The New REFORMATION of CHRISTIANITY [IC, Open, Reboot]

[Zjaum]

THE NEW REFORMATION

OOC
Old IC (everything outside the Memphis conference is canon for this RP)

Chapter 1: No Return

The inviting Italian sun rose to greet the thousands of Catholics patiently awaiting the papal mass in front of Saint Peter's Basilica. A number of cardinals watched the event from their television screens. Today was a day unlike any other. Today was a day they would need the strength to bring whole worlds together.

One cardinal addressed another. "Pensi che la conferenza incontrerà il successo?"
"I think not. I'm sorry; could you speak English? I'm a little out of it today, and my Italian was never that good."
"Oh, sure, friend. Why don't you think our hard work will bear fruit?"
"The church has tried this hundreds of times, and every time the heretics still see heresy."
"Come now; with God all things are possible."
Some bishops and cardinals attending nodded their heads at this, but their hearts were still heavy. "Yes, but is He on our side? Are we on His?"
"His will be done."
"It was His will that the video was shared. It was His will that the church splintered, wasn't it?"
"Never underestimate the sin of man."
"Is this sin?"
"...Well, we will have to see. We should leave now; we don't want to be late, and traffic should be terrible."

By this time, the pope was well into his mass, the sermon part in particular. "...E insieme, tutte le parti approfondiranno questa gloriosa religione che chiamiamo Cristianesimo!" The audience applauded, but there was silence inside the Vatican. In a few hours, down the street in a hotel in Prati, a dozen or so dissidents of the Catholic, Orthodox and now Protestant faiths would converge to address their grievances. The conference room was vast and posh, but it would soon be filled with thousands of representatives, each part of their own sect, fiercely debating the core principles of Christianity. Already security was making their rounds, placards and tables were all set up, the speakers were rehearsing their speeches one final time, and the earliest of attendants were arriving. It was time for hellos, time for bloc-building, and a brief calm before the storm.

Pastor Wendy Baker had skipped her morning meal at her relatively-cheap bed and breakfast to make friends early. She was never one for extravagances, and, while her counterpart would have come a day in advance to visit the large cathedrals of central Italy, she just wanted to read her Bible in peace. She passed the checkpoints and sat down at her table and flipped to her bookmark in First Samuel. Soon potential friends would come, and she would be the first to meet them.

[Vrijstaat Limburg]

Theo Bovens inspected his watch. 14:45.
He sighed and looked at the cheap, small television lifted upon a cupboard. The native Limburgers looked at eachother, not sure of what to say. Had the pope betrayed them?

The young state of Limburg did not only have a past of republicanism, and anti-monarchism, but was also rooted down with religion. Many people living in Limburg were Flemish catholics, while their leaders were calvinists.
The Limburgers were suspicious of anything non-catholic. Whether it be Orthodox or Protestant, they had seen both religions opress Catholics and would not forgive them for such mortal sins.

The Mestreech community didn't believe that Jesus Christ was a pacifist. Jesus Christ fought and died for his beliefs, for his faith. Why should catholics not do the same?
Most people within the room were very upset, with the final nail rammed into conservative catholicism, Theo Bovens and his long-time friend, Sjon Kerckmans, prepared a small speech for the catholics who attended the public viewing session of the meeting in the Vatican.

"Dear citizens of Maastricht, dear faithful catholics,
This is not the first time that the Vatican has conspired with false faiths. A mere 500 years ago, the head of the catholic church in Rome yielded to the protestants, whether it be the edict of Nantes or the Augsburg settlement, Rome will never achieve full religious peace with their petty politics and scheming. They're revolutionizing the church with their liberalism. This is highly unacceptable. Yet we, as a people, should not rise up against catholicism or the catholics. That would make us no better than a calvinist.
Brothers and sisters, in this great hour of need, it is our expectation, nay, plight, to denounce Rome and pray for every single catholic out there. For our fellow catholics should not be punished, but the foul rats in Rome who play with faith as if it were a football. Kicking it around, corrupting its true form. Tonight, brothers, I will not see heresy or liberalism within these city walls. Tonight we pray to Saint Michael to protect our sons if they are to fight for this faith, and pray to the virgin mother Mary to protect the innocents in this conflict.
God be with you, brave populace of Maastricht."

