A Brief History of Pastors’ Fellowship
By Donald W. Neace
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
Psalm 133:1
Pastors’
Fellowship is a volunteer fellowship of Pastors and laymen who identify with the truth of the Reformation Movement of the
Church of God. Its purpose and mission is to articulate Biblical truths that will challenge the church toward unity, holiness,
Biblical Christianity, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. It meets annually at the First Church of God in Winchester,
Ky., for two days of dynamic preaching, heartwarming music, enriched fellowship and positive outlook.
It is an inclusive
fellowship of both Pastors and lay people with a positive attitude, challenging us to contend for the faith and calling us
to Holy Spirit leadership.
The following
work is a brief historical recollection of the beginnings of Pastors’ Fellowship. Several years ago, this author conducted
several interviews with leading founders of the Pastors’ Fellowship. Further research followed culminating in the following
history.
"... ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints..."
Jude 3b
Gathering in
a Holiday Inn meeting room in Chillicothe, Ohio, in early 1973, a small group of pastors associated with the Church of God
Reformation Movement, Anderson, In., gathered to share a burden for the direction and future of the church of God, and in
particular certain information regarding the School of Theology at Anderson.
Prompted by
news that the School of Theology was facing major changes and those changes were to be on the agenda of the Annual General
Assembly meeting in June 1972, Dr. Lillie McCutcheon helped lead the gathering of pastors from various locations in the Midwest.
The leadership
of the School of Theology was making plans, and had already entered into some agreements, to affiliate with the Foundation
for Religious Studies. The Foundation was a consortium of theological schools in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was said that low
enrollments, rising costs, and an apparent need for revitalizing the curriculum led the Board of the School of Theology to
set in motion several changes, including creation of the Center for Pastoral Studies and affiliation with the Foundation.
These men and
women, drawn together by that common concern, opened the door to what has become one of the greatest spiritual renewals in
the history of the Church of God. Pastors’ Fellowship was the outgrowth of that meeting. Gathering for the first meeting
in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1973, the annual gathering moved to Winchester, Kentucky, two years following and has become one
of the Church of God Reformation Movement's annual events.
According to
pastor and evangelist William C. Neece, one of the originators of the meeting, the burdens regarding the Church of God's School
of Theology and overall liberal leaning of the Movement caused several people concern. A voice from the conservative arm of
the church needed to be heard.
Most disturbing
to the pastors meeting in Chillicothe was the fact the Foundation included teachers from Catholic, Jewish, and strong denominational
doctrines that were directly contradictory to traditional Church of God teaching.
"I was shocked
and stunned," said Dr. McCutcheon, "when I learned that the Board had already signed papers to affiliate with that group.
I couldn't stand that."
According to
Dr. McCutcheon, the affiliation, while undermining Church of God doctrine, could have closed the School of Theology. After
the response from Pastors’ Fellowship and a lively debate on the floor of the General Assembly, a motion approving affiliation
with the Foundation for Religious Studies was defeated and a substitute motion calling for severing of ties with the Foundation
was approved.
Dr. McCutcheon
said a vehicle was needed for more conservative voices to speak and be heard. After the Chillicothe meeting, the group decided
to host a gathering of pastors from the general area for a time of preaching and re-emphasizing the great doctrines of the
Church of God and to give pastors from out-side of the Anderson community more of a voice on national issues.
"There were
several of us that had been talking for four or five years that we need a time for conservative preachers to come together;
to preach the great doctrines of the Church of God; to share what we are doing and help one another by exchanging ideas,"
said Brother Neece. "But, nothing ever came of it.
"When the issues
at the College came up it brought the idea back in to focus and we decided to try to kick it off," he said. From that small
start Pastors’ Fellowship has grown into a well-attended, highly anticipated event each year in the Church of God Reformation
Movement.
Under the pressure
of time and schedules, Brother Neece said the group had only six weeks to pull together the first Pastors’ Fellowship
gathering.
"We had to
move quickly because the School of Theology issues were coming to the floor of the General Assembly in June of that year and
we wanted to hear what others thought," he said. "We quickly put together a program, appointed a little committee to put out
a paper and started inviting pastors to come."
Those meeting
in Chillicothe and forming the first Steering Committee of the Pastors’ Fellowship consisted of Lillie McCutcheon, William
Neece, O.L. Johnson, John Conley, Harold Goodpaster, Roy Tincher, Herschell Caudill, Carl Reynolds, Allen Tinnerstet, Ed Koch,
Bob Lawrence, and Arti Brunette. Also attending the Chillicothe meeting were associate pastors Chuck Wood and Bill Arthur.
The first Pastors’
Fellowship met in May 1973 at the Eastland Parkway Church of God in Lexington, Ky. Dr. Neece was the host pastor. Pastors’
Fellowship met for two years at Eastland Parkway church before Dr. Neece resigned.
"We thought
if we could get 50 preachers to come to the first one it would be a success," Brother Neece said. "We were thrilled when we
had 13 states represented and well over 100 pastors and other preachers there plus many lay persons. The building was packed
with extra chairs set up on the narthex. We had a great time in the Lord."
