Biblical Witness Fellowship
Encyclopedia
Biblical Witness Fellowship is an evangelical renewal movement composed of members of the United Church of Christ
. Founded in 1978 as the United Church People for Biblical Witness, the movement reorganized as the Biblical Witness Fellowship at a national convocation in Byfield, Massachusetts
in 1984, hosted by the current president of BWF, the Rev. Dr. William Boylan.
The primary purpose of BWF is "to renew spiritual vitality through faith in Jesus Christ in every local congregation, restoring commitment to the original call and vision of these churches and their denomination." The BWF holds that congregations of the United Church of Christ have been in numerical and spiritual decline, citing denominational statistics that report net losses of members and congregations in every year since 1963.
BWF has consistently voiced its criticism of UCC statements regarding things they believe to be contrary to the Bible, especially on social issues
. Several of these statements have included the "Open and Affirming
" resolution of 1985, and the 2005 "Equal Marriage Rights For All" resolution. The BWF strongly supports the pro-life position on abortion
and the affirmation of marriage as between one man and woman only. In response to the "Equal Marriage Rights for All" resolution of 2005, BWF Executive Director David Runnion-Bareford, a pastor in Candia, New Hampshire
, called for the resignation of UCC President John Thomas.
report accepted by the General Synod in 1977. Since that time the BWF has consistently voiced its criticism of UCC statements supporting beliefs and behaviors that it believes to reflect a religion of culture rather than the teaching of the Bible.
Members of the BWF affirm a statement of Christian faith known as the "Dubuque Declaration" (named for the Iowa
city
and theological seminary
where it was drafted), as well as affirming the historic creeds and statements of the Protestant Reformation
. The movement and its supporters declare that the name reflects its high regard for the authority of Scripture on matters of faith and morals. The Dubuque Declaration was drafted in large measure by UCC (Evangelical and Reformed
-heritage) theologian Donald Bloesch.
In 1984, the BWF decided to expand from its original emphasis on protesting national policy stands to offering alternatives to the UCC system for its member congregations, such as support for the training of evangelical (e.g., non-liberal
) pastors and endorsement of international mission work, a field in which it criticizes the present Wider Church Ministries of the UCC as having abandoned entirely, or augmented with unacceptable political activity. This latter activity comes under the umbrella of the Missions Renewal Network, which connects local congregations with missionaries and mission projects rooted in their common history and tradition. The MRN has networked over 100 missionaries with local churches since its creation.
. The Rev. Runnion-Bareford serves on the steering committee of the ACR.
or the Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches
. New congregations, however, have been attracted to the renewal movements during this period as well. The BWF points as evidence to the soundness of its position to a study done by the Hartford Seminary
Foundation that found approximately 26 % of the membership of the UCC share the evangelical convictions expressed by BWF.
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
. Founded in 1978 as the United Church People for Biblical Witness, the movement reorganized as the Biblical Witness Fellowship at a national convocation in Byfield, Massachusetts
Byfield, Massachusetts
Byfield is a village in the town of Newbury, in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It borders West Newbury, Georgetown, and Rowley. It is located about 30 miles north-northeast of Boston, along Interstate 95, about 10 miles south of the border between New Hampshire and...
in 1984, hosted by the current president of BWF, the Rev. Dr. William Boylan.
The primary purpose of BWF is "to renew spiritual vitality through faith in Jesus Christ in every local congregation, restoring commitment to the original call and vision of these churches and their denomination." The BWF holds that congregations of the United Church of Christ have been in numerical and spiritual decline, citing denominational statistics that report net losses of members and congregations in every year since 1963.
BWF has consistently voiced its criticism of UCC statements regarding things they believe to be contrary to the Bible, especially on social issues
Social issues
Social issues are controversial issues which relate to people's personal lives and interactions. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues...
. Several of these statements have included the "Open and Affirming
Open and affirming
Open and Affirming is an official designation of congregations and other settings within the United Church of Christ denomination affirming the full inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons in that setting's life and ministry.The Open and Affirming program is administered...
" resolution of 1985, and the 2005 "Equal Marriage Rights For All" resolution. The BWF strongly supports the pro-life position on abortion
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
and the affirmation of marriage as between one man and woman only. In response to the "Equal Marriage Rights for All" resolution of 2005, BWF Executive Director David Runnion-Bareford, a pastor in Candia, New Hampshire
Candia, New Hampshire
Candia is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,909 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Candia, Candia Four Corners and East Candia.-History:...