Pray they did. Maastricht's inhabitants were impressed. They were not so attached to their beliefs before, but due to these radical circumstances, they saw no better opportunity than to heed Bovens's words, and applaud his charisma. This man was going to elevate their faiths to new heights. He was going to reform the church to deform it, perhaps even remove the "Rome" from "Roman catholicism"? Only time would tell.

[Likar]

Faizan Kashmir watches from a distance, with some of his followers. As he watched, from behind a man approaches him. As he turns around, a man pulls something from his pocket. That something was a gun. The man next to him is shot dead, and the shooter runs off.
"IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, SURVIVE!" says Faizan Kashmir as he drags his follower to a ambulance, and a large commotion begins with people running outside. The shooter has gotten away, leave only a bullet in a head for evedence.

Later that day, he dies.

[Bruke]

Reverend Dessalegne Mebrete cautiously entered the conference room. He quietly went to his table and sat down. As he looked around, he noticed that some other attendees had already arrived.

This was a momentous day. The United Evangelical Church had already sparked a worldwide debate through the published statement that he had helped create, outlining the church's outlook on the shifting landscape of Christianity.

Now here he was, face to face with the leadership of a diverse group of denominations and sects. A opportunity to make the case for holistic theology and ethical reform.

He eagerly awaited the chance for discussion.

[Zjaum]

A few cardinals checked their phones; a notification had popped up. "There was a terrorist attack at a peaceful Muslim rally."
"Does it say where?"
"Surprisingly, no. I think we invited this group, though, and they told us they'd come."
A moment of silence, both out of respect for the dead and out of concern for the conference. "We can still continue, right?"
"Sure. The odds that the incidence is related are minimal."
"Still, the very thought gives you shivers... We should have a prayer for the deceased, shouldn't we?"
"All right." The opening cardinal shrugged off his worries. "Probably can't make any more fool of myself than the Maastricht speaker, eh?"
Nervous chuckles. They still had butterflies in their stomach that Pope Francis had invited those Dutch maniacs to speak at the event. Still, the show must go on...

An old man in red and white robes stepped up to the microphone and addressed the small audience that had arrived. They'd organized this meeting rather hastily, so a smaller number of representatives on the first day was normal. So he told himself. "Attention- Hello, everyone. I'd like to welcome you to this conference on Christianity. Before I continue, I'd like to offer my prayers for the family of the member of the Organization of Moderate Muslims, who was shot at a peaceful rally." He needed to choose his words carefully; his next could doom any hope of reunion. "Jesus wept at the passing of Lazarus; it is natural. We can only hope that the shooter is brought to justice, if not now then in the afterlife." There. that was fine.

"The opening prayers and our first speaker will be up in a few minutes, so for now, please enjoy the refreshments and converse; I hope that this meeting is successful."

Wendy had a small amount of coffee. She didn't like it, but it was enough to temporarily stop the jet lag. She looked around at all the placards and the pastors seated there before a familiar face crossed her path. She'd seen it on the news; yes, the author of that letter! She hoped that the delegate sitting next to her would arrive late, because she took it and spoke to the Reverend. "Hello, my name is Wendy Baker, from Loomis Reformed! I've been wanting to meet you for some time now. I hope that the day finds you well, right?"

[Likar]

At the hospital where another man was injured...

Faizan Kashmir steps out of the waiting room and to the room of the injured man. He is asleep, in a coma. Mohammad Akbar was hurt by the bullet, as it partially went through his skin. The shooter was arrested later that night, and was found to be a part of a Anti~Muslim hate group called "The Anti Jihad Organization" known for 3 other recent terror attacks killing 5 and injuring 7. In all, this group is known for killing at least 56 Muslims and injuring 104. This has caused mass protest after the recent attacks, calling for a end to the group. It was recently filed as a terror group hours after the attack.

[Bruke]

Reverend Dessalegne Mebrete turned to notice Wendy Baker, warmly shaking her hand. "Yes, the day finds me well, ma'am. Thank you for asking. I have been eager to meet you as well. I understand that Doctor Egilson is the one to thank for this," raising his arm and moving it in a sweeping gesture in reference to the conference, and the change it represented. "I hope that you'll pass along my thanks to him. I have heard that your congregation puts emphasis on comprehensive study of the Bible, in addition with other materials. Tell me, what do you believe is the role of science and historical documents in the study of the Word?"