While the spiritual
emphasis of the meeting and the doctrinal preaching was a calling card for attendees, all was not perceived well at the meeting.
"We were accused
of having a hidden agenda. Some thought we were trying to split the Movement and rumors had even been spread that we were
trying to splinter off. We were considered by some to be far right extremist fundamentalist out to tear the church apart,"
Brother Neece said. "And that is far removed from the truth."
The business
session at the first Pastors’ Fellowship was steeped in anticipation as Dr. Barry Callen, then Dean of Anderson College,
came to the floor and received very pointed questions regarding the proposed changes at the School of Theology.
"Our business
session was intended to give a platform," Brother Neece said. "To speak to national issues and give some pastors a chance
to speak that they would not have had before. There was never a hidden agenda. We had hoped - and there have been - years
when there were no issues at all and we concentrated on the doctrinal preaching."
"... and how shall they believe in him of whom
they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher?"
Romans 10:14b
PREACHING!
The Pastors’
Fellowship focuses on one purpose; and that is doctrinal preaching.
While celebrating in worship with great singing and spending quality time in prayer, the preaching has been the hallmark
of the Fellowships.
The preaching
call has gone out for the best preachers who will uncompromisingly preach the doctrines of the Church of God. The Pastors'
Fellowship has been about the business of calling the church back to the sound doctrines that made the Church of God Reformation
Movement distinct from any other group in America or around the world.
"Every year
we have had good preachers," said Dr. McCutcheon. "Pastors’ Fellowship has given conservative preachers understanding
that they are not alone. There are a whole group of Church of God ministers taking their stand for Church of God doctrine
and truth."
Having served
on the Pastors’ Fellowship Steering Committee from its beginning, Dr. McCutcheon said the concern for preachers has
been foremost in the minds of the leadership.
"We always
tried to get fresh preaching and preachers that fit the topics," she said. "We would pray and ask who is speaking to this
topic most clearly and who is doing the job in their local church. We wanted clear, doctrinal preaching to mark this meeting."
Doctrinal preaching
has historically been a foundation of the Church of God Reformation Movement.
A brief review of some of the doctrinal themes is appropriate in this work.
THE WORD OF GOD:
The Word of God, the Bible, is forever settled; therefore it is absolute in its authority and final in its
judgments. More than mere human thought, the Word is "Inspired of God," infallible and inerrant.
THE CHURCH:
The name "Church of God" is used more than a dozen times in the New Testament and thus give Biblical authority
for its use as the name of the church. Much is said in our Movement about "seeing" the church. The Church of God is
a movement and not a denomination.
The Church
is the body of Christ - that is, the members - that he uses to do His work on earth. Christ is the head and we are members
of His body. This Biblical truth leaves no room for human systems that seek to establish earthly headquarters and leaders
of the church. If there is only one body, there can be only one head; and if there is only one head, then there is only one
body.
Salvation makes
you a member of God's church. The instant you are born again you become a part of the Church. We believe that God wants all
of His people to be one just as He is one. Divisions are wrong. Therefore, we work to unite all of God's people into one.
"We reach our hands in fellowship to every blood-washed one."
THE KINGDOM OF GOD:
The Church of God preaches the present reality of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual realm
in which Christ is already King. The Kingdom of God is not political or geographical.
It is the whole realm of God's rule in the universe. The Kingdom is present and has been so since the earthly ministry of
Christ. The Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in Christ and since his advent he has been reigning in the hearts of all
redeemed persons. There is no need to wait for future events to take place in order for the Kingdom to be realized.
SANCTIFICATION and HOLINESS:
Holiness is the very nature of God. Basic to our understanding of holiness is the concept of wholeness or completeness
that is possible only through yielding to the Holy Spirit. The extent of grace goes beyond the initial forgiveness of sin
in conversion to the sanctifying of our very nature through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical theology
is important in this matter. We can be sure that there is a crisis experience in the Holy Spirit beyond that of initial conversion.
This experience equips the child of God to live a life of holiness, revealing total commitment to the will of God and wholeness
to life. The term "second work of grace," reveals that it is subsequent to or follows after regeneration.
DIVINE HEALING:
Divine healing and belief in its reality are reasonable on the ground of the divine promises that are expressed
or implied in the Scriptures. Divine healing is physical healing by divine
power directly manifested in answer to prayer and faith. The classical text on divine healing is James 5:13-18. There the
Church is commanded to anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over them. Such anointing was practiced by
Jesus' disciples in their healing of the sick. Similar in purpose to anointing with oil is the laying on of hands in prayer
for the healing of the sick. The laying on of hands by those who are called to pray for the sick is a symbolic conveying of
divine power, much as there was a giving of the Holy Ghost by the laying of the apostles' hands.
END TIMES:
The second coming of Christ is affirmed throughout the New Testament. The Church of God has traditionally
taught the Amillennial view of end times. We believe the Bible teaches an end of all things, destruction of the earth, a general
resurrection followed immediately by judgment. No time or space is given in scripture for a 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ.
