Rowland may I be so forward as to express some of the ways I think the Worship Wars are impacting Chruches of Christ nationally:

 · Move away from important core-values of our evangelical heritage. (namely: genuine ecumenical dialogue and missional pertnership, robust theological debate, empowerment and training of our laity, commitment to social justice issues and the construction/discovery of theologies and ecclesiologies that engage Australian contexts).

. Marginalisation of alternative voices and opinions (sometimes vilification).

 · Move away from rigorous theological preparation of ministers.

 · Deliberate moves to pragmatism, fundamentalism, neo-gnosticism and/or any of the latest fads from the USA, in order to survive or to grow mega-churches.

 · Almost obsessional behaviour of some of our national leaders with a “consummerist”, “corporatist” approach. (i.e. all we need is the right strategic plan, marketing advice, and a profitable bottom line.)

 · A growing desire by some Church leaders to follow worship patterns of Hillsongs. Charles Beare, one of our important American theologians sees that the outcome will be a “pale reflection of the Assemblies of God”.

. The inculcation of prosperity theology and neo-gnostic tendencies which border upon, if not fall into, heresy.

Kind Regards,

KIM THODAY