[The United Artherian Federation]

As the meeting started, three armored trucks pulled up with marked Quantum PMC. Out of each truck fifteen men dressed in suits piled out, each one armed with an SMG and pistol of choice. Not a word was said as each of the men took their positions to secure the area. As more people arrived, they started checkpoints to know who was coming and who was who.
Nobody dared to challenge this, for the moment.

[Zjaum]

Wendy Baker chuckled. "Pastor Egilson, as much as he'd like to envision himself as a rook or a knight, is merely a pawn. Christ is the King." She chose her next words less playfully. "God made the rules of nature. It is the reason why we have consistency each and every day. I take solace in that, and I find God's glory when I study His world. And you?"

As the security truck pulled up, a deacon ran up to meet them. "Thank you for being here on such short notice. With all the violence this morning, I'm beginning to think this was a necessity rather than an extravagance. Please, let me show you around the hotel and hook you up with the staff." With that, he took the leader and began a brief tour.

[The United Artherian Federation]

Wendy Baker chuckled. "Pastor Egilson, as much as he'd like to envision himself as a rook or a knight, is merely a pawn. Christ is the King." She chose her next words less playfully. "God made the rules of nature. It is the reason why we have consistency each and every day. I take solace in that, and I find God's glory when I study His world. And you?"

As the security truck pulled up, a deacon ran up to meet them. "Thank you for being here on such short notice. With all the violence this morning, I'm beginning to think this was a necessity rather than an extravagance. Please, let me show you around the hotel and hook you up with the staff." With that, he took the leader and began a brief tour.

“No problem. No problem at all.” He said following the deacon on the tour.
Outside another van pulled up, again marked Quantum PMC. But this time, it was black with tinted windows. Inside was a Fast Response Team, read to bring more firepower to the party if need be.

[Bruke]

Wendy Baker chuckled. "Pastor Egilson, as much as he'd like to envision himself as a rook or a knight, is merely a pawn. Christ is the King." She chose her next words less playfully. "God made the rules of nature. It is the reason why we have consistency each and every day. I take solace in that, and I find God's glory when I study His world. And you?"

As the security truck pulled up, a deacon ran up to meet them. "Thank you for being here on such short notice. With all the violence this morning, I'm beginning to think this was a necessity rather than an extravagance. Please, let me show you around the hotel and hook you up with the staff." With that, he took the leader and began a brief tour.

Reverend Mebrete paused before answering. "While I agree that God's glory is evident in His creation, I have also noticed many churches who have replaced the supernatural with the natural, and secular reasoning with spiritual truth. I'm sure you know of such churches as well. That is why we have written a statement on scientific research, a pledge to only study the wonders of this world in light of the laws of the otherworldly, of God Himself. So far, around 180 or so of our brothers and sisters who work in scientific fields have signed it. We hope that more will sign in the future. And we are also being proactive, creating a program where those of us in the sciences can speak at any of our churches to the congregation about the relationship between science and religion, and give their own personal testimony. It's important to know real truth from false truth, especially in this day and age and especially for the youth."

[Vienna Eliot]

The doors to the House of Representatives swung open, and the Sergeant-at-Arms paraded in.

"Madam Speaker..."

For about, maybe half a second, Joyce Wu's world came to a halt — a half-second that lasted twenty. All of it went silent — or, something like that, hollow and empty and ambient — and the lights in the chamber beamed down into her eyes, a sharp plunge into her pupils, like a scream. The whole universe seemed to coalesce around the physical space her body occupied in that moment, and then it all fell, like a wave, around her. She knew what was about to happen.

"...the President of the United States!"

---

"And I will tell you this. We may not always agree with one another. Hell, I find myself disagreeing with Speaker Wu about as often as I disagree with the First Lady. But it is in this House — the House of the people — that we learn to disagree without being disagreeable. We will always find compromise, as long as we simply remember those values that must never be compromised. I trust in this Congress to take those necessary steps."

The audience wasn't booing — no, it wasn't as bad as it had been earlier — but they were shaking their heads. And then it happened. First one Republican got up. Then another. And then a Democrat stood up as well, and they all headed for the door. One after another, it seemed like the President was going to conclude by speaking to an empty chamber.

