Reconciliation Ministries: 
better relations with God
and each other

By Curtis May
Director, Office of Reconciliation Ministries

PASADENA—Several pastors and others have asked questions about the background and purpose of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries. In the following article I would like to give you some background on the ministry.

Jesus Christ is the who of reconciliation. It’s all about him. He died and rose again to reconcile the broken creation to God (Colossians 1:19-22; Ephesians 2:14-18).

ORM is a ministry that seeks to be used as an instrument to help fulfill the will of God "that they may be one as we are one" (John 17:22).

ORM has an international office in Pasadena and 23 chapters and chapter leaders in five countries:

Chris Beam: Houston and Lufkin, Texas.

Dan Bierer: Manhattan and Westchester, New York.

Randy Bloom: Memphis, Tennessee.

Keith Brittain: Charlotte, North Carolina.

Steve Brown: Clearwater, Florida.

Sam Butler: Grandville and Muskegon, Michigan.

Marilyn Fall: Phoenix, Arizona.

Tina Graham: Renton, Washington.

Mike Greider: Charleston and Huntington, West Virginia; Paintsville, Kentucky.

George Hart: Cincinnati, Ohio.

Lynn Hebert: Dallas, Texas.

Willard High: Chicago, Illinois.

David Kaiser: Akron and Canton, Ohio.

Richard Parker: Long Beach and Orange County, California.

Tom Pickett: Fort Worth, Texas.

Raul Ramos: West Covina, California

Leigh Sniffen: Arcadia, California.

Ron Washington: Livonia, Michigan.

Evelyn O’Callaghan Burkhard: County Cork, Ireland.

Olivier Carion: North London, England.

James Henderson: Johannesburg, South Africa.

James Herst: Lalrne, Northern Ireland.

Owen Willis: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

   
The Office of Reconciliation Ministries has a newsletter
(Reconcile), a flagship video (Reconciliation—A Move of God),
and a web site, atimetoreconcile.org

As Christians we have been given the ministry and gospel of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). We feel a burden and a special call to help fulfill this ministry. We feel a need to help stand in the gap with others who feel this burden and call (Ezekiel 22:30). This ministry, as most ministries, began in response to a need. We answered a request for assistance in resolving conflict within the church.

We began in January 1996. As expressed by the address of our web site atimetoreconcile.org, we believe the time to reconcile is now.

As we look at the world we are heartbroken over the divisions and walls we see. And far too often those walls exist within the church. We see the need for repentance now, for the kingdom is at hand (Matthew 3:1-2).

ORM strives to do the following:

• Model and preach the gospel of reconciliation and address all areas where walls, barriers and divisions exist.

• Take a holistic approach in the ministry of reconciliation by being comprehensive in scope.

• Enlist the services of speakers who are well qualified in specific areas of the ministry of reconciliation and human relationships to speak at our reconciliation workshops.

• Instruct others on effective follow-up and implementation of materials covered at our workshops.

• Recommend resources on the subject of reconciliation.

‘Love, Harmony and Cooperation Among All’

• To assist others toward reconciliation to Christ. To aid others in understanding and overcoming biases that erect walls between peoples. To assist others toward reconciliation with fellow human beings in areas where broken relationships exist.

• To advance the kingdom of God through assisting members of the body of Christ and the world (where possible) in coming into a more harmonious relationship with God and each other (2 Corinthians 5:16-21).

ORM had workshops and meetings in the following areas:

February—Memphis, Tennessee. Received key to city.

March—Grand Rapids, Michigan.

June—Huntington, West Virginia. Brought two fellowships together for worship.

September—Belfast, Northern Ireland; Perth, Scotland.

October—London; Cork, Ireland. Conducted conferences on reconciliation.

November—Manila and Bacolod, Philippines. Spoke and conducted reconciliation workshop with WCG and people from different fellowships.

November—Met with one of our designated church leaders in Tokyo, Japan, Pastor Shunsuke Nakagawa, his wife, Shizuko, daughter, Hatsuho, and sons, Bungo, Dan and Esai. Discussed reconciliation ministry.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002