Christian Conventions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the church commonly known as Two by Two. For other uses, see Two by Two.
Christian Conventions is a name occasionally adopted for official purposes by a protestant Christian denomination or sect founded by William Irvine in the late 1890s. The church is also commonly known as Two by Two (or 2x2) by non-members, in reference to the church's ministry, which presents itself to the public in the form of pairs of itinerant, homeless preachers. The church is sometimes confused with the Cooneyites, a sect formed by the preacher Edward Cooney who was involved with the church's ministry until 1928.
Disagreement exists as to whether the church can be classified as a Christian sect or denomination, the latter being a label typically carrying more legitimacy. The group displays features of both a denomination and a sect. In this article the label "church" is used to ensure neutrality and since this label is sometimes used by members in self-identification.
The church renounces the assumption of any denominational name, preferring to be known simply as Christians. As a result the church is sometimes labelled by observers as The Church With No Name or other similar phrases. Within its membership, the church is commonly referred to as the Truth and occasionally as the Way or the fellowship or the faith. These terms are coined from John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life..." The membership is referred internally as friends or saints. Being active in membership is termed professing, the act of becoming a member is called to profess, contracted from the phrase "professing to follow Christ". The missionaries are called workers or servants. The church has assumed the title Christian Conventions or Christian Conventions; Representing Assemblies of Christians Assuming This Name Only at times for the purpose of legal compliance with various governmental bodies.
A distinguishing feature of the church is that the members believe in a ministry of homeless, itinerant preachers, and that they eschew ownership of church buildings. Worship is conducted at selected members' homes. Proselytising is carried out in hired halls or public facilites. The church is largely invisible due to its lack of a uniform denominational title and few printed religious materials.
Contents |
[edit] History
There is little in the way of internal official historical documentation about the church.
The present movement coalesced in Ireland in the late 1890s under the leadership of Scottish evangelist William Irvine (1863-1947), John Kelly, John Long and others. Irvine and Kelly had previously been associated with the Faith Mission.
Some members of the church maintain that there has always been a remnant of their group in existence since the time of Christ and that the church's origins go back to the shores of Galilee. There is no evidence to support this claim, and it is probable this is true only in church doctrine. More and more members are rejecting this claim as a historically unsupportable statement.[citation needed]
Very unlike the church's quiet activity today, the movement began as a boisterous and public wandering ministry under the leadership of William Irvine. Irvine was eventually excommunicated in 1917, an event which some members deny. His literal views of eschatological prophecy and belief that the world was about to end following the First World War brought about the first division in the movement. The greater majority of the members chose to carry on with the church doctrine unchanged. After the division, Irvine and a small group of loyal followers created their own sect, to become known as the Message People, The Witnesses (not to be confused with the unrelated Jehovah's Witnesses), or Irvinites (not to be confused with the unrelated Irvingites). Irvine later went on to declare himself a prophet and continued to urge his followers to prepare for the end of the world.
Apart from Irvine's departure, and unlike some Protestant denominations, this faith does not have a history of significant schisms. The only other major division occurred in 1928 when the worker Edward Cooney (well-known for preaching on Hyde Park Corner) was excommunicated for rejecting the group's organization and the Living Witness Doctrine. Cooney believed strongly in the original itinerant ministry rather than the ministry coming under the authority of overseers of geographic regions, as had developed. A handful of Cooney's loyal supporters separated to join Cooney in his own sect. This small group later became known as Cooneyites.
[edit] History controversies
The lack of any official history or documentation, combined with the doctrine ascribing the beginnings to Jesus' Apostles, has caused, and continues to cause, much controversy and angst amongst members and ex-members.
What documents exist, such as newspaper articles, photographs from private collections and private letters, point to the late 19th century beginnings with William Irvine and his associates. This position is well documented in The Secret Sect Parker & Parker (1982), one of the few published texts about this denomination and its history. In this book, photographs and newspaper articles from Ireland in the 1890s are used to bolster their assertion of the 1890s beginnings. The lack of any hymnal published or hymn authorship before this date lends weight to this position.