And for that reason, I am here to tell you, the state of the Union is strong! My fellow Americans, I— God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

---

"How do you think it went, Jessman?"
"Excellently, Mr. President."
"Charles?"
"There were some places it could have been better."
"Good."

The President stood up from behind his desk and began to stroll around the Oval Office.

"So we have a nice variety of opinions, here," said the President. You know, Charles, Jessman was there in person. He quite liked it. Right, Jessman?"
"Quite right, Sir."
"But you saw it on television. Can you tell me what seemed different about it, from the other ones, to you?"

Charles Kennedy was from, though perhaps nowadays it doesn't exist in quite the same way, high society. Real high society, of course, not that upper middle class dribble of the occasional dinner party that passes for it today. Those suburbanites had no manners, unlike Mr. Kennedy, a gentleman who knew etiquette like it was bred into him — and it was, really. Were he born into royalty he would have been indistinguishable from how he was now. He was impeccably dressed. He chose his words carefully but swiftly. He was never short of a kind word.

He hated it. He wanted to say, Mr. President, it was utter fucking shit.

Instead, he said, "I do fear, Mr. President, that — having noticed most Americans do watch from home — that there may be some discontent. Or, that is, the spectacles and the charades of members opposite our party were perhaps a little emphasized by the television cameras."

"Hm," grunted the President. He slowly circled the room, looking down with his lower lip pouted, then back behind his desk. He inhaled, looking out the windows at the Rose Garden. "Hm!" he went again.

"Are you an ant or a grasshopper, Mr. Kennedy?"
"Apologies, Sir?"
"A grasshopper, Charles, write it down! A grasshopper's twenty times as big as an ant! Things can jump thirty feet! Raise a racket with their little banjos! Don't tell me an ant can do that. Flock of hoppers can strip a field bare in thirty seconds. Leave nothing but dirt. Seen it happen. Eat your hat. Chew the hair right off your head. Chirp you to deafness in the process. Ants? Pshaw."
"Mr. President, I—"
"I'm a grasshopper, Charles, plain and simple. Now our friends to the right of the Speaker might not like that, but they ought appreciate that I believe what I believe and I don't back down from it. That's what this White House is built on. Cold, hard sweat. We don't back down round here. You two are dismissed."

They left. The President paced around the Office, licking his lips, stuck in thought. Then he stopped in the middle of the room, and slowly sat himself down on one of the couches.

"An ant or a grasshopper... I need to write that one down..."

---

[Camelone]

"Sinclair do you really think anything will come of this conference? I do know that the Church has utilized councils for most of its history to pass judgement on what is true and what is false but I fear that this conference will have no teeth at all. I mean look at some of the groups that will be in attendance they don't even have Apostolic Succession just a bunch of rabble rousing preachers and the others may very well be secularists who have no grasp of the supernatural nature of the Lord Almighty." A monk said speaking to the leader of the Synod of True Anglicans, Primate Sinclair Kenton, both men wore the clothes fitting of their rank within the Church, Sinclair wore his bishop vestments so as to display the glory of Christ's Church for he was the head of the Prince's of Church and shall look like it while the monk wore the simple brown robe and equally bland trousers and boots with a tonsure exposing his head. The Primate was significantly older than the monk but there seemed to be a bright zeal and intellect that manifested behind the eyes of the monk which could not be ignored by anyone.

"Brother Charles I do share your worries but I believe that there is a spiritual and practical reason for attending this meeting."

"I would assume that the spiritual reason is the attempt to reconcile the Body of Christ and to make the voice of truth be heard but I am confused on what you mean by practical." Charles inquired as they continued down their path to the conference.

"Why that would be making friends, politics is as important in the holy life as it is in the secular life as much as I hate to admit it. Allies will be needed in the coming years but we must remember to temper it with the love of the truth." Sinclair stated rather matter of factly with a smile but before Brother Charles could respond the Primates phone buzzed and he looked at it seeing the news article rolling his eyes.

"What is it Primate?"

"It seems that a Muslim group was attacked by a random shooter, or a member of some hate group, and they have already found the shooter with only a bullet casing as evidence and already organized a mass protest to get the group labeled a terrorist group. Seems to convenient for my tongue." Sinclair said putting his phone away as they neared the location for the conference.