At the return
of Christ and judgment, those who have received Christ in the full pardon of sin will be taken to a place prepared for them
by Christ. Those in the bondage of sin will be cast into a lake of fire along with the Devil and his angels.
(General information for the doctrinal review was taken from "The
Church of God As Revealed In Scripture" by Arlo Newell, Warner Press, 1972)
THE PUBLISHING MINISTRY:
The initial
paper that invited pastors to the first Pastors’ Fellowship has grown into the nationally distributed "Reformation Witness."
The newsletter carries in its pages the following statement of purpose.
"The purpose
of this newsletter is to keep the brethren throughout the church intelligently informed of the crosswinds that are blowing
steadily through the Reformation Movement.
"Our position
and support will be from and to those who are Bible-believing, conservative, and evangelical. Further, we believe in the Biblical
concepts which brought the Church of God Reformation Movement into existence.
"We will try
to disseminate only information that will build, purify, and strengthen pastors, preachers, and laymen of the Church of God
in their faith and in their field of responsibility.
"We feel that
theological conservatives need to have some kind of voice, and we will seek to provide that in this newsletter with integrity,
gentleness and concern."
The "Reformation
Witness" has become a periodical that un-ashamedly stands for doctrinal purity in the Church of God. Drawing from the finest
in Church of God authors, past and present, the newsletter sounds a clear trumpet for truth.
Several have
served in the position of Editor-In-Chief of the publication, beginning with an editorial team led by Artie Burnett. He was
followed by editors Alan Tinnerstet, Orville Easterling, Robert Lawrence, A. Wayne Burch, and Donald W. Neace.
Pastors’
Fellowship has also branched out to book publishing. The Fellowship either published or assisted in publishing several books
including: 1. Herein We Stand, vol.1 by Neece, Rudd, Conley; 2. Herein We Stand, vol.2 by DeVoll, Shupe, and
Heberer; 3. Scenes from the Throne by Richard Bradley; 4. Expanded Editorials by Donald W. Neace; 5. A Challenge
for Clarity by Donald W. Neace; and 6. The Unshakable Kingdom by Bill Neece.
THE MOVE TO WINCHESTER, KY.
After hosting
the first two Pastors’ Fellowships in Lexington, Ky., and upon the departure of Brother Neece as local pastor, the Steering
Committee accepted the invitation of Marvin Sanders to move the meeting to First Church of God, Winchester, Ky. The annual
gathering has been located at Winchester, Ky., since.
Frank Curtis
served as host pastor of the Fellowship from 1978 to 1995. Bill Konstantopoulos followed as host pastor form 1995 to 2008.
Gary Brown is the current host pastor at Winchester First Church of God.
Brother Curtis said he has been thrilled to see the growth of Pastors’ Fellowship over the years. The
work of the local church has enlarged through the years as well.
"I wanted us
to do more as a local church to host the meeting than to just open the doors and say 'glad you're here," he said. "That's
when we started having book tables, the breakfast and lunches, and doing early mailings to promote the meeting. The people
of the Winchester church have opened their hearts and their homes, they have taken vacation days to be here and worked very
hard to help make the Pastors’ Fellowship successful - they deserve a lot of credit."
With increased
attendance came increased responsibilities to the Steering Committee. Initially, there were no elections to the Steering Committee.
The intent was to keep the organization in the hands and hearts of those whom God had burdened with the vision for Pastors’
Fellowship.
In the ensuing
years, the work load and the vision to increase and enhance the meetings necessitated an increase in the Steering Committee.
Out of the
work of the Steering Committee, a Statement of Purpose was developed and is published in each issue of Reformation Witness.
It states,
"May, 1973, Pastors’ Fellowship was conceived in the hearts and minds of a number of concerned pastors, who were burdened
for the faithful and on going preaching, re-preaching, declaration and dissemination of those doctrines and teaching that
brought this reformation Movement of the Church of God into existence. It is our purpose and mission to continue, by every
means available, to carry this same vision to our generation and those who follow."
In an attempt
to move the Pastors’ Fellowship to a more national scale, other gatherings of pastors were organized and promoted. Dr.
O.L. Johnson was the first national chairman.
Pastors’ Fellowship meetings were organized in Pryor, Oklahoma, Seattle, Washington, Detroit, Michigan,
Distant, Pennsylvania, St. Louis, Missouri, and Birmingham, Alabama. These meetings did not survive after only a few successful
years.
Subsequently, Pastors’ Fellowship has hosted Reformation Renewal Rallies in various locations around
the nation. The Renewal Rallies are intended to bring the atmosphere of Pastors’ Fellowship to a local church or region.
Now, after 35 years of ministry Pastors’ Fellowship continues to move forward into new fields such
as missions and continuing education. Praise God for His faithfulness and for His call upon the Church of God.
Brother Neece said, “Thank God, the meeting in Winchester is still going, and I hope will for
many years to come. We need it as keenly today (if not more so) as we did 35 years ago.”
