The purpose of a unity agreement is to identify the issues that have separated the parties involved and address the differences in clear and unmistakable language. This has not been accomplished by the UA08/NASU; it is ambiguous and unclear on doctrinal matters and fails to establish a sound fellowship practice.

As we move forward, we must give serious thought to the kind of unity the Amended UA08 ecclesias are pursuing. It is evident that unity under the UA08/NASU will only serve to weaken, not strengthen, our community’s position. To treat first principles as non-essential in the pursuit of fellowship and to extend fellowship to individuals or ecclesias who are not prepared to join the Central community, establishes a dangerous precedent and is inconsistent with both New Testament teaching and Central practice.

Union between two fellowships is altogether different than unity. Union can easily be achieved by formulating documents in which the wording is satisfactory to both parties while retaining separate beliefs; unity demands oneness of mind on all fundamental beliefs, and a common understanding on how fellowship should be conducted. The scriptural summary contained in the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith expresses in clear, unambiguous terms, the faith once delivered to the saints and believed among us in these last days, and has provided a sound basis of fellowship for over one hundred years. This is demonstrated by the consistency shown in Christadelphian writings since the days of Brother Roberts.

Under the UA08, there can be no true unity because the parties view the document differently, don’t uphold the same fellowship practice as each other, and use different statements of faith that allow for different beliefs. None of which is consistent with the beliefs, fellowship practice, and statement of faith of the Central community.

From the above information it is evident that the Amended UA08 ecclesias continue to participate with the Unamended UA08 ecclesias in full knowledge of the differences that exist between the Unamended doctrinal understanding and fellowship practice, and that of the worldwide Central community; as the apostle Paul says, these things were “not done in a corner”. Several appeals have been made to the Amended UA08 ecclesias to pause fellowship until a satisfactory solution can be found, including a request to invite outside mediators to assist in evaluating the position of both sides, yet to no avail. Because of this we can only conclude that the Amended UA08 ecclesias no longer support the same doctrinal and fellowship principles as their Central brethren. Furthermore, in their pursuit of unity they appear to be quite prepared to push forward creating discord in the Ontario region.

Until a satisfactory solution can be found, that is acceptable to all Great Lakes ecclesias, and, indeed, to all ecclesias in North America, we cannot support the Amended UA08 ecclesias or the UA08/NASU in its present form.