"You think it was a false flag?" The monk asked surprised at the accusation.

"No, just that it is seems much to convenient in only a few hours that is all." Sinclair concluded as they arrived.

[The United Artherian Federation]

"Sinclair do you really think anything will come of this conference? I do know that the Church has utilized councils for most of its history to pass judgement on what is true and what is false but I fear that this conference will have no teeth at all. I mean look at some of the groups that will be in attendance they don't even have Apostolic Succession just a bunch of rabble rousing preachers and the others may very well be secularists who have no grasp of the supernatural nature of the Lord Almighty." A monk said speaking to the leader of the Synod of True Anglicans, Primate Sinclair Kenton, both men wore the clothes fitting of their rank within the Church, Sinclair wore his bishop vestments so as to display the glory of Christ's Church for he was the head of the Prince's of Church and shall look like it while the monk wore the simple brown robe and equally bland trousers and boots with a tonsure exposing his head. The Primate was significantly older than the monk but there seemed to be a bright zeal and intellect that manifested behind the eyes of the monk which could not be ignored by anyone.

"Brother Charles I do share your worries but I believe that there is a spiritual and practical reason for attending this meeting."

"I would assume that the spiritual reason is the attempt to reconcile the Body of Christ and to make the voice of truth be heard but I am confused on what you mean by practical." Charles inquired as they continued down their path to the conference.

"Why that would be making friends, politics is as important in the holy life as it is in the secular life as much as I hate to admit it. Allies will be needed in the coming years but we must remember to temper it with the love of the truth." Sinclair stated rather matter of factly with a smile but before Brother Charles could respond the Primates phone buzzed and he looked at it seeing the news article rolling his eyes.

"What is it Primate?"

"It seems that a Muslim group was attacked by a random shooter, or a member of some hate group, and they have already found the shooter with only a bullet casing as evidence and already organized a mass protest to get the group labeled a terrorist group. Seems to convenient for my tongue." Sinclair said putting his phone away as they neared the location for the conference.

"You think it was a false flag?" The monk asked surprised at the accusation.

"No, just that it is seems much to convenient in only a few hours that is all." Sinclair concluded as they arrived.

As they pulled up a guard a approached.
“Name, reason for visit?” He said, pulling out his tablet to log the entrance.

[Camelone]

"Primate Sinclair Kenton and Brother Charles Adams of the Synod of True Anglicans. We were invited to attend this conference and would very much like to pass sir." Sinclair said simply, there was no need to eleborate or make a scene they just needed to get in and begin the process of saving Christendom from further disunity and decay at the hands of false prophets, both secular and 'Christian'.

[Likar]

Mohammad Akbar quickly jumps into his limo to get to the conference at the last second and is able to get in with no troubles, despite the fact that a muslim is entering a conference for Christians.....

[The United Artherian Federation]

"Primate Sinclair Kenton and Brother Charles Adams of the Synod of True Anglicans. We were invited to attend this conference and would very much like to pass sir." Sinclair said simply, there was no need to eleborate or make a scene they just needed to get in and begin the process of saving Christendom from further disunity and decay at the hands of false prophets, both secular and 'Christian'.

The guard checks his tablet and waves them through.
He then checks in a Muslim-looking man, not really caring and just wanting to get back to playing NationStates.

[Vienna Eliot]

"Yes. Oh yes, I would like that... Keep going... Yes... Yes!"

A small motorcade, maybe two or three cars, pulled up around the hotel's entrance, beckoning honks from vehicles that had been waiting twenty minutes as they swerved in and out of the line.

"Right, thank you kindly, mam. Uh, don't bill this account, actually. Can I read you a card number?"

The chauffeur stepped out of the polished car, made his way around, and opened the door. The Ambassador, unusually tall for his appearance, stepped out and straightened his jacket, shoving a tissue in his pocket.

He strode through the lobby, approaching the conference room with a single bodyguard flanking him. "J. Pritchett Evans," he said, a slow, deep voice. "United States Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom. Here by invitation."