Amongst the membership today, the broad consensus is still that the church originated from the time of Jesus first calling his disciples at Galilee, and has been continuous since that time. This position has been preached explicitly and widely in the past, and is still the "official dogma" (such as exists) to this day. Presently, this line tends not to be preached in the explicit terms used in the past. When confronted with the William Irvine beginnings, many members will concede that William Irvine was a revivalist and the true "living way", espoused by the church today, has waxed and waned through history. In this doctrine, William Irvine is considered to be called in his generation, to revive the true "living way" (of worship).
The disparity between such positions has caused some members to feel affronted and confused as they try to rationalise these two positions. Ex-members often reported the feeling of excommunication as a result of the ministry's reluctance to discuss the disparity or entertain any position other than the "official dogma". In these cases, such an experience is often the final motivation for leaving this faith. There have been reports of some members being actively put out of the fellowship as a result of raising this issue. Questioning of doctrine is often construed as a lack of faith, often termed "falling out". In many parts of the world, however, there is considerable leeway afforded to differences in personal convictions regarding both doctrine and practice, and this seems to be a growing trend.
[edit] Official statement of history and practice
The following statement of the church's history was made by George Walker, a senior worker in North America, to the Selective Service System in 1942. It was widely circulated among believers in the United States at that time.
- In accordance with the suggestion made to us at our recent interview in the Office of the Director of Selective Service, Washington, D.C. that a further statement be submitted outlining, in greater detail than has heretofore been given, certain facts regarding the foundation, belief and activities of the Church we represented, as Ministers - this for the purpose of enabling the Local Draft Boards to correctly classify Ministers of this Church throughout the United States who are subject to the Selective Service Laws.
- We take this opportunity to state that during the closing years of the last century and the first years of this century a number of people in the British Isles and in America were exercised in heart and mind, through their study of the Scriptures, in regard to the methods of preaching and worship in the several churches of which they were then members. They were deeply concerned about spiritual things, and became fully convinced that there should be a return to the methods and purposes taught and carried out by Christ and His first disciples. This conviction led to frequent earnest conversations and studies on the subject, which in turn led to religious meetings, and in due time a number of these people went forth to devote their lives to the preaching of the Gospel according to the teaching and example of Christ as given in the New Testament, i.e., "two by two" and without salary or making appeals for financial assistance, putting implicit trust in God and His promise that as they "sought first the Kingdom of God" their natural needs of food and raiment "would be added to them".
- As a result of this step, many people expressed their desire to be in fellowship with such preachers and this led to regular gatherings together of small assemblies in homes for worship and study of God’s word. The reason for meeting in homes was primarily because it is scriptural, the Christians during the first centuries of the Christian era met regularly for worship in homes, which fact is also borne out and supported by church history. Thus after serious consideration, the leaders were confident that in their efforts to follow the early Christians they should form church gatherings in homes; therefore no church property or real estate has been acquired by purchase or otherwise, and for this reason incorporation and registration under a denominational name has not been necessary. The meetings continue to the present time in homes and are under the guidance of local Elders. Baptism by immersion and the weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper is taught and practiced.
- In the year 1903 Ministers of this Christian body began their labors in the United States and in the year 1904 in Canada. In these and subsequent years through the preaching of the Gospel, assemblies were formed in homes as already described. In the year 1906 the first annual conventions were held in North America, and from this beginning the number of Ministers in North America has grown to over nine hundred - about equally divided between men and women; the assemblies for regular worship to over three thousand; and the annual conventions to over one hundred.
- One Minister in each field is the Overseer for that field - to whom the other Ministers look for counsel and from whom they accept guidance. In most instances a State constitutes a field.
