Most of the earliest European settlers in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, were Anabaptists fleeing religious persecution in their
homelands. In 1725 Martin Boehm was
born into a Mennonite family several miles from our current residence. Boehm became a pastor and bishop in the
Mennonite church, and his heart for God to be glorified, and passion to see
people encounter God in a deeper way, drove his desire to unite Christians
beyond denominational boundaries. His
widely successful efforts got him in trouble with his own Mennonite bishop
brethren, and he was excommunicated in 1800.
Martin and Eve Boehm's son Henry became a minister and a
prominent leader in the early Methodist church. The Boehm family dedicated some land from their farm and built
Boehm's Chapel in 1791 on the current site of Boehm's UMC church in Willow
Street, Pa. On June 26, 2016 my wife
and I attended the 225th anniversary celebration at the Boehm's Chapel. The ceremony was attended by people
representing many Church denominations.
The service included reminders of the importance of understanding
heritage, comments from current UMC and Mennonite leaders, and honoring of
those who have worked on the present-day restoration of the chapel.
At the end of the service in the chapel an invitation was
given to gather around the grave site of Martin Boehm just outside the
building. For those with Anabaptist
heritage, and I believe for all people living in Lancaster County and beyond, a
most significant event took place.
Several Mennonite bishops and local pastors were present to comment and
read a resolution adopted by the Mennonite Board of Bishops in February of this
year. The proceedings rescinded Martin
Boehm's excommunication 216 years earlier, confessed to sins of slander etc. of
a servant of God, repented and asked God's forgiveness, and requested and
declared a spirit of reconciliation to bring restoration and healing in the
Body of Christ.
Why is this significant?
Because forgiveness and reconciliation is at the heart of the
gospel. Christians are commissioned
not just to study and talk about forgiving and reconciling, but to practice and
grow in it as a way of life. As Bishop
Weaver recognized, "we took
prideful comfort in the areas where Holy Spirit had traction among us, priding
ourselves in our singing, giving, charity and clean living. But the Scriptures
are quite clear that “what is not of faith, misses the mark.” The blessed
apostle said in his first letter to the church in Corinth: “If I give away all
I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not
love, I gain nothing.” Therefore, we renounce our pride, which was the cardinal
sin of the enemy, and embrace the humble way of Jesus Christ." When we practice Christ's commission not only as
individuals, but as a corporate Body, we build a foundation that no enemy can
tear down, not even the devil himself!
Most
significant of all is the impact of forgiveness and reconciliation on the
spiritual climate of a region. And the
spiritual climate is the most important element in forging positive
transformation in a community and culture.
I heartily thank all who helped make the event happen at the
chapel. I also thank other forerunners
like Dr. Robert Doe who (over the past two decades) have brought together
representatives of past generations
(both offenders and those offended) to facilitate healing of old wounds. Dr. Doe reminds us of William Penn's vision
in the Foreward of my book Escaping the Pain of Offense: Empowered to Forgive
from the Heart, "The Kingdom of God was to
be reflected in the society of Pennsylvania. In Luke 9 and 10, this is revealed
to be peace, healing, deliverance and new life. In addition to religious and
political liberty, Philadelphia was also the site of the first institutions of
healing in the New World. The first hospital, medical school, pharmacy school,
mental hospital, nursing school, osteopathic institute and other medical
centers were developed in southeast Pennsylvania as the first of their kind in
the United States. Therefore, it could also be expected that healing ministry
and practical new models of Christian medical care should be a fruit of the
historical blessing of our region."
Lancaster County has been at the heart of William Penn’s vision to see
Kingdom of God principles expressed in community life. Healing of broken relationships between
individuals and groups of people is essential for the transformation (healing)
and fulfillment of a destiny of a community.
Many pictures can be used to
describe the work of the Holy Spirit in transformation; ie. doors opening, gates unbarred, river
waters flowing, holy fire falling, purity fire consuming. Only God knows precisely which doors are
opened and which gates are unbarred to advance God's purpose and Kingdom in our
region through the Boehm's Chapel event.
May we continue to follow the leading of Holy Spirit and obey the call
of God for our destiny both as individuals and as a corporate people of
God. May God release a fresh anointing
of inspiration, initiation, innovation, and trend setting in holistic living
and spiritual revival to spread across our land. As in the days of ancient Israel, our attention to God can make a
difference as recorded, " if my people, who are called by my name, will
humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their
land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Note: A book I authored Escaping the Pain of
Offense: Empowered to Forgive from the Heart discusses truth for dealing
with disappointments, offense and finding freedom through forgiveness (from a
Christian perspective). See more info.
by clicking here: http://bluerockbnb.com/healing/book_main.htm .
by Ed Hersh, Blue Rock BnB Healing Ministry
