Sacred Roots Workshop

48 Sacred Roots Workshop: Retr ieving the Great Tradi t ion in the Contemporary Church

“There is not one single race of men, whether barbarians, or Greeks, or whatever they may be called – whether nomads, vagrants, or herdsmen living in tents – among whom prayers and giving of thanks are not offered through the name of the crucified Jesus” (Justin Martyr, c. 160. Ibid .)

IV. Conclusion: Why Sacred Roots?: The Results We Seek in Retrieving the Great Tradition

A. To restore the biblical, canonical story of God’s saving work in Christ to the heart of Christian thought and practice; to make primary Scripture’s testimony of God’s saving actions in creation, Israel, and Christ

B. To affirm the visible character of the Church, in sync with God’s work in the world and for an exploration of the ecumenical implications this has for the unity, holiness catholicity, and apostolicity of the Church

C. To call Bible-believing Christians to affirm again that unity that emerges from our common roots in “the tradition that has been believed everywhere, always and by all”

D. To rediscover the vitality of our historic expression of devotion to God in the ancient substance of the service of the Word and Table informed by our common pilgrimage in the life of Jesus, shaped and expressed in the Christian Year

E. To return to our fundamental spiritual unity and belonging that arises from our common identity and shared spirituality in living the baptized life in Jesus Christ, like that practiced in the ancient church as it prepared candidates for baptism, incorporated new members, and equipped leaders to shepherd assemblies in the Church