Unity is something we talk a lot about these days. This is not unprecedented and in fact the forefathers of our tradition had a lot to say on the subject. I’ve shared before my interest in Thomas Campbell’s “Declaration and Address” in which he made an impassioned call for unity in the church of Christ. Notice that wasn’t the Church of Christ, but the church of Christ. In his declaration he makes 13 points that he believed are the key to unity. One of my favorites is No. 7:
7. That although doctrinal exhibitions of the great system of di-
vine truths, and defensive testimonies in opposition to prevailing
errors, be highly expedient; and the more full and explicit they be,
errors, be highly expedient; and the more full and explicit they be,
for those purposes, the better; yet, as these must be in a great
measure the effect of human reasoning, and of course must con-
tain many inferential truths, they ought not to be made terms of
christian communion: unless we suppose, what is contrary to fact,
that none have a right to the communion of the church, but such
as possess a very clear and decisive judgment; or are come to a
very high degree of doctrinal information; whereas the church
from the beginning did, and ever will, consist of little children and
young men, as well as fathers.
I love this one because it recognizes the value of scholarship, and at the same time makes it clear that he believes that there has been, and always will be, varying levels of understanding in the church. Moreover, that there is should be no requirement that everyone understands or has reached a specific level of scholarship to be a member of the body.
