Two hundred years ago an Irish minister by the name of Thomas Campbell, a recent emigrant to the United States, penned a document of Christian Unity that is said to be a religious declaration of independence because it called for Christians to cast off the man made encumbrances to unity with God and each other that had become a reality in the churches of that era and return to the New Testament as a model for Christian life and church polity. That document, commonly called the Declaration and Address has since become one of the most important religious documents in American history, one that, as a starting point for Stone-Campbell Movement churches, now has an impact on more than an estimated 10 million people in 180 countries around the world. 2009 marks the bicentennial of that document. A celebration of that bicentennial has been designed, to be known as Great Communion because it is at the Table of the Lord where the Declaration and Address’s plea for Christian Unity finds its greatest expression. In 2009 will you join in celebrating this milestone by participating in hosting your own Great Communion event?

One Church A Bicentennial Celebration of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address, edited by Glenn Thomas Carson, Douglas A. Foster and Clinton J. Holloway was released in 2008 by Leafwood Publishers of Abilene, Texas as a new call for today’s churches of the Stone-Campbell movement to live out the vision of Unity in the twenty-first century. The book is available from www.leafwoodpublishers.com for $10.99 or by calling 877-816-4455. Christian writer Ted Parks recently reviewed One Church in the January issue of The Christian Chronicle. To read the review, go to http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158664~2009_to_add_new_date_to_Restoration_history

Lest We Forget, Meditations at the Meal of Remembrance is a collection of 75 mediations for the Lord’s Supper written by Clinton J. Holloway and published by Cold Tree Press. The volume includes thoughts for special days, Church holidays, anniversaries, ordinations and a special Thomas Campbell meditation for Great Communion. Proceeds from the sale of the book benefit Great Communion. The book retails for $10.95. Order from www.coldtreepress.com or your favorite online distributor.

Several periodicals are carrying articles and special features on Great Communion in 2009. One Bodymagazine, edited by Victor Knowles, has devoted their entire Winter 2009 issue to the subject. Included will be choice selections from the original document, a modern restating of the 13 Propositions, a book review of One Church, plus editorials and columns about the Declaration and Address. Copies can be ordered for $3.00 (checks made out to POEM) by writing to One Body, P.O. Box 275, Joplin, MO64802-0275. Or email Victor Knowles at victor@poeministries.org

April 17-18: The Stone-Campbell Journal Conference, hosted by Cincinnati (Ohio) Christian University,will include a symposium on Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address. Panelists will include Doug Foster, Clinton J. Holloway, Rick Grover, and Daniel Rodriquez. To register contact susanfisher@wanax.com or call 513-284-5835.

April 20-21: The Bethany College (West Virginia) Oreon Scott Lectures will celebrate the Declaration and Address with speakers Doug Foster, Paul Blowers, Mark Toulouse. Contact Judy Pyle for further information: jpyle@bethanywv.edu

April 30: Emmanuel Institutes at Emmanuel School of Religion (Tennessee) will host a series of three seminars with Professor W. Dennis Helsabeck, Jr., under the title of: Heritage & Future: Re-discovering the Relevance of the Restoration Movement for Today’s Church. Key in the seminar will be an explanation of the Declaration and Address’s profound relevance for the 21^st century church. To register, contact the Institutes at institutes@esr.edu or telephone 423-722-1085.

May 5-8: At the Pepperdine University (California) Lectures Victor Knowles, Tom Olbricht and Doug Foster will lead workshops dealing with different aspects of the Declaration and Address. For information on the Pepperdine Lectures see www.pepperdine.edu/biblelectures

September 18-19: Johnson Bible College(Tennessee) will host an academic conference entitled “Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address: Past, Present and Future.” Speakers will include: Paul Blowers, Glenn Thomas Carson, Clinton J. Holloway, Gary Holloway, Stanley McDaniel and Tommy Smith. For more information go to www.jbc.edu or contact Dr. Greg Linton at glinton@jbc.edu

October 4:Cincinnati Christian University (Ohio) will host a Great Communion Service on the campus at 7 p.m. The event is free, open to all and will include participants from the three American streams of the Movement. Co-Chairs of the event are James Hansee at jhansee@whitewatercrosing.org and Rick Cherok at rick.cherok@ccuniversity.edu

One hundred years ago, in 1909, churches and individuals of this Movement came together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the Centennial Convention, celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Declaration and Address. In 2009 a significant gathering will again take place in Pittsburgh, at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, on October 4 at 5 pm. Speakers will include Victor Knowles, Marshall J. Leggett (portraying Thomas Campbell), Marvin Phillips and Bob Russell.

Ed Gratton and Terry Erwin, ministers of the Norwin Christian Church of North Huntingdon are spearheading the plans. All Stone-Campbell Movement Churches within a 75 mile radius are invited to attend. Contact them at terry@norwinchristianchurch.com

October 4: Planning groups are meeting together and laying out plans for Great Communion Celebrations on October 4^th in Nashville, Tennessee, Johnson City, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia and Abilene, Texas. If you know of joint plans in your locale or in your congregation, please, let us be aware of them by contacting Clinton J. Holloway at milligan95@yahoo.com We are particularly keen to hear of international plans! If you would like help getting started planning a Great Communion Celebration in your area or Church go to Getting Started at www.greatcommunion.org

A Special Note from the Editor: This issue of ChristiaNet is my 36^th regular edition, beginning with the November 2005 edition. I have been the longest serving Editor of ChristiaNet, succeeding founding Editor, Lyndsay Jacobs and later Jeff Weston. It is also my last edition. Due to the drop in gift income to World Convention, the current economic downturn and other factors it is no longer possible for me to remain on Staff (though we are seeking alternative funding possibilities). Thank you to those who have been so encouraging in my six year tenure at World Convention. I have enjoyed the many contacts with you over the years. It has been a joy to meet many of you in person at the last two Conventions. Those who might wish to remain in contact may do so via my personal email address: milligan95@yahoo.com Clinton J. Holloway, Editor