, called for the resignation of UCC President John Thomas.
Beginnings of BWF
The impetus for the birth of Biblical Witness Fellowship was a human sexualityHuman sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
report accepted by the General Synod in 1977. Since that time the BWF has consistently voiced its criticism of UCC statements supporting beliefs and behaviors that it believes to reflect a religion of culture rather than the teaching of the Bible.
Members of the BWF affirm a statement of Christian faith known as the "Dubuque Declaration" (named for the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
city
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
and theological seminary
Dubuque Theological Seminary
The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary is one of the ten official seminaries of the Presbyterian Church . It is located in Dubuque, Iowa. Originally classes were taught in German to serve the immigrant population, but today the school is well known for its emphasis on Native American and...
where it was drafted), as well as affirming the historic creeds and statements of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. The movement and its supporters declare that the name reflects its high regard for the authority of Scripture on matters of faith and morals. The Dubuque Declaration was drafted in large measure by UCC (Evangelical and Reformed
Evangelical and Reformed Church
The Evangelical and Reformed Church was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. It was formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States with the Evangelical Synod of North America . After the 1934 merger, a minority within the RCUS seceded in order to...
-heritage) theologian Donald Bloesch.
In 1984, the BWF decided to expand from its original emphasis on protesting national policy stands to offering alternatives to the UCC system for its member congregations, such as support for the training of evangelical (e.g., non-liberal
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
) pastors and endorsement of international mission work, a field in which it criticizes the present Wider Church Ministries of the UCC as having abandoned entirely, or augmented with unacceptable political activity. This latter activity comes under the umbrella of the Missions Renewal Network, which connects local congregations with missionaries and mission projects rooted in their common history and tradition. The MRN has networked over 100 missionaries with local churches since its creation.
Organizations founded
Biblical Witness Fellowship is also a founding member of the Association For Church Renewal, a coalition of the leadership of numerous renewal agitating for change within most "mainline" Protestant denominations; thus, the BWF has similar characteristics to "renewal" groups in other Protestant denominations such as the Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA)Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
. The Rev. Runnion-Bareford serves on the steering committee of the ACR.
Resolutions Presented
The renewal movement has presented seven resolutions to recent General Synods, four of which have been successfully passed in amended form. These include:- "Affirming the Cross Triumphant and the Lordship of Jesus Christ" (2005)
- "Mutual Respect Within the Faith Community" (2001)
- "Affirming and Strengthening Marriage" (1999)
- "Standing in Solidarity with the Persecuted Church" (1999)
Controversies
Some leaders within the UCC have attempted to discredit BWF and other renewal groups by alleging that they are not sincere grassroots movements of conviction, but rather front groups for a politically-motivated conspiracy involving the Institute for Religion and Democracy. However, the BWF has published a documented rebuttal of the charges made by UCC President John Thomas and other UCC leaders, asserting that its founding and continued activities have been buttressed solely by ordinary clergy and laypeople of the UCC and not by external interests.Withdrawals
Numerous congregations, some affiliated with the BWF, have decided, since the 2005 Synod marriage resolution, to leave the UCC altogether. This accelerates a trend that has seen a rising number of congregations leave the denomination since 1991; some of these have joined groups such as the Conservative Congregational Christian ConferenceConservative Congregational Christian Conference
The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, colloquially known as the CCCC or 4C's, is a Protestant Christian denomination operating in the United States. The denomination maintains headquarters in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul...
or the Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches
Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches
The Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches is a small fellowship of conservative evangelical Protestant Christian congregations in the United States that became disaffected from the United Church of Christ due to that denomination's national entities professing...
. New congregations, however, have been attracted to the renewal movements during this period as well. The BWF points as evidence to the soundness of its position to a study done by the Hartford Seminary
Hartford Seminary
Hartford Seminary is a theological college in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.-History:Seminaries in the city of Hartford date back to 1833. In 1913, the current Hartford Seminary came into existence through the combination of three Hartford-based schools affiliated with the city's Congregationalist...
Foundation that found approximately 26 % of the membership of the UCC share the evangelical convictions expressed by BWF.