Given the all-clear to go inside, the Ambassador turned to his bodyguard, handing him a wad of cash. "I don't think you'll need to join me. Go get yourself brunch." He then headed in, smiling at familiar faces he noticed from afar, found the table with his name on a placard, and took his seat. He was checking his email when a woman sat down next to him, and he looked up.

"Jackie! Glad to see you've made it."

"Do you see the name tag, John?"

She bore a name tag, strung around a lanyard: Jacquelyn Jones, PhD: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

"Hey!" said Evans, "I didn't get a name tag." He scanned the room as if to find one.

"My name isn't Jacquelyn, God damn it," she said, slumping back in her chair.

[Zjaum]

Reverend Mebrete paused before answering. "While I agree that God's glory is evident in His creation, I have also noticed many churches who have replaced the supernatural with the natural, and secular reasoning with spiritual truth. I'm sure you know of such churches as well. That is why we have written a statement on scientific research, a pledge to only study the wonders of this world in light of the laws of the otherworldly, of God Himself. So far, around 180 or so of our brothers and sisters who work in scientific fields have signed it. We hope that more will sign in the future. And we are also being proactive, creating a program where those of us in the sciences can speak at any of our churches to the congregation about the relationship between science and religion, and give their own personal testimony. It's important to know real truth from false truth, especially in this day and age and especially for the youth."

Wendy was impressed and mildly embarrassed. She knew that the pastor meant well, and she disagreed slightly, but she was mildly jealous of the wisdom and the extent of the reverend's answer. Jealousy was not a trait befitting of a pastor, so she quickly suppressed it. "That sounds like a noble program! Perhaps we might find a similar program in the States."

Before she could continue, an announcer approached the microphone. "Hello, everyone, and welcome to this theological council. I am happy to report that over 200 delegations from over fifty countries have volunteered their time and effort to attend. We have a lot to cover this weekend, and we look forward to enlightenment as we delve into God's teachings. Before we continue, we would like to say a brief prayer. Please welcome..."

A bishop approached the microphone and said a brief prayer. It was neither extravagant nor complex, but it sufficed. "Merciful Father, who watches over us all with love and grace, please guide our words to better service Your kingdom. Give us clean hearts and sound minds to survey and complete the task before us, and prevent us from being led astray. It is You and You alone that we serve. Amen."

The first speaker approached the microphone and began sharing his theology. If the conference was a five-course meal, this would be the appetizer. No, no... that wouldn't be selling it short enough. This was more akin to the bread. The concepts were very simple: God loves the world, Christ the Almighty died for the sins of the world, and He lives in us. We should love others as a result of this newfound love, et cetera. Just like the bread at a restaurant, it was filling for some but left others aching for more. At least it was a good starting ground that... well, most people could get behind. While he didn't suggest that these simple truths were enough, he heavily implied it.

In the middle of the speaker, Wendy's phone buzzed. It was a note from Pastor Egilson. Call me as soon as you can. She left immediately.

"Yes?"
"Hey, Wendy. I got a call from the Loomis Fire Department. A part of our church burned down. It didn't spread to the whole place, but we'll need to preach in the annex for a week or so."
Wendy was taken aback a little. "Do they know the cause?"
"They don't know for certain; they're sending investigators. They haven't ruled out arson."
Both of them were silent for a moment. They knew what this meant, but they both knew the risks. Someone was going to get a little too upset over this. "All right, keep me posted."

She hung up the phone and looked outside the window. Down the road came a hundred or so protesters, most holding signs of some sort or another, approaching the church. Like nearly all protesters, they were loud and obnoxious. She couldn't make out if they represented a specific faction, or even if they were pro-Christian. Slowly, though, the chants of the protesters started getting louder and soon was heard in the old halls of the hotel. To the conference, it was a small amount of mumbles, but it was just enough to stall the second speaker from approaching. The announcer approached the microphone. "Um, if you all would hold for a moment, there's a slight disturbance. Let's take a ten minute break, and we'll reconvene with thoughts and... [looking at the roster] Pastor Richard Nelson right afterward."

There would be time for formal discussion, but now came a brief time for informal discussion. The topic was... fundamental, but perhaps there was something that could be salvaged from this discussion. Wendy returned. She was silent about her new tragedy for now, since she didn't want people to feel sorry for her. Instead, she brought up a conversation with the reverend and the newly-come delegation from the True Anglicans, coincidentally at the same table. A basic speech begets a basic discussion. "So, do you suppose a Christian could consider himself in good faith if he just abides by those simple principles? That God loves the world, that he died for us, and that we should love others? Can faith be strong from that?"

