Whereas, The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church states that there are doctrinal standards that each clergy person affirms and publicly commits to at ordination; and
Whereas, each and every layperson affirms and commits to the same doctrinal standards on joining The United Methodist Church; and
Whereas, The Doctrinal Standards of The United Methodist Church states that The United Methodist Church believes in Jesus Christ who is the Son of God (¶ 67, Article II, page 59 and Article II, page 66), who is also the Lord (¶ 67, Article IX, page 60), who is also the only Savior (¶ 67, Article I, p. 60 and Article II page 66; Article XX, page 63; Articles VII and IX, page 68); and
Whereas, the Confessing Movement believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God ("We confess, in accordance with the Holy Scripture and with the Holy Spirit's help, that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God..." A Confessional Statement of The Confessing Movement with The United Methodist Church, April 29, 1995); and
Whereas, the Confessing Movement believes that Jesus Christ is the Savior ("We confess, in accordance with Holy Scripture and with the Holy Spirit's help that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior of the world...." Same document); and
Whereas, the Confessing Movement believes that Jesus Christ is the Lord ("We confess, in accordance with Holy Scripture and with the Holy Spirit's help, that Jesus Christ is the one and only Lord of creation and history...." Same document); and
Whereas, the confession of the Confessing Movement is in complete agreement with, in support of, and identical with the Doctrinal Standards of The United Methodist Church; and
Whereas, the Confessing Movement is a movement within The United Methodist Church and is calling The United Methodist Church to confess its belief in and allegiance to the Doctrinal Standards of The United Methodist Church;
Therefore, we petition the General Conference to affirm its belief in and allegiance to the Doctrinal Standards of The United Methodist Church by affirming the Confessing Movement and by calling The United Methodist Church to express its allegiance to The Doctrinal Standards by joining the Confessing Movement.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20993-DI-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference