Cartwright’s Journal out: History, shooting, AC reunion, governance, and the canon

The latest issue (says #171, print date March 31, 2015) of The Journal was sent out electronically and received.

Some items covered included a continuation of historical views of the 1990s, the tenth anniversary of a shooting, an Ambassador College reunion, governance, and the canon.

There was additional information related to a series of information about WCG history related to East Texas and attempts at accreditation in the 1990s for the Ambassador College campus there, as well as upheavals there in the 1990s.

Another lead article had to do with the shooting at an LCG service in Brookfield, Wisconsin ten years ago.

Here is some information related to the AC reunion from Dixon Cartwright:

Hundreds meet and greet at Pasadena AC reunion

Ambassador College students from the school’s “first 30 years”—1947 to 1977—met for a reunion in Pasadena, Calif., Feb. 27 through March 2, 1915. This writer for THE JOURNAL spoke with one of the organizers, Bob Gerringer of Altadena, Calif., a few days later, on March 10, and asked him how it went. “Everyone seemed to enjoy it immensely,” Mr. Gerringer said by phone, “and the many comments since the reunion ended have certainly confirmed that impression.”

There was another article by David Havir on governance (he tends to write about that relatively often). The following may be helpful for those interested in that subject:

The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had? What are some of the scriptural limits on ecclesiastical authority? Do some commit organizational idolatry? Here is a Spanish language version La Biblia, Policarpo, Herbert W. Armstrong, y Roderick C. Meredith sobre el gobierno de la Iglesia. Here is a link to a sermon titled Church Governance.

The ‘canon’ article was by former UCG member Mike Baran who wrote:

When we start doubting Scripture and the canon we step onto the slip- pery slope that can only lead us to apostasy and the practice of what Bonhoffer called a “religionless Christianity,” or what others describe as being a religion of no religion.

There are many in the world who do not accept the biblical canon for many reasons. Those who would like more information about it may find the following to be helpful:

The Old Testament Canon This article shows from Catholic accepted writings, that the Old Testament used by non-Roman Catholics and non-Orthodox churches is the correct version.
The New Testament Canon – From the Bible and History This article, shows from the Bible and supporting historical sources, why the early Church knew which books were part of the Bible and which ones were not.

The Journal also had the usual letters to the editor and other advertisements, various comments, and opinion articles.

The Journal itself is available by paid subscription (though Dixon Cartwright says some subscriptions are free to those who cannot afford it) and often tends to take a non-Philadelphian era view of certain church matters.