[Likar]

"One has been one hell of a night" Mohhumad Akbar says, as he walks in crutches to a seat. First getting shot, a church bombing.... What next. Mohhumad Akbar gets a phone notification on the church incident:
"The church bomber was done a right wing group, which was connected to the attack on The Organization Of Moderate Muslims. Please stay indoors as the bomber is on the loose, armed.

[The Frozen Forest]

The arrival of the Arcierites to the Conference was anything but spectacular. They were late mostly due to the various protests and traffic jams that plagued their home city of Detroit and the cities on the way to the conference, even in Italy. They drove by rented SUV, four members of the Arcierites Church. Prophet Francesco Arcieri happened to have been the one driving, but was also the most important among them. The second member was his son, David Arcieri, a devout follower of the Bible and the Books of Souls and Salvation. It was a fact that from his birth he had been groomed to take over his fathers position when he died, as the expected second Prophet of the Church. Third among them was Arkell Porter. Arkell happened to be an Ex-Member of the Crips and the one responsible for the Arcierites Youth Group, as well as the protection of Francesco during the trip. Finally there was Leonell Spencer, the groups photographer and writer. His job was to document the reaction of other Christians towards the Arcierites views, to which there were expected to be many.

"Remember, clear thoughts and pure souls. God expects us to be faithful at this Conference. The people here are misguided, but they are still Christians. Respect them as you would i or Jesus, for they know not what they are doing. Romans 14:1, 'As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.'" Francesco smiled to the group, who all seemed somewhat reassured. There was the Conference to worry about of course, but there was also the huge spike in Gang-Violence back in Detroit. It was fortunate that two members of the congregation happened to run local 'sets'. In a twist of Irony, one was a blood and the other a crip, but both had reconciled through the help of the Church in order to end the bloodshed in their neighborhoods. They had agreed to protect the Church and Church-goers during Francesco's time at the conference.

The group exited their vehicle and made their way into the building just as protestors drew close. They joined the many other assembled Churches and became aware through a rushed conversation with one of the guards that they had just entered a small break period. They took their seats and waited for the meeting to begin once again.

[Likar]

Mohhumad Akbar smokes a cigar outside the building, where police apprehend a man trying to smuggle some sort of knife or something on the lines like that.

[Zjaum]

Even during the break, the gathering exuded several louder-than-usual murmurs at the entrance of the Arcierites. A few were wondering why they were invited, while others were more refreshed that the common ground would be simpler. Still, the conversation started to switch, and continued to move in that direction until Pastor Richard Nelson approached the microphone.

Now, by this time the protests had gotten out of hand. Poor rhymes in both English and Italian were belted out by the protesters. While the security on hand was adequate for preventing potential suicide bombers, they were too few in number to push the dissidents back. Pastor Richard Nelson, however, was unfazed. He was a fire-and-brimstone preacher from Northern Ireland, and he was used to speaking in a loud, booming voice. His bold speech forced back the tides of people, declaring how much sin was in the world, and how the devil roamed freely. The vices he specifically called out were not uncommon for sermon topics: pornography and loose sex, greed and gluttony, addiction and destructive habits. His fists against the podium were just barely not enough to crack the board, but some of the cardinals, while impressed, were a tad off-put. Nelson accused the pastors in the room, including himself, of falling to the devil. The power in his voice did not falter, even as he spoke of the redemption of the cross. Still, everyone managed to hear him, at least as much as they could. Nelson's face was red but much relieved, as if a great burden was lifted off of his chest.

The master of ceremonies approached the microphone. "All right, with that, we have reached our first open discussion, on sin and the nature of the devil. We open the microphone to the floor, but we have a few speakers on the subject if we run out of people. I pray that the discussion we find enlightens us all."


In the middle of the protesters, a lone man watched the building in silence. His unassuming jacket carried a few surprises, but his face didn't reveal a thing. He waited restlessly, like a prowling lion waiting for his prey. He contemplated what led him to this moment before concluding that he was working for Good. He would not fail in his mission.

