've been able to watch as data was collected and predictions made about the future of the ECC if our attendance continues to grow as it has been. This past week, numerous presentations / discussions were held on the topic of the ECC in 2020.

I'm watching now as our denomination prepares to vote on a new President in 5 months time. It's exciting to think about both what has happened under Glenn's presidency and what will happen under Gary's.

Being a witness is cool...

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down