From The Octographic Review (American Christian Review), JANUARY 3, 1892:

In the early part of our history as disciples it is a fact that discourses on “Oneness in Christ” were very common. But who preaches on that subject now? In view of the mischievous work of those who advocate humanisms in the worship and work of the church that subject is seldom discussed. It is among the themes of the past. That preacher would be a bold man, indeed, who would confront the religious world and say, “Allow me to show you what unity is, and how the Bible alone will produce unity.” Rather, such a man would be reckless. What then shall we do? Simply move onward. The Sand Creek Declaration is being adopted, and those who will not do right are purged out as old leaven. In course of a few years the Church of Christ will stand entirely separated from the Christian Church. Then there will be no more fellowship between them than there now is between the Church of Christ and any other branch of sectarianism. Hallelujah!

If Daniel Sommer only knew that he would look back at this moment, as do many other people in our movement, with lament and sadness.

The a capella Churches of Christ have been seperated from the Disciples of Christ and the Independent Christian Churches for 100 years now. Its time for us to heal with rift.

Our movement started out with the goal of restoring unity to Christianity through the rejection of creeds and the adoption of the Bible as the only guide to faith and practice. I think that was a worthy goal, and I believe it is still a worthy one. I think all sides have lost alot in the division.

When we split from the Disciples, we lost much of our heart for unity and for social justice. We we walked away, and finally when the Independents split away, the Disciples largely lost their call to return to primitive Christianity.

I think to be truly successful and complete, we need each other. Each group walked away and is now missing a vital part that the other has. We can learn from the Disciples and the Independents, and they can learn from us, as well.

So do something. Visit a congregation from another stream of the movement. Call the minister or elder on the other side and have coffee. Get to know those people who were supposedly “the enemy” and create some new allies.

I am going to do something. Sara and I have made a decision. Lord willing, I will quit my job next year, Fall 2007, and start full time going to school at Northwest Christian College - a school affilated with both the Disciples of Christ and the Independent Christian Churches, to work towards a degree in Theology. I will then persue admission to graduate school and study Church History and Theology.

Going to NCC, a school that has kept its ties to both the Disciples and the Independents, will put me smack dab in the middle of a bunch of people affiliated with the movement, but from different streams. Hopefully it will provide me with a good theological education, as well as provide me with strong credentials that I can use to work towards unity. My goal at this point is to earn a masters, teach, and work towards a doctorate, then teach some more and do some writing about unity and our movement. Its been a long discernment process, and I think that this is the direction he’s been leading me. I hope I’m right!

-Clarke