[Talchyon]

The Conference
Rev. Martin Tiedrich (LCMS member of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations)

The setting was beautiful to see, and absolutely horrific to have to endure for a man, heavier set and balding, but with an projecting chin and squinting eyes. Rev. Martin Tiedrich had never been to any meetings of the World Council of Churches. But he imagined that this sort of conference would have fit well with those kinds. Christians of every stripe - if you could actually call some of the attendees Christian in their theology - had assembled. It being at the Vatican, naturally, there were Roman Catholics present. Greek Orthodox. Russian Orthodox. Coptics. Weird. Tiedrich had read about Coptics and some of their odd teachings on Christology, but had never actually met any. Then there were Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Assemblies of God, Quakers, Arcierites, fundamentalists and extremists of every side and corner. Not to mention the ELCA, the liberal Lutherans, who always jumped into bed with every denominational intergathering they could find. "Sellouts," thought a tired Tiedrich, still recovering from jet lag.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod rarely went to such international ecumenical church meetings. It's not that they didn't think there were Christians in all of these other denominations. Of course there are. One doesn't have to belong to the LCMS to be saved. One just has to believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen for sinners. But the LCMS prided themselves on their correct doctrine. Granted, sometimes that pride was misplaced, especially since the horrendous 1970's and the Battle for the Bible that almost destroyed the synod. But as for right now, while there were some serious divisions in his church body, the synodical president, the synodical vice-presidents, most of the Board of Directors and more than half of the district presidents seemed to all be on the same page, that of holding the truth and purity of Holy Scripture as the inspired Word of God, and the Lutheran Confessions as the true, unadulterated confession of the one Scriptural faith. And because of that, going to ecumenical councils like this rarely let the Word of God have its say. Heterodox and heretical were all given equal voice. It depressed Tiedrich, to be honest.

The news was broadcasting the event. It seemed that there were people protesting. "Probably die-hard papists," thought Tiedrich. "I mean, come on. We actually come to the domain of Antichrist himself, the pope. And granted, Pope Francis is one of those modernists, and he's doing a great job of splitting Catholicism right now. I'm not surprised that there would be protests from the diehards against papal involvement here." What was also interesting, at least to Tiedrich, were the news reports of the attempted violence on a Muslim man by an anti-Muslim extremist group. "What are the odds?" thought Tiedrich. "That has to be like, what, the 1% of terrorist attacks NOT caused by Muslims?"

The 1st speaker was a Protestant of some kind. Tiedrich rubbed his eyes and looked down at the list. What was the C.T.C.R. hoping to accomplish here, anyway? It's not like these people were going to sign up behind the Lutheran Confessions. At best, there could hopefully be some agreement on ethical issues - though with the liberals like the ELCA, the PCUSA and the UCC here, that was iffy. The second speaker was droning on, condemning every sin under the sun. But not surprisingly, omitting the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins. Tiedrich felt a heavy heart and incredibly guilty, also angry. The Law works wrath, after all. Only justification through faith in Christ brings peace. St. Paul knew that well.

Sitting at his table, Tiedrich tried to catch some of the discussion. It was some woman pastor ("probably a complete feminist, who most likely doesn't even have a clue for what Gal. 3:27-28 is really talking about") and an African Anglican. Tiedrich had heard good things about some of the Episcopalians in the African countries, and how they were against the false teaching and heretical leanings of the larger Anglican community. The African Episcopalians wanted to uphold Holy Scripture as the only rule and source for all theology. Which is why they on the C.T.C.R. had had some very good discussions with Anglican Episcopalian leaders, and had given off good impressions of the faithfulness of the LCMS.

Tiedrich listened in, not only to hear how the African bishop taught, but also to recover some from the 2nd speaker who was a complete legalist. Tiedrich was open for conversation as well, if anyone at his table wanted to talk.

[Bruke]

The Reverend looked on warily as the Arcierites entered. He had not heard much of them, but what he had heard was anything but good. A self declared prophet and his band of followers do not a church make.

The preacher from Northern Ireland was also disappointing. Just as some churches abandoned a firm stance on morality to be more like the world, some churches abandoned the notions of grace and forgiveness.

He awaited someone who would speak on the role of ethics. If no one would speak on the matter of course, he was more than happy to enlighten the others.