Unity Conference in Dallas June 25-28
"Nicaea: Ecumenical Gift and Ecumenical Challenge"
This is the topic chosen for the Alleluia Forum on Unity and Renewal's 2025 conference - which is appropriate, given that the Council of Nicaea was 1700 years ago, in 325.
The "gift" to the church from that Council, the Nicene Creed, is a hugely important theological ground of unity today. (We feature it on our Core Beliefs page, and it is the first part of our Statement of Personal Devotion to Live Out John 17.)
The "challenge" part is often les recognized than the "gift." One important voice in this topic is Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer, a Messianic Jewish theologian who has written substantially about the Nicene Creed from a Messianic Jewish perspective. He addresses both the concerns and reactions our Jewish brothers and sisters have to the Creed (and also the overall Council of Nicaea, which expressed some very unfortunate hostility to the Jews), and the hopefulness of the Creed for unity in our day, including between Jew and Gentile. Rabbi Kinzer will be one of the speakers at the conference.
If you are receiving this email, it is likely because you care about reconciliation and unity in the body of Christ - so we encourage you to seriously consider attending in June. Here are the details of the conference:
Dates: June 25-28, 2005
Location: The King's University, South Lake, Texas (near the DFW airport)
Register: https://unityforum2025.org/
Speakers: Amy & Thomas Cogdell, Ann Friemel, Dr. John Gresham, Dr. Daniel Keating, Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer, Anthony Martini, Rev. Paul Martini, Dr. David Rudolf, Dr. Don Swenson, Rev. Dan Wager
Steering Committee: Dan Almeter, Prof. Matteo Calisi, Fr. Dr. Timothy Cremeens, Dr. David Cole, Bob Garrett, Dr. John Gresham, Anthony Martini, Dr. Don Swenson
One of the sessions will present Christ the Reconciler as a community dedicated to unity and reconciliation in the body of Christ. Please be praying for Amy & Thomas as they plan this talk ... and indeed for all of the speakers.
Thank you for considering!
From the conference organizers:
We, the organizers of the Forum are embracing the apostolic foundation of our Christian and Messianic faith and also the ongoing apostolic mission of the church.
Rooted in the faith given in scripture and handed down by tradition, we draw upon the riches of the Holy Spirit at work in history and through the church and we find unity in our shared heritage.
We also find our shared heritage by seeking our common bond expressed in the Creeds, Ecumenical Councils and the Patristic commentary of the Ancient Church as well as the Jewish tradition.
At the same time, open to new movements of the Spirit at work in the world today, we find unity in our common mission to share Jesus with the world. As wise stewards we draw forth treasures old and new to grow in unity and unite in mission.
(Matthew 13:52)
