by Rev. Chuck Muether, Director of Advancement

“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer” is the memorable line from the 1972 film, The Godfather Part 2. These days I would tweak that to be “Keep your present close, but your past closer.” That may not be quite biblically on par for what we are called to do, or as the apostle says, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” (Phil. 3:13). So let me explain further. In my research for my dissertation, I have pored over many a Reformed Church in the United States Almanac and Yearbook thanks to my good friend and ministerial colleague Rev. Jay Fluck, who gave me unfettered access to his library. And from my research, I am convinced that the once mighty 300,000+ member-strong RCUS, reduced to about a one percent remnant, has a past that should remain close to every member’s heart today.