- Those who enter this Ministry must first establish very definitely their religious character and have fulfilled the other qualifications considered necessary. They must be upright and of high principle - having proven their ability to earn their living in an honorable way - and must have taken an active part in the Church meetings regularly attended. If and when they are considered to have qualified, they are then appointed and assist an experienced Minister in an evangelistic work and in ministering to assemblies of Christians. From the time of appointment, Ministers devote their entire time and talents to the work of the Ministry. If for sufficient reason anyone thus accepted later proves to be unworthy or unfit he cannot continue in this Ministry.
- At the annual Christian Conventions arranged at suitable times of the year in each State - and which practically one hundred percent of the members are present all matters pertaining to methods of work, doctrine, discipline of members, local elders, ministry, etc., are fully considered and settled.
- Definite fields of labor within each State are arranged for all Ministers by the Overseers to whom the Ministers are responsible. Names, addresses, and fields of labor in the Gospel of all Overseers and Ministers are available at any time.
- Overseers, who over a long period of years have devoted all their time to Evangelistic, Pastoral and other activities of Christian service, exercise - in fellowship with each other - a general supervision over the Ministry and membership in the United States.
- The undersigned is one of such Overseers, and would be glad to furnish any further information regarding the foregoing which may be considered to be helpful or desirable.
- Signed:
- George Walker
[edit] Doctrines differing from mainstream Protestantism
Contrary to common Protestant beliefs, members of the church believe:
- Salaried ministry is not compatible with the example of Jesus and the apostles. They reject the commercialization of organized churches.
- Church buildings are an unnecessary addition to Biblical Christianity. The group conducts their fellowship meetings in the homes of believers, and believes that the home of God's spirit is in the heart (reference: Acts, chapter 7, Verse 48 " the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands"). Annual state-wide conventions are held on privately-owned property whose owners make their buildings — often a farm — available for use a few weeks of the year.
- That Jesus' instructions to his apostles in Matthew 10 — such as going from village to village, preaching in pairs, not taking any worldly possessions, relying on the hospitality and generosity of the villagers — are workable, and still are the best pattern for Christian ministry today.
Members believe in a homeless ministry and church in the home, two practices that generally distinguish them from other sects and denominations. The church itself owns no property, hence they have no need to incorporate or take a formal name.
The church was somewhat progressive regarding the role of women in the church, with women workers first commissioned to preach in 1901.
A controversial teaching, not universally held, but predominantly found in North America, and possibly originating with the founder William Irvine, was that of the Living Witness Doctrine (first recorded mention being in a convention sermon by Joseph Kerr in 1903). This was derived from a statement by a contemporary of Charles Darwin that "only something that is living can reproduce life". It was concluded that only through accepting the preaching of a preacher (a worker) of the church (a "living witness") could one be saved. As a consequence of this doctrine, there was a significant exodus from the church at this time, and the idea is generally rejected today as heresy.
In general, doctrine has less to do with theological questions than with practical issues. For example, members are typically less interested in an official doctrine regarding the trinity than advice about "keeping the right spirit in trying situations", "forgiving those who have caused offence", "showing compassion to neighbours", etcetera. Rejection of "worldly influence" is also apparent in members of the church. The average member is less inclined to embrace popular culture (e.g. television, contemporary music, movies and fashion) or to be politically active.
[edit] Membership and geographic spread
Some areas that have larger concentrations of church members include Northwestern and North Central USA, Western Canada, Northern Ireland, Barbados, New Zealand, parts of Australia, Northern Peru, Nuevo León state in Mexico, and Río Grande do Sul state in Brazil. Some areas where the church has grown rapidly in recent years include the Ukraine and other parts of the former Soviet Union, Romania, Benin (West Africa), Madagascar, southern India, the Philippines, South Korea, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
One of the interesting aspects of the church is the spread and diversity of the social network. Today, the global congregation can't be easily classified into a socio-economic category, although this may be possible at the regional level, especially earlier in the history of the church. Most of the more wealthy members in Western countries will travel frequently and will go out of their way to meet with the members residing in other countries. As a result, there is a well developed social network amongst the members, which penetrates into some quite obscure (to a Western viewpoint) locations.
