What? Answering the Call: New Life in the Mainline ChurchWhen? August 5-7, 2010

Where? Elmhurst College (Chicago, Illinois)

Why? to issue the call for a new generation of ECOT (evangelical, conservative, orthodox, traditional) pastors and leaders in the historic mainline churchesWho will speak? Robert Gagnon, John Armstrong, Jim Tomberlin, Bob Thompson, and a growing list of Evangelical Congregational Orthodox and Traditional (ECOT) scholars and pastors in mainline settings.

Who should attend? college and seminary students, pastors serving in or interested in mainline ministry, laity interested in mainline renewal

Who is sponsoring the event? The Association of Church Renewal

How do I register? A link for complete registration information will be available on this web site January 31, 2010.

How do I spread the word?

· E-mail starloftin@charter.net if you would like one or more “Save the Date” refrigerator magnets.
· E-mail bob@corinthtoday.org if you would like a speaker to address a student group, seminary setting, or local congregation about this event

It is imperative that the doctrine of covenant succession be recovered in our churches. Its loss has deeply diminished the church’s appreciation of and wonder over the liberality and perfection of divine grace. ['It is precisely this which Satan is attempting in assailing infant baptism with such an army: that, once this testimony of God's grace is taken away from us, the promise which, through it, is put before our eyes may eventually vanish little by little. From this would grow up not only an impious ungratefulness toward God's mercy but a certain negligence about instructing our children in piety. For when we consider that immediately from birth God takes and acknowledges them as his children, we feel a strong stimulus to instruct them in an earnest fear of God and observance of the law.' Calvin, Institutes, IV, xvi, 32.] Further, the appropriation by faith of this divine promise and summons is the means appointed to furnish the church with generation after generation of great multitudes of Christian servants and soldiers who reach manhood and womanhood well taught, sturdy in faith, animated by love for God and man, sophisticated in the ways of the world and the Devil, polished in the manners of genuine Christian brotherhood, overshadowed by the specter of the Last Day, nerved to deny themselves and take up their cross so as to be counted worthy of greater exploits for Christ and Kingdom. Presently the church not only suffers a terrible shortage of such other­worldly and resolute Christians, superbly prepared for spiritual warfare, but, in fact, is hemorrhaging its children into the world. Christian evangelism will never make a decisive difference in our culture when it amounts merely to an effort to replace losses due to widespread desertion from our own camp. The gospel will always fail to command attention and carry conviction when large numbers of those who grow up under its influence are observed abandoning it for the world. Recovering our Presbyterian inheritance and inscribing the doctrine of covenant succession upon the heart of family and church must have a wonderfully solemnizing and galvanizing effect. It will set Christian parents seriously to work on the spiritual nurture of their children, equipping them and requiring them to live the life of covenant faith and duty to which their God and Savior called them at the headwaters of life. And, ever conscious of the greater effect of parental example, they will forsake the easy way, shamelessly and joyfully to live a life of devotion and obedience which adorns and ennobles the faith in the eyes of their children. This they will do, who embrace the Bible’s doctrine, lest the Lord on the Great Day should say to them: ‘You took your sons and daughters whom you bore to me and sacrificed them to idols.’ ['They incur the guilt of an infamous robber or thief," as Bucer has gravely observed, de Regno Christi, lib. ii c. 9, "who are not at the greatest pains to bring up and form those they have consecrated by baptism to the Lord Christ, to the obedience of Christ. For by this neglect, as much as in them lies, they again rob God of the children they gave up to him, betray and enslave them to the devil."' Witsius, Economy of the Covenants, vol. II, p. 441.]

Related Link: Bringing The Gospel To Covenant Children

Christian Released Time in Philadelphia resumed in November of 2002 and has been going on ever since. In fact, new schools have been added every year.

What is CRT (Christian Released Time)?

It has long been allowed that public school children, with parent permission, may be released to off-campus locations during regular school hours to receive religious instruction. This instruction may included the worship of Jesus, singing, learning the Gospel of salvation, studying the Bible, praying, and praising God for His Creation.

Who is Responsible for This?

Ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ is responsible for this. He said He would build His church, and churches all over Philadelphia, in obedience to the Lord’s command, have been reaching out to public school children so that they can come to faith in Jesus.

On a more secular level, CRT is legal in every State of the Union, but there are some States that actually have a law explicitly affirming Released Time. In Pennsylvania, for example, the law says that if parents sign, etc, then the superintendent “shall” release the students.

What About the So-Called Separation of Church & State?

Many people are confused about this. Here’s what the Supreme Court said about Released Time: “When the state encourages the religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public events to sectarian needs, it follows the best of our traditions. For it respects the nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs.” (Justice William O. Douglas, in Zorach v. Clauson (343 U.S. 313-14, 1952).)

About the so-call separation, Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote: “The ‘wall of separation between church and state’ is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor which has proved useless as a guide to judging. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned” (1985).

Recent democratic and republican presidents affirm the legitimate place of faith in America. For example, here is what former President Bill Clinton had to say: “Nothing in the First Amendment converts our public schools into religion-free zones, or requires all religious expression to be left behind at the schoolhouse door. While the government may not use schools to coerce the consciences of our students, or to convey official endorsement of religion, the public schools also may not discriminate against private religious expression during the school day. Religion is too important in our history and our heritage for us to keep it out of our schools…[I]t shouldn’t be demanded, but as long as it is not sponsored by school officials and doesn’t interfere with other children’s rights, it mustn’t be denied” (July 12, 1995).

So How can People get Involved with CRT?

One person you are welcome to consult is Paul G. Humber. Paul has had decades of experience in the fields of education and theology; he is familiar, in other words, with the worlds of principals and pastors.

CRT can happen without Paul, but he has been integrally involved with just about every CRT effort begun in Philadelphia since November of 2002. His website is www.CRMinistriesPhilly.com. He lives in Philadelphia, has met with many principals and pastors, and one of his books has a whole chapter on how CRT got restarted in Philadelphia. The book is available on www.amazon.com; it is called Evolution Exposed.

What are the Main Steps?

After praying, identify a school you would like to reach for Jesus. Then, locate a building near the school (perhaps a church building). Contact the pastor and/or board. Ask if they are willing to reach out to students in the school. If they are, then contact the principal of the school and set up a meeting. Prepare a flier for distribution to students. There are a variety of approaches of getting the fliers into the hands of students. One that has been very successful is giving attractive fliers to children as they leave school for home. (There is a School District Policy allowing for this.) A parent signs the form, and the student returns the form to the school office. Once signed forms arrive, CRT classes may begin. You can do this on your own, or you can solicit Paul Humber’s free assistance.

Pedagogically Sound!

There are benefits to students participating in Released Time classes. Such classes reinforce the class-room skills of reading, public speaking, drama, singing, and critical thinking. They also help students understand how to get along with others in constructive ways by doing for others what they would like others to do for them. This challenges the default worldview that to “survive” in this world you must push and prove yourself be the “fittest”. The classes help students receive hope and motivation to do better even with respect to their regular classes. They learn that they are not “accidents” in the universe. The classes encourage responsibility and initiative to keep up with homework assignments. In other words, the students actually have an increased academic workload. Many educators would consider this a positive thing.