wfn.org | Membership Record Keeping Changes

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3471 notes).

Note 3467 by UMNS on March 4, 1997 at 16:10 Eastern (3446 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                      113(10-71B){3467}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             March 4, 1997

Baptism, membership changes made by General Conference
surprising some pastors, membership secretaries

                          A UMNS Feature
                         by Tom McAnally*

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- During a service of baptism in a
local United Methodist Church the pastor announces that the
infant's name will be placed on the church's preparatory
membership roll.
     What's wrong with this picture?
     The United Methodist Church is no longer keeping "preparatory
rolls."
     That's but one of the changes made by the church's 1996
General Conference which is surprising some pastors and local
church membership secretaries.
     The Rev. Dan Benedict, staff member of the churchwide Board
of Discipleship here, said his office is receiving an increasing
number of questions related to baptism and record keeping.
     Asked to explain the dilemma, Benedict said some United
Methodists are wondering how baptism, "God's action," and
profession of faith, "our response," relate individuals to the
church.
     "God claims me in baptism and initiates me into the life of
the church," he continued.  "I become a member through baptism. 
When I am enabled by the Spirit I respond to God's act through
conversion and make a profession of faith.  I then become a
professing member as well as a baptized member."
     Changes in the 1996 Book of Discipline are largely a
reflection of this sacramental and evangelical understanding, he
added.
     Benedict pointed to key changes related to terminology, roll-
keeping and vows:
     * "Baptized members" and "professing members" designations
replace what has been known as "preparatory members" and
"members."  Baptized members, whether infants or adults, are now
considered members of the local church, the denomination, and the
universal Christian Church.
     * New rolls -- "Baptized members," "Professing Members,"
"Persons Removed from the Roll of Professing Members," and
"Persons removed from the rolls of baptized members," -- replace
what have been known as "Preparatory Membership Roll", "Full
Membership Roll," and "Members Removed by Charge Conference
Action."  
     Benedict recommends that interested persons consult several
resources:
     * By Water & the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of
Baptism produced following an eight-year study of baptism. 
Chairing the committee was the Rev. Mark Trotter, San Diego,
Calif.  Available through Discipleship Resources, (615) 340-7070.
This document will also appear in the soon-to-be-released 1996
Book of Resolutions.
     * By Water & the Spirit: Making Connections for Identity and
Ministry, a six-session study booklet to be released by
Discipleship Resources in April.  Author of the study is the Rev.
Gayle Felton, Atlanta, Ga., a member of the Baptism Study
Committee.
     * The new 1997-2000 Membership Record System Manual,
available from Cokesbury (800) 672-1789.
     * The 1996 Book of Discipline (paragraphs 215-244), available
from Cokesbury.
     
                              #  #  #

     * McAnally is director of United Methodist News Service.

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