wfn.org | Discipleship board hones legislation on baptism, church membership

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Oct. 4, 1999 News media contact: Linda Green*(615) 742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-71B{507}

NOTE: This report may be used with UMNS story #506.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Church membership and baptism continue to be a
primary issue for the United Methodist Board of Discipleship as the 2000
General Conference approaches.

The board's governing members spent considerable time during their Sept.
28-Oct. 2 working on membership and baptism legislation to bring the
denomination's lawbook into line with a recent United Methodist Judicial
Council ruling.  

The board is sending a petition on the issue to General Conference, the
denomination's top lawmaking body, which meets May 2-12 in Cleveland. The
petition will request an amendment to the church's constitution that would
pave the way for bringing legislation in line with the theology of "By Water
and the Spirit," the denomination's official statement on baptism. 

Currently, constitutional amendments must be ratified by the church's annual
conferences before the General Conference can pass enabling legislation.

The problem with the church's approved theology of baptism was discovered
when the Minnesota Annual (regional) Conference asked the Judicial Council
for a declaratory decision on 15 questions related to baptism and membership
legislation. 

The Judicial Council, in Decision 811, ruled that "By Water and the Spirit"
was in conflict with the denomination's rules regarding membership. The
council ruled, on the basis of Paragraph 4, Article 4 of the church's
Constitution, that any form of membership in the church that did not require
vows was unconstitutional and invalid. The court ruled that the legislation
violated the church's constitution and was therefore null and void.

A constitutional amendment is necessary because the Judicial Council stated
that no legislation that does away with the necessity of vows can be
constitutional without such a change, according to Dan Benedict, a staff
member of the Board of Discipleship and one of the writers of the General
Conference legislation.

An amendment would pave the way for the church to enact future legislation
in relation to "By Water and the Spirit," he said. It also would "allow us
to recognize all persons who are baptized regardless of their age or ability
to profess the faith and for the church to also have professing members who
have taken vows." The bulk of the legislation beginning with Paragraph 104
is aimed at bringing the denomination's Book of Discipline into compliance
with the recent Judicial Council decision.

"By Water and the Spirit" and the church's 10-year-old service of the
baptismal covenant found in the United Methodist Hymnal recognize that
"baptism is God's sacramental initiative of offering grace to every person
regardless of age or ability to respond to the faith," Benedict said. At the
same time, he said, "'By Water and the Spirit' is trying to be clear about
the fact that it is essential that there be a human response to God's grace
and that is what is called for and acted in profession of faith and in
services of confirmation."

A continuing concern of many people in the church has been whether "we (are)
trying to somehow short-circuit the fullness of the Wesleyan understanding
of grace. That is not what we are attempting to do with this legislation and
the constitution amendment," he said.

In a related matter, the board is requesting authorization from the General
Conference to lead a study about a position paper called "Sacramental
Faithfulness" to assist people as they look for direction about interacting
with Mormons (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). The board
wants to provide resources to guide pastors and congregations in receiving
former Mormons into the United Methodist Church. 

"Sacramental Faithfulness" is the result of a 1998 conference between the
Rocky Mountain Annual (regional) Conference of the United Methodist Church
and the Mormon Church to discuss baptismal theology and practice in both
denominations. There was a perceived need on the part of United Methodists,
especially those living and ministering in the Western United States, for
more clarity on taking Mormons into the United Methodist Church. 

At issue is whether baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints constitutes a valid Christian baptism or whether the converting
Mormon must be baptized again. The two traditions also have other
differences regarding doctrines and the meaning of salvation.

Board members say that while clarity between the two traditions is needed,
"By Water and the Spirit" provides the denomination with guidance on
theology and the practice of baptism.  The board, in writing a conclusion to
the paper, is recommending that following a period of intensive exploration
and instruction in the Christian faith, a Mormon or "such a convert should
receive the sacrament of Christian baptism."

Board members also approved a petition requesting that the General
Conference adopt the Korean-English bilingual hymnal as an official resource
of the United Methodist Church. Korean United Methodist congregations use
the same generic hymnal as almost all Korean Protestant churches. The
resource, to be published in 2001, is a response to a request for the Korean
United Methodist Church to have a bilingual hymnal and worship book
reflective of United Methodism, both in its hymnody and song and its general
services. The board recommends that its ritual resources be listed in the
Discipline as part of the ritual of the United Methodist Church. 

In other actions, board members:
	*	authorized forming a search committee to look for a
successor to the Rev. Ezra Earl Jones, who will mark two decades next year
as top executive of the Board of Discipleship. The 1998 General Conference
set a 12-year limit on executive positions of general church agencies,
effective Jan. 1, 2001;
	*	celebrated accomplishments made in the quadrennium;
	*	learned that since January 1995, the committee on ethnic
local church concerns has helped 95 ethnic ministries with funding;
	*	affirmed Harriett Olsen, book editor for the United
Methodist Publishing House, also as editor of Church School Publications, a
partnership between the House and the board;
	*	approved a two-year pilot project between Glide Memorial
United Methodist Church in San Francisco and the Board of Discipleship
bringing churches together to learn deeply how to love God and neighbor;
	*	heard a report on its international work and learned that
4,000 copies of the Bible printed in the Hausa language is being sent to the
people of Nigeria;
	*	heard seminary professor Marjorie Suchocki talk about making
disciples, making Methodists and making friends as she reminded people to
remember from their personal and religious roots; and
	*	honored Ike Brown, who is retiring as treasurer of the board
Oct. 31, and Jean Suiter, who is retiring from human resources in Dec. 31.

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