LIVELY DISCUSSIONS, THOUGHTFUL
EXCHANGES MARK CBE's PRESENCE AT CORNERSTONE
Hundreds of people were drawn to the
message of biblical equality
By Jaime Hunt
A sense of unity permeated CBE's presence at the Cornerstone Festival
this July.
"I really think it was the best thing we've ever done," says
CBE President Mimi Haddad. This year was the third in which CBE had a
presence at the annual Jesus People USA-sponsored music festival, but it
was the first time CBE sponsored an entire tent.
Hundreds of people found their way to CBE's Gender Revolution tent for a
series of workshops, discussions and fellowship. With few exceptions,
people were open and interested in the message of biblical equality.
Even those who disagreed did so in a gracious way, says CBE staffer
Jessica Gaylord.
"Everyone was very respectful," says Gaylord. "Even when
people got intense, there was a peaceful spirit about most of the
communication."
From 10 a.m. until late evening, the Gender Revolution tent offered a
place for Cornerstone attendees to explore biblical equality - and hear
opinion leaders share their thoughts. Over the three-day weekend, CBE
offered workshops on a variety of topics, including presentations by
Haddad, New Testament professor Linda Belleville, Cornerstone Magazine
editor Jon Trott, World Hope director Jo Anne Lyon and Global Women
coordinator, Suzannah Raffield.
Attendance at each of the workshops averaged about 50 people, says CBE
staff member Elizabeth McGrew, although some workshops were so
compelling that all of the seats were filled and people had to sit on
the ground.
At one point, a man loudly expressed his disbelief in the message of
equality, which drew dozens of people into the tent and sparked a
two-hour discussion. Gaylord, who jumped into the fray to moderate the
conversation, says that although the young man's opinion was expressed
harshly, the end result was very positive.
"I think it was the best thing that could have happened," says
Gaylord. "We closed the discussion in prayer and it ended with a
powerful sense of unity in Christ."
Another woman thanked Haddad for the impact of her lectures.
"She said she was from a PCA church and that she didn't think she'd
hear anything that would change her mind on gender roles," says
Haddad. "But she did and she thanked me for it!"
Plans are underway to expand CBE's presence at Cornerstone next summer.
To make a donation toward this endeavor, visit http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/help_cbe/you_can_help.shtml.
©2004, Christians for Biblical Equality, 122 W. Franklin Ave., Suite
218, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Conferences
~ Resources
~ Unsubscribe
~ Privacy
Statement ~ Advertise
Customer Service: 612-872-6898
 | |
|
| |
