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AGENDA
I. "FALSE TEACHERS" -- Thursday Morning
- THERE IS A BIBLICAL CRITERIA FOR CLASSIFYING SOMEONE AS A "FALSE
TEACHER."
- Who is a false teacher?
- Is everyone who disagrees with me a false teacher?
- What obligations do we have to identify and to denounce publicly someone
we consider to be a false teacher?
- Even in dealing with "false teachers" are we permitted to use
carnal weapons?
- What responsibilities do we, as preachers, have and not have in identifying
others as 'false teachers'"?
II. "ROMANS 14" -- Thursday Afternoon
- ROMANS 14 HAS BEEN USED IN TWO WAYS IN THIS CONTROVERSY -- FIRST, IT
HAS BEEN APPLIED TO A CONTINUED DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN BRETHREN ON MATTERS RELATING TO DOCTRINE (TEACHING); SECOND,
IT HAS BEEN APPLIED TO SITUATIONS WHERE BRETHREN CONTINUE TO DISAGREE ON "CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLES."
- Does Romans 14 apply in principle to the acceptance and use of a teacher
whom we believe to be teaching error?
- What was the original purpose and context of this passage?
- What applications can be made from it to today's continuing disagreements
between brethren?
- Does the teaching in context allow continued disagreements about "doctrinal"
matters without public condemnation or does it address ongoing disagreements about "conscientious scruples"
which do not require public censorship?
III. "FELLOWSHIPPING" -- Friday Morning
- "FELLOWSHIPPING" IN THE SENSE OF "APPROVAL AS BEING FAITHFUL"
SO THAT ONE CAN SHARE IN SPIRITUAL WORK WITH ANOTHER -- ACCEPTING ONE AS BEING IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
- We would all accept the truth that, ideally, God wants us to be in complete
harmony, not only of mind, but also, in teaching and practice.
- How can we practically apply and practice that noble goal of God in congregations
composed of less than perfect people and in a brotherhood that is far from ideal?
- How do we jointly participate with those with whom we disagree?
- Upon what basis do we determine some issues to be of a more serious nature
than others so that we sever ties over some disagreements but not over others?
IV. "ROUND TABLE, QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION" -- Friday Afternoon
- THE FOLLOWING IS A LAYOUT OF HOW WE WILL PROCEED IN THE QUESTION/ANSWER
FORMAT.
- We will gather in the conference room at 2:30 p.m. for an informal format
of questions and answers.
- Each individual, if he chooses, may address a question relating to the
topics discussed for the two days plus questions relating to "congregational autonomy" to any of the
other given participants.
- The person addressed by the question will be allowed up to five minutes
to answer the question.
- This may be followed by a second question from the same person to the
same individual or any of the other five and, again the person addressed by the question has up to five minutes
to answer the posed question.
- We will then move to the next person in alphabetical order and follow
the same procedure until each of the six participants has had an opportunity to address two questions to any of
the other five participants.
- After completing the time allotted for questions and answers, each participant
will then have five minutes to make summary statements.
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