There are known to be at least an active church of practicing members residing in more than 100 countries, including the following (incomplete list): Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Rep., Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Since the 1970s (and possibly, long before this), missionaries of the church have been present at some point in many countries where Christianity or Protestantism is not common, even where proselytizing is not allowed. These include but are not limited to: Cambodia, China, Taiwan, Ecuador, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Romania, Ukraine
[edit] Current religious practice
Members of the church are regular attendees of various religious gatherings. The gatherings take on one of several forms, and the size is dependent on the purpose of the gathering. The gatherings are, in member parlance and basic function:
- Sunday [morning] meeting - fellowship meetings
- Bible study - Mid-week directed Bible-study meetings
- Gospel meetings - missionary
- Special meetings - day-long combination ministry, missionary and fellowship
- Conventions - annual regional versions of "special meetings", ranging (depending on the size of the membership in the region) from one to four days.
Participation in other religious activities outside these sanctioned gatherings is generally frowned upon. There are some who have occasionally attended gatherings of other faiths, including with the full knowledge of one or more workers. Such participation is the exception rather than the rule, and members may have occasionally been counselled by workers against engaging in such activities. Members are usually free, however, to exercise their own judgement in this regard.
[edit] Sunday fellowship meetings
Sunday mornings, a small number, usually between five and twenty five, will gather at a room in the home of a member. Each of these congregations is called a church in the sense of being the smallest fellowship unit of the greater Christian faith. The members of a home church are a close knit community, usually consisting of 10-30 people from the local area, although the number may be smaller in localities with few members.
The members are generally directed to join a particular home church by the elder worker of that state or province. The makeup of the fellowship meeting congregation is ordinarily formed on the basis of geographic proximity, although demographic mix is balanced as far as is reasonably attainable. Generally, the membership is stable and may remain unchanged for years or decades. Occasionally, the membership may be restructured to correct any demographic or geographic imbalances that evolve as a result of births, deaths or moving residence.
The service is usually led by the appointed elder of the church gathering, which is usually a man. Occasionally, a worker may attend, in which case, the worker will normally lead the service instead of the appointed elder.
The order of service usually involves collective singing of hymns, from their own hymnal, prayers offered by individuals, and a session of personal testimonies. Prayer and testimonials are usually given by each active participant, who has publicly "professed" his or her faith in Christ. At some point during the service, usually after all testimonials have been spoken, communion (eucharist) or taking the bread and wine (also referred to as the "emblems") is conducted. This sacrament is practiced by the sharing of a piece of bread, and of a cup of wine (or, in some localities, grape juice). Participation in the communion sacrament is usually reserved for those who are baptized, but ultimately is of personal choice.
[edit] Mid-week Bible studies
During the week, each congregation will gather again, to conduct a service in similar order to the Sunday fellowship meeting, but without Communion. The testimonies are directed toward a study subject or a particular Bible chapter, which may be from a scheduled list, or pre-agreed in a previous meeting.
[edit] Gospel mission meetings
The Gospel mission meetings are conducted by the ministers, usually as a pair. These meetings are directed toward the public, and any who come are welcome. They are held in public halls or any meeting room that can be retained at minimal cost. The State or Province is divided loosely into fields, each of which are assigned a pair of ministers. The assignment of the ministers is usually for the duration of the mission, although this can be affected by various practical issues.
The order of service involves collective singing of hymns, prayers and a sermon from each of the two ministers. The function of the mission is proselytizing to the public, or any visitor who hasn't professed a faith in Christ.
[edit] Special meetings
Special Meetings are usually held in the period mid-way between the annual convention calendar cycle. A Special meeting is a larger-than-usual gathering, which may combine the congregations of several mission fields. It is conducted by the ministers (known as "workers"), although for this event, a number of the ministers, usually six or more, will speak. The meetings consist of the each participating worker delivering a 10-30 minute sermon, a point of doctrine or Bible study, to the assembled congregation. A portion of the time is often also given for members of the general congregation to speak.
