Straight fom the horse’s mouth, the following statement clearly indicates what the Willow Creek Association is all about:

“Since 1992, the Willow Creek Association (WCA) has been linking innovative, outreach-oriented church leaders with each other. Its goal is to equip members with vision, training and resources to build thriving, biblically functioning churches. There are nearly 7,500 Association Member churches in more than 25 countries, representing 90 denominations.

The Association shares ministry breakthroughs that happen at Willow Creek with Member churches worldwide. Its Prevailing Church Conference and Leadership Summits continue to inspire and motivate Christian leaders. Held in South Barrington and simulcast to multiple locations worldwide, these conferences can reach tens of thousands of people at one time.

Other Association conferences train church leaders in the areas of small groups, evangelism, children's ministries, student ministries and the arts. Some of these conferences are sold out nearly a year in advance.

In addition to conferences, the Association offers tools such as drama scripts, Promiseland curriculum and Contagious Christian materials to its Members. As we continue to invest in the work of the Willow Creek Association, we are committed to sharing the gifts and resources God has given to us with churches around the world.” - http://www.willowcreek.org/chapter2/wca.asp

So, the obvious question is, what do New Testament Christian Churches and Churches of Christ have in common with 90 member denominations in the WCA? Furthermore, why do we need to be “linked” to any one of them in any fashion, much less within an ecumenical organization like WCA? True, the WCA’s statement of faith does say, “Membership in the Willow Creek Association as well as attendance at WCA conferences is for churches, ministries, and leaders who hold to a historic, orthodox understanding of biblical Christianity”, but how does the WCA define it?

· The Bible is God's unique revelation to people. It is the inspired, infallible Word of God, and the supreme and final authority on all matters upon which it teaches. No other writings are vested with such divine authority. · There is only one God, creator of heaven and earth, who exists eternally as three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each fully God yet each personally distinct from the other. · All people are created in God's image and matter deeply to Him. Central to the message of the Bible is that God loves people, and invites them to live in communion with Himself and in community with each other. · Apart from Jesus Christ, all people are spiritually lost and, because of sin, deserve the judgment of God. However, God gives salvation and eternal life to anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ and in His sacrifice on his or her behalf. Salvation cannot be earned through personal goodness or human effort. It is a gift that must be received by humble repentance and faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross. · Jesus Christ, second Person of the Trinity, was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life, willingly took upon Himself all of our sins, died and rose again bodily, and is at the right hand of the Father as our advocate and mediator. Some day, He will return to consummate history and to fulfill the eternal plan of God. · The Holy Spirit, third Person of the Trinity, convicts the world of sin and draws people to Christ. He also indwells all believers. He is available to empower them to lead Christ-like lives, and gives them spiritual gifts with which to serve the church and reach out to a lost and needy world. · Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. At the final judgment, unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. Believers will be received into God's loving presence and rewarded for their faithfulness to Him in this life. · All believers are members of the body of Christ, the one true church universal. Spiritual unity is to be expressed among Christians by acceptance and love of one another across ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, national, generational, gender, and denominational lines. · The local church is a congregation of believers who gather for worship, prayer, instruction, encouragement, mutual accountability, and community with each other. Through it, believers invest time, energy, and resources to fulfill the Great Commission — reaching lost people and growing them into fully devoted followers of Christ.

This statement reflects a contemporary summary of the central doctrines in the Bible, which are also presented in the historic creeds of the Christian church.”

This Statement of Faith (http://www.willowcreek.com/wca_info/statement_of_faith.asp) was carefully crafted for the purpose of not offending any denomination who belongs to the WCA. Therefore, just about every apostate group that gives lip service to orthodoxy can belong to the WCA, not the least of which is the 7th Day Adventist churches.

If anyone has a full list of the “undenominational” Christian Churches and Churches of Christ that belong to the WCA, please add them to the list below: Christ Church of the Valley in Arizona Central Christian in Vegas Community Christian in Illinois Knott Ave Christian Church in California Are these churches either apostate or on the road to becoming apostate? Maybe we can still save a few, but time is not on our side. If nothing is done, sooner or later most CC and COC will get sucked into this virtual black whole of ecumenism.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2002

Answers

Phil,

You can add our church to the list. We are proud members of the WCA!

Coon Rapids Christian Church in Coon Rapids, MN.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2002