Dear Brethren and Sisters
Many months have passed since Bro Cooper and I visited North America at the request of The Christadelphian Committee to gather first hand information on matters affecting reunion in your Continent On our Journey in which we contacted as many brethren and sisters as possible of both fellowships and in every region we were everywhere warmly received and generously treated We amassed a great deal of valuable information and were able to understand more fully the many complex factors involved in the attempt to reunite two groups of the Brotherhood which have been separated for so long
The highest tribue must be paid to the brethren of the Unamended and Amended Continental Reunion Committees and their helpers for their long and faithful service which has involved them in much travelling and separation from their families to say nothing of arduous work personal anxiety and expense Our impression is that they have labored diligently to be faithful to their trust which was committed to them by the ecclesias ‘it large We were also able to form some estimate of the frustration and heartbreak experienced when years of endeavor have not been brought to fruition and when criticism sometimes even suspicion has cast doubt over what has been already achieved
Our purpose in writing now however is not to give a detailed report of our findings but to make an appeal to the whole North American Brotherhood We believe that while the Continental Committees continue in existence It is right that attempts at reunion should be made only through them rather than through regional or other conferences youth gatherings or private effort The settlement of local differences or the filling of personal needs still leaves the question of the unity of the Brotherhood unresolved We are well aware that a measure of disillusion has seized members of the two separate communities and we fear that this could lead to unwise and precipitate action being taken in some quarters to the detriment and sorrow of the remainder of the Brotherhood in North America and elsewhere throughout the world We shall all be affected by the decisions which you take We are anxious lest the years of good endeavor should be lost and the fellowship position become more confused and disturbed than it is at present
We are grieved to learn that there appears to be a period of deadlock in Reunion Committee discussions and that instead of a positive move forward to establish a sound Scriptural basis upon which we can all stand together there are attempts to apportion blame for the lack of progress either upon one Committee or the other upon this region or that or upon individual brethren There are even indications that the failings of one group real or supposed are being made much of by the other as though some political issue or the success of a particular party was at stake rather than the unity of brethren in Christ While charge and counter charge remain part of discussions about fellowship the result can be only realignment but never reunion for it is a sign that we have lost sight of what our primary attitude should be We should be striving., with all our hearts to achieve a righteous reconciliation all else is to fall short of our duty to Christ
Our appeal therefore is that you will all give earnest consideration to the article on Fellowship—Its spirit and Practice which was mailed to each ecclesia It was originally prepared by request to offer help in a situation in some respects different from your own but we believe that it will be found helpful as a method of approach to your future discussions whether public or private
We are not unmindful of our promise to produce an article setting forth our view of one of the doctrinal questions which is an impediment to reunion and avoiding the use of the phrases slogans and cliches which have clouded great Scriptural themes in controversy We hope that when produced It will be acceptable as a Scriptural exposition of the theme of In Adam and in Christ and not treated as yet another source of quotation to justify particular views or rebut those of seeming or actual opponents The preparation of this article has been neither forgotten nor neglected But it has of necessity been the object of long and careful study and as we have proceeded with it e have become deeply conscious of the great importance of the subject itself and of the critical nature of any contribution e make to it at this time For who of us would dare to regard as of little moment of approach other than with reverence and Godly fear the discussion of the things which affect our common salvation not least our responsibility to our God who is a consuming fire
With fraternal greetings and prayers for our Father s blessing on all our tasks
Sincerely your brother in Christ
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One