[edit] Conventions
Conventions are usually held on rural properties owned by the members. In some regions, convention centers or other facilities are hired for the purpose. A Convention gathering may range from twenty to over 2000. Some Convention gatherings in the United States may involve 1500 members or more. A Convention gathering usually lasts for four days, typically starting on a Wednesday evening, and continuing through to the following Sunday afternoon. In 2005, over 440 conventions were held in over 100 countries.
In North America, the members usually stay on location, and attend up to three scheduled meetings each day. These meetings, for the most part, follow the format of Special meetings, including personal testimonies and prayers. In Europe the accommodation varies from being similar to North America, to being in schools, church camps and other available boarding places.
In some countries it is common for a baptism to be held at some point during the Convention. It is typically conducted at a lake or river located on or near the property where the Convention is being held. The baptism ceremony is led by a senior (usually male) worker and attended by a group of members who congregate at the baptism site to participate in the singing of hymns while the baptismal dip is conducted. The baptism is a full immersion process performed by a worker.
The bread and wine (communion) are taken at Convention in Australia only.
[edit] Secrecy and excommunication controversies
Some people – including many ex-members – believe that the church has continuously and actively silenced opposing or dissenting views in the church. It is claimed by these people that those with power within the church have practiced excommunication to silence dissenting voices or questions about the church's doctrine and history and that there has been strong denial of any teaching that acknowledges preachers of any other faith or message. The existence of such controlling behaviour in the church is said to be supported by the group's teaching that the workers are the only true servants of God and the professing people are the only true saints. In this way, members are encouraged to believe they alone are the exclusive family of God.
Some members disagree with this and claim that in some areas of the world excommuncation is unheard of. They believe opponents like to unrealistically emphasize exclusivist tendencies, and they claim most present members recognize that exclusivist teaching is steadily diminishing.
In some areas colloquial terms used for excommunication are put out and stand down. In other areas, these terms would not be recognized at all. The former term means the members is blocked from congregational meetings and may be unwelcome at other services, whereas the latter means the member is temporarily requested to stay silent (not participate) at congregational meetings. These are not the same as lose out, which is attributed to those who no longer profess or attend meetings.
A recent controversy in Alberta, Canada, resulted in the excommunication of between 25 and 30 members in 1999 alone, according to "The Lying Truth" website[1]. The full number of excommunicated members is not known.
[edit] Hymnal
The hymnal used is titled "Hymns Old and New" and is published by R.L. Allan & Son, Glasgow, Scotland. The most recent edition is copyrighted 1987 and contains 412 hymns. Many of the hymns were composed or written by workers or friends.
[edit] Bibliography
- Jaenen, C. J., The Apostles' Doctrine and Fellowship: A documentary history of the early church and restorationist movements (Ottawa: Legas Publishing, 2003), IX, 14, The Contemporary [Irish] Restoration Movement, pp. 517-535.
- Parker, D. & Parker, H., The Secret Sect (New South Wales: D. Parker, 1982) (ISBN 0-9593398-0-9).
- Robinson, B.A. (2004). "The Church with No Name", Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Online accessed 20 August 2005
[edit] External links
The church has no official website. The following represents two private sites sympathetic to the church.
The following websites listed appear to be owned and operated by former members of the church, which may present opposing viewpoints on different aspects of the church.
- Hymns Old & New
- TLT (The Lying Truth)
- Veterans Of Truth (archive on TLT server)
- TTT (Telling The Truth)
- 2x2 church Civil Discourse forum
- PTO (Pillar of Truth Online)
- Greg Lee's The Truth Chat Room
- Who Are the Two-by-Twos?
- The Church Without a Name by Kathleen Lewis
- Thoughts and comments regarding 2x2 doctrines blog
- Die Wahrheit über die Wahrheit (German)
- Die Wahrheit über die Namenlosen / The Truth about the 2x2, Two by Twos (Swiss German)/(English)
