Proclamation Theme of National Faith Alive Conference
Diocesan Press Service. May 25, 1973 [73144]
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. -- The result of a FAITH ALIVE WEEKEND is always " a vital proclamation of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of 20th century Christians," according to Mr. Fred Gore, national president of the organization. Proclamation was certainly the key word at FAITH ALIVE third annual conference at Windermere Baptist Assembly, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, May 11-13.
The mid-West site of the 1973 conference was an indication of increasing Churchwide interest in this Episcopal laywitnessing fellowship. Prior annual meetings had been held in North Carolina. During the first two years of its existence, the movement, headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, held WEEKENDS primarily in Florida and along the Eastern Seaboard. Now 300 Episcopal parishes, including many in Texas, California and the mid-West, have had, or have requested, FAITH ALIVE WEEKENDS.
According to President Gore, " FAITH ALIVE is an approach to spiritual discovery and growth through laymen sharing their faith and through small group interaction. It begins in the local congregation with a FAITH ALIVE WEEKEND which starts on Friday evening and concludes on Sunday. A lay coordinator, working with the rector's approval, brings in a team of visiting laymen to tell how their Faith has affected their lives."
Principal speakers at the Missouri conference were the Rt. Rev. William H. Folwell, Bishop of Central Florida, and the Rev. Robert Terwilliger, director of Trinity Institute, New York City. Each spoke of "proclamation."
Bishop Folwell told the 160 conference participants how God had spoken to him at a time of desperate need. Sensing failure as a parish priest and a loss of faith, the speaker had prayed, "Lord, I'm tired of defending You. " The reply he received was that God had never asked to be defended, only to be proclaimed.
Dr. Terwilliger's main talk was on "The Theology of Christian Conversion." "Theology means the knowledge of God, " said Dr. Terwilliger, "and that knowledge is given to us to be proclaimed."
Dealing specifically with conversion, the speaker said, "Conversion is God's work, not ours; and it is perpetual, it goes on and on. It is to penetrate the whole of our lives. " Then, being more specific, he asked his audience, "Has your conversion affected your relationship with your wife, your politics, the way you filled out your Form 1040? "
The conference included a series of workshops dealing with specific ways of improving FAITH ALIVE WEEKENDS and follow-up for parishes which have had them. There was also a lake -side Eucharist and much joyous singing.
At a panel discussion on the effectiveness of FAITH ALIVE, the Rev. Nat Reid, Warrington, Florida, spoke for parish priests. "Something happens in the parish as a result of the WEEKEND," he said. "Things change; people get turned around and pointed in the right direction. I used to beg laypeople to do things, with little effect:; now I'm having a hard time keeping up with my people, they are moving so fast." According to Reid, the most beneficial effect of FAITH ALIVE is that his parishioners have said to him, "We don't know what it means, but we want to walk with you."
The spontaneous applause that greeted his statement made it clear that FAITH ALIVE believes it has something to proclaim.