United Methodist Church formally declares political mission, rejects salvation mission

United Methodist Church General Conference in Fort Worth ^ | 29 April 2008 | United Methodist Church, General Confer

[mbarker12474]

Yesterday, 29 April 2008, at 3:32 PM, the United Methodist Church formally and explicitely rejected it's long held and Biblically-based mission to make disciples of Christ by saving souls, and declared officially that its mission is to transform the world. This codifies in the Book of Discipline of the UMC, its book of law, what was already the de facto case in practice.

Here's the new text:

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Here's the previous text:

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Here's a rejected amendment:

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls and the transformation of the world.

http://calms.umc.org/2008/Menu.aspx?type=Petition&mode=Single&number=271

Legislation Tracking Petition Search Calendar Search Plenary Action Petition 80271 << Back Mission of the UMC (80271-FO-¶120) Petition Status: Calendar Item Petition Text: Submitted Text ADCA p. 917 References: Book of Discipline: ¶120 Committee: Faith and Order Financial Implications: No Submitted by: Council of Bishops (General Agency) Ernest S. Lyght Washington, DC, USA Task Force to Study the Episcopacy Carolyn Briscoe Washington, DC, USA

Calendar Item Status << Back Mission of the UMC (FO1-¶120-A) Calendar Item Status: Committee Voted (Printed in DCA p. 2049) Calendar Item No: 171 Petitions on Calendar: 80271 Consent Calendar: Not assigned to a Consent Calendar. Committee Motion: Recommendation to Adopt Committee Vote: For: 48 Against: 22 Not Voting: 0

Vote Date and Time: 4/25/2008 8:16 PM Legislative Committee Report: The Petition is Adopted As Submitted. Click here to view full text

Plenary Action Status << Back Last Vote Action: Vote on Main Motion This motion was Adopted, with 776 votes for and 102 votes against. Plenary Motions: 4/29/2008 3:23 PM Amend the Main Motion REJECTED 295-548 Amend discipline ¶120

At the end of the first paragraph bolded statement "for the transformation of the world..."

Add "through sharing and living out the Gospel".

4/29/2008 3:31 PM Amend the Main Motion REJECTED 193-690 Add bolded text -

for the salvation of souls and the transformation of the world....

4/29/2008 3:32 PM Vote on Main Motion ADOPTED 776-102

[DieHard the Hunter]

Interesting.

> Conversion and The Mission of the ChurchManifesto

There, I fixed it.

To my dismay I could see very little in this of Christ, or of the legitimate business of His followers. Many lofty ideals, few if any supportable by scripture.

[KC Burke]

I would love to see if Thomas Oden has a comment on this.

[Mogollon]

John Wesley must be spinning in his grave.

[Corin Stormhands]

Thanks.

[xzins]

None of the conservative groups I read is thrilled with the change. The words themselves are innocuous. It’s how the liberal wing will interpret them that is the deal killer.

[Corin Stormhands]

Yeah, that’s kinda what I thought when I first read it.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Knowing that a lot of "change" is instituted in order for us to look the other way regarding the sins of homosexuality, I'm certainly suspicious of the need for a rewrite.

At the same time, I don't really see anything wrong with the words, per se; only perhaps with how those words might be twisted.

Here's the new text:

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Here's the previous text:

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

A solid postmillenial approach to life is Scriptural, IMO. We are called to work towards transforming the earth back into the garden of God as much as possible by steadily "making disciples of Jesus Christ." Logically, the more disciples of Christ, the more the garden blooms and God's sustenance is revealed throughout all creation. Men's sanctification cannot but help to have a positive effect on the world around them, by definition.

Perhaps phrases like "winning souls" was discarded because only God can and does "win souls" as we've learned from another garden analogy...

"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." -- 1 Corinthians 3:5-7

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that post-millennialism works well with post-Christian Arminianism's ignoring of the depravity of man in favor of an overly fawning God. It will always become a political kingdom that gets built.

Yes, that's true. But what's wrong with a "political kingdom" built soundly and purposefully on the principles of "God's kingdom?"

That's the trick. That's what's difficult. But IMO that remains a worthy goal, even if ultimately impossible to completely attain.

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" -- Colossians 2:9-10

Calvin preached a separation of church and state. But in that preaching he was careful to stress that the state was not to impinge on the church. Instead the state was called on to protect the church while acknowledging that the principles of the church are right and true and should guide every citizen and every leader, according to Scripture...

"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." -- Psalm 150:6

---

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." -- Romans 13:1

One way or another, by His will, for His glory.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

John Wesley must be spinning in his grave.

Sad how many of the things George Whitefield warned John Wesley about have come to pass.

WHITEFIELD'S LETTER TO WESLEY

And for background, here's a good link...

IAIN MURRAY ON WHITEFIELD TO WESLEY

[Gamecock]

Machen was right once again.

[alpha-8-25-02]

Social Gospel was a movement led by a group of liberal Protestant progressives in response to the social problems raised by the rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increasing immigration of the Gilded Age. The social gospel differentiated itself from earlier Christian reform movements by prioritizing social salvation over individual salvation. Although the ministers and activists of the social gospel based their appeals on liberal theology, which emphasized the immanence of God and the doctrine of Incarnation and valued good works over creeds, they usually showed more interest in social science than in theology. Believing that laissez-faire capitalism’s understanding of labor as a commodity and its sole reliance on mechanisms of supply and demand to determine wages and allocate resources was un-Christian, social gospel advocates supported the labor movement and called for an interventionist welfare state. They differed from secular activists in that their ultimate vision was not just a more equitable balance of power within society, but a Christianized society in which cooperation, mutual respect, and compassion replaced greed, competition, and conflict among social and economic classes. Despite all of their efforts to reach the working class and to cooperate with the labor movement, though, the social gospel failed to reach far beyond its middle-class liberal Protestant milieu. Ultimately, the greatest achievement of the social gospel was to prepare the ground of middle-class America for progressivism.,CSM

THIS HAS BEEN A 100 PLUS DOWN-GRADE AND IT MAKES THE NEWS NOW!

MARANATHA!

[oldbrowser]

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

What is it Somebody said about "not of this world"?

[Alex Murphy]

I hope we don’t see any Freepers defending this.

If it weren't the uber-liberal UMC saying it, you just might see me defending it.

[Petronski]

I can appreciate that (based on what I read at the link).

[nmh]

Another one publicly bites the dust!

[Lee N. Field]

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Here's the previous text:

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Well, that's driving it right over a cliff, isn't it. Noo Age dominionism? Heaven on earth?

[prairiebreeze]

ping

[PAR35]

I hope we don’t see any Freepers defending this.

I'm a little surprised that none of Laura Bush's fans have shown up to do so.

[Louis Foxwell]

why not work to reclaim the church from those who have steered it wrong?

As a former UMC pastor/missionary and the son of a UMC pastor/missionary and the grandson of a Methodist Episcopal lay leader I left the church many years ago when it became clear that the love of Christ was not in the leadership and the church was no longer my spiritual home.

Since that time (the mid 80's) I have gained a deeper understanding of the Body of Christ. It has become clear to me that denominationalism is thoroughly political and antithetical to the teachings of Christ.

It simply is not possible to change the institution. The most vigorous efforts are met with expulsion. The UMC is hopelessly compromised and incapable of expressing the message of salvation.

[Molly Pitcher]

I strongly endorse your mentioning of the IRD, Fiji.

This organization needs our prayers and monetary support.

[AppyPappy]

The 2008 General Conference voted April 30 to retain statements in the Social Principles that the “United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”