Article3.MembershipCommitments
260.TobeidentifiedwithanorganizedchurchistheblessedprivilegeandsacreddutyofallwhoaresavedfromtheirsinsandareseekingcompletenessinChristJesus.FromtheChurch’sbeginningsintheNewTestamentage,ithasbeenunderstoodthatsuchidentificationinvolvesputtingofftheoldpatternsofconductandputtingonthemindofChrist.InmaintainingthisChristianconceptofatransformedlife,The WesleyanChurchintendsto relatetimelessbiblicalprinciplestothe conditionsofcontemporarysocietyinsuchawayastorespecttheintegrityoftheindividualbeliever,yetmaintainthepurityoftheChurchandtheeffectivenessofitswitness. ThisisdoneintheconvictionthatthereisvalidityintheconceptofthecollectiveChristianconscienceasilluminatedandguidedbytheHolySpirit.Thefollowingitems(265)representhistoric,ethicalandpracticalstandardsofTheWesleyanChurch.WhileitishopedthatourpeoplewillearnestlyseektheaidoftheSpiritincultivatingasensitivitytoevilwhichtranscendsthemereletterofthelaw,thoseenteringinto membership are encouraged to followcarefullyandconscientiouslytheseguidesandhelpstoholyliving.DisregardoftheprinciplesembracedintheseMembershipCommitmentssubjects all credentialed ministers and any member serving in an elected leadership capacity toChurchdiscipline(268; see also 550-610).
265.ThoseadmittedtomembershipinourchurchescommitthemselvestodemonstratetheirlifeinChristinsuchwaysas:
TowardGod
(1)ToreverencethenameofGodandtohonortheLord’sDaybydivineworshipandspiritualedification,participatinginthoseactivitieswhichcontributetothemoralandspiritualpurposesofthisday.
Gen. 2:3; Ex. 20:3,7–11; Deut. 5:11–15; Isa. 58:13–14;Mark
2:27;Acts20:7;Heb.4:9.
(2)ToseekonlytheleadingoftheHolySpiritandtoabstainfromallformsofspiritism,suchastheoccult,witchcraft,astrologyandothersimilarpractices.
Lev.19:31;20:6;Deut.18:10–14;Acts19:18–19;Gal.5:19–20.
TowardSelf
(3)Toexercisefaithfulstewardshipthroughthewiseuseoftheirtimeandmaterialresources,practicingcarefulself-disciplineinorderto furtherthemissionofChrist’schurch(rememberingtheprincipleoftithingwhichisbasictotheNewTestamentstandardofstewardship)andtodemonstratecompassiontothoseinneed.
Prov. 3:9;Mal.3:10;Matt.25:34–40;Acts20:35;1Cor.16:2;
2Cor.9:7;Eph.5:16;Col.3:17; James 2:15–16;1 John 3:17.
(4)Todemonstrateapositivesocialwitnessbyabstainingfromallformsofgamblingandbyabstainingfromusingortrafficking(production,saleorpurchase)inanysubstancesdestructivetotheirphysical,mentalandspiritualhealth,suchasalcoholicbeverages,tobaccoanddrugs(otherthanpropermedicalpurposesofdrugs);andbyrefrainingfrommembershipinsecretsocietiesandlodgeswhichareoathbound,believingthatthequasi-religiousnatureofsuchorganizationsdividestheChristian’sloyalty,theirsecretnaturecontravenestheChristian’sopenwitnessandthesecretnatureoftheiroathsisrepugnanttotheChristianconscience.
Ex.20:17;Rom.14:21;1Cor.6:12.GamblingviolatestheprincipleofChristianstewardshipand thetenthcommandment,isharmfultotheindividualinthatitisemotionallyaddictive,isapoorexampletoothers,andpollutesthemoralclimateofsociety.
Prov.20:1;Rom.6:12;14:21;1Cor.6:12–20;10:23;2Cor.
7:1;Eph.5:18;1Thess.5:22.ChristiansaretoregardtheirbodiesastemplesoftheHoly Spirit.Whileno“thing”ofitselfissinful,theChristianshouldavoidtheuseofanythingwhichwouldnothelpbuildthefellowshipofthechurch,wouldnothelpthebelieverstorealizetheirfullpotentialinChrist,orwhichwouldenslavethem.Inthelightofthescientificknowledgeofourdayconcerningtheactualandpotentialharmofthesesubstances,totalabstinenceismoreinkeepingwiththesebiblicalprinciplesthanismoderation.
Ex.20:3;Matt.5:34–36;John18:20;Acts4:12;James5:12.
Theseprohibitionsdonotrestrictmembershipinlabor,civicorotherorganizationswhichdonotcontradict loyalty toChristandtheChurch.WhenintheserelationshipsChristianprinciplesareviