The Dorhauer Seminar
Friday, March 09, 2007
By Rev. Dr. Bryan Moore
I have been asked to write a review of John Dorhauer’s presentation for UCCtruths and for BWF. What follows is more of a report than a review. I will save my comments (the few that I will make), for the end.
At the beginning of the meeting, I approached John and let him know that I had been asked by UCCtruths and BWF to write a review. He appreciated the upfront approach. (ed. note: I was unaware Rev. Dr. Moore was also writing this review for BWF. There was no coordination between BWF and UCCtruths on this review.)
John is a 1988 graduate of Eden Seminary and is presently an Associate conference Minister for the Missouri Mid South Conference. He is also the author of the book Steeple Jacking, which is an examination of how in his opinion outside entities and influences are hijacking mainline churches. He was asked by the Penn SE Conference staff to come and address the ministers of the Penn SE on this very topic.
John began his presentation with some personal reflections on his experiences with dealing with churches that were in turmoil over Synod resolutions. He shared how the turmoil saddens and tears him apart. He explained that initially he went into these situations assuming the main problem was disagreement with the synod’s resolution but that this was a wrong assumption that lead to unfruitful tactics. He went on to say that they began to notice things that indicated more than just some internal conflicts within a given church. They found things that indicated intentional outside interference which I will share in the following.
John’s main thesis is that the IRD (Institute for Religion and Democracy), is a strong conservative political organization with substantial financial backing. The IRD works primarily through renewal groups in mainline denominations (Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and even the UCC), to disrupt the local church and cause it to be preoccupied with wedges issues. They do this, not to get churches to leave the denomination or to benefit financially but to preoccupy their time and energy so that they are not speaking prophetically and tending to justice issues in society which might upset the plans of certain political interests.
There's more... read the whole article here.
I have been asked to write a review of John Dorhauer’s presentation for UCCtruths and for BWF. What follows is more of a report than a review. I will save my comments (the few that I will make), for the end.
At the beginning of the meeting, I approached John and let him know that I had been asked by UCCtruths and BWF to write a review. He appreciated the upfront approach. (ed. note: I was unaware Rev. Dr. Moore was also writing this review for BWF. There was no coordination between BWF and UCCtruths on this review.)
John is a 1988 graduate of Eden Seminary and is presently an Associate conference Minister for the Missouri Mid South Conference. He is also the author of the book Steeple Jacking, which is an examination of how in his opinion outside entities and influences are hijacking mainline churches. He was asked by the Penn SE Conference staff to come and address the ministers of the Penn SE on this very topic.
John began his presentation with some personal reflections on his experiences with dealing with churches that were in turmoil over Synod resolutions. He shared how the turmoil saddens and tears him apart. He explained that initially he went into these situations assuming the main problem was disagreement with the synod’s resolution but that this was a wrong assumption that lead to unfruitful tactics. He went on to say that they began to notice things that indicated more than just some internal conflicts within a given church. They found things that indicated intentional outside interference which I will share in the following.
John’s main thesis is that the IRD (Institute for Religion and Democracy), is a strong conservative political organization with substantial financial backing. The IRD works primarily through renewal groups in mainline denominations (Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and even the UCC), to disrupt the local church and cause it to be preoccupied with wedges issues. They do this, not to get churches to leave the denomination or to benefit financially but to preoccupy their time and energy so that they are not speaking prophetically and tending to justice issues in society which might upset the plans of certain political interests.
There's more... read the whole article here.
