Whereas, "Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task" (Part II, The Book of Discipline) provides the foundation for responding dialogically and faithfully to current issues. Our theological task "is grounded upon God's supreme mode of self-revelation--the incarnation of Jesus Christ." (The Book of Discipline, p. 75)
However, the content of our doctrinal/theological statement as contained in The Book of Discipline remains unfamiliar to large numbers of United Methodists. The relationship between historic doctrine and continuing theological exploration merits special attention, recognizing that both maintaining doctrinal moorings and engaging in theological exploration are essential components of our Wesleyan tradition; and
Whereas, the biblical wisdom tradition and its use are receiving considerable attention by biblical scholars and others within the church. Biblical wisdom merits serious study and appropriation by those who seek abiding truth amid transient values, those who search for expressions of the Divine Presence amid the anguished suffering of the innocent, and those who are disillusioned with unexamined answers. Such quests are as old as Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. Furthermore, the efforts to maintain and reinterpret tradition while surrounded by diverse cultural values can be informed by Sirach and the Wisdom of Solomon; and
Whereas, scholars generally agree that Woman Wisdom (Proverbs 1:20-33; 8:1-36; 9:1-6) in the literary context of Israelite Wisdom is a personification of an attribute of God and not a goddess or a being with separate existence from God. Woman Wisdom was never an object of cultic reverence for the Israelites, and there are no biblical warrants for goddess worship. The worship of Sophia as a goddess is contrary both to the biblical revelation and our doctrinal standards; and
Whereas, our doctrinal standards commit us to trinitarian theology and language. Wisdom initially personified (Proverbs 1:20-33; 8:1-36; 9:1-6) was later particularized and personified in Judaism as the Torah, whereas New Testament writers located divine wisdom in the historical Jesus and the Risen, Glorified Christ. Clearly wisdom is in the service of Christology in the New Testament. Orthodox traditions that refer to Christ as "Saint Sophia" carefully maintain continuity with Jesus, the incarnate One, thereby avoiding docetism and gnosticism; and
Whereas, our doctrinal standards affirm that God is "everlasting, without body or parts" (Articles of Religion). Anthropomorphic language, therefore, cannot be applied literally to God. God is beyond gender, and language about God always falls short of adequately revealing the fullness of God. Jesus' normative use of Father (Abba) for God is an affirmation of God's gender. Feminine images for the expression of the fullness of God have both biblical and historical precedent and appropriateness; and
Whereas, some feminist theologians draw heavily upon the wisdom tradition, feminist theology as a whole cannot be identified simply with the wisdom tradition. Feminist theology is affirmed within a variety of contemporary theological approaches. United Methodist feminist theologians contribute insights, both doctrinal and exploratory, for understanding the Triune God, the Incarnation, church, sin, grace, as well as other basic tenets of the Christian faith; and
Whereas, both the wisdom tradition and our Wesleyan doctrinal/theological statement require an attitude of humility before God, respect for one another, openness to God's revelation from unexpected sources, and commitment to Jesus Christ as faithful responses to God. Dialogue, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and common commitment to the sovereignty of Christ, is needed in all segments of the church if we are to be faithful to both the Christian Wisdom Tradition and our "Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task." Our Wesleyan heritage commits us to unity in the essentials of the faith, respect for our differences about non-essentials, and charity in all things;
Therefore, we affirm the response of our bishops as appropriate and responsible within the bounds of their authority as reflected in their recommendations in the Council of Bishops' Report on Biblical Wisdom and Current Theological Ferment, that
(1) Copies of the report of the Task Force on the Study of Wisdom will be made available to the bishops for appropriate distribution and use in their areas; and
(2) Whereas, "Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task" represents our doctrinal/theological grounding and yet remains unfamiliar to large numbers of United Methodists, both clergy and lay, we recommend that the bishops explore among themselves and with their Conference leadership creative ways of engaging the doctrinal/theological statement; and
We affirm Part II of the 1992 Discipline, "Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task" (¶¶65-69) and recommend to the 1996 General Conference that it not be altered.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20107-DI-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference