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Following Jesus in nonviolent struggle for justice and peace, we love our neighbors and enemies as God loves us all, becoming a peace church to share in Gods work to save the world.

A New Beginning for ECAPC

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A NEW BEGINNING FOR ECAPC    by John K. Stoner

Every Church A Peace Church is experiencing a new beginning. I hope that you will be part of it.

   You have been an supporter of ECAPC in the past, reading our daily commentary, taking action, sharing the peace church vision, praying and donating for the support of ECAPC. Then we fell silent. You didn't leave us, we left you, and for that I am profoundly sad. The national director we hired in 2007 did not work out. ECAPC has had a wilderness wandering of nearly 2 years.

   But now is the time of a new thing. The board appointed Matthew Johnson national director on September 1, and Matthew feels the call, appreciates the history and shares the vision of ECAPC.

   I met Matthew for the first time and spent a little over 24 hours with him last weekend when he visited some of the key founders and new supporters of ECAPC in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.   For me, others here, and Matthew himself by his word, it was a time of amazing grace and energizing hope.

   Matthew's speech in the Friday night public meeting was a model of historical insight, theological clarity and political analysis. That's claiming a good bit, I know, but you and read the speech and decide for yourself on the ECAPC home page http://www.ecapc.org. His topic, "A Message Worth Shouting" was centered on the new model of leadership, compassion and reconciliation which Jesus brought--this in the historical context of the election of Barack Obama. Matthew read those crucial and much-ignored words of Jesus from Mark 10:
     "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

   We have a leader in ECAPC who understands this. And he understands that Jesus was saying not only that his community must operate this way, but also without any doubt, that the Gentiles themselves will either learn this way or fail miserably. And this is central to what Jesus meant when he said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." To share that good news is, in short, the contribution which the church is called to make to interpersonal and world peace.

   Matthew has invited me to write a commentary each Wednesday as he implements his plan to renew regular communications on the website (and, by subscription, through email). He will be writing each Saturday. I look forward to regular communication with you and many new readers whom you and others will help us to find. ECAPC will move forward through the gifts of hundreds, growing into thousands, of people who believe that the church is called to reap a "harvest of justice sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:18).


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Comments

Good news, ECAPC.
Welcome Matthew. Tell us about yourself.
This Gentile will continue to support your great mission and work.
One suggestion. Please sign your articles; top, bottom or both. Thanks. I presume John Stoner wrote this, but it's hard to tell.
Forward!

Posted by: Hoyt Maulden

To Hoyt and others,
Thank you for your comment, Hoyt. Your point about signing the article is certainly on the mark! I apologize. I did indeed write that, but failed to sign it. I was not trying to be anonymous! Incidentally, there is more from and about Matthew on the ECAPC home page, if you look down the page a short ways.
John Stoner

Posted by: John Stoner

Welcome Matthew and welcome back John. I am glad that ECAPC has been able to overcome the travail of 2007 and I wish you all the best in your endeavors. I enjoyed meeting Matthew last weekend and like you, found him to be articulate with a clear understanding that ECAPC must retain it's roots in the Historic Peace Churches while growing into the vision of African American theology and church life. I wish you all the blessings of our Lord Jesus!

Michael Hardin
Executive Director, Preaching Peace
www.preachingpeace.org

Posted by: michael hardin

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