Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
ON THE MARCH
The Jesus Fellowship had joined the EA after Gilbert Kirby’s
visit in 1982. They regarded us as a controversial but doctrinally
orthodox church. Not everyone agreed with us and some
regarded ‘community’ as near heretical. Nonetheless they
knew we were true evangelicals and the Alliance had welcomed
us.
The EA suggested a meeting with our attackers, but we felt
that unless they desired reconciliation, a meeting would
achieve nothing. We were keen, though, to meet with responsible
leaders and answer their questions. Dave corresponded
with Clive Calver, the General Secretary of the Evangelical
Alliance. In January 1986 Clive proposed a meeting of three
of our leaders with some of the EA executive, and with leaders
representing our opponents, to investigate ‘the accusations
made against the Fellowship... that these matters might
be properly resolved’.
We arrived in London eager to clear our name, but the EA
had been receiving complaining letters and phone calls and
feelings were running high. Churches, it was rumoured, had
even threatened to leave the Alliance if we remained. The EA
were under pressure.
We had innocently expected the accusations to be dealt with,
the vendetta exposed and our integrity upheld, but the matter
of the accusations was dealt with quite briefly. However,
a different issue of poor relationships with local churches was
raised. The EA felt compelled to suggest that we resign on
this issue.
We felt totally let down. As Noel wrote to the chairman: ‘It
was an unusual experience. It was like being condemned without
trial.’ Relating to other churches was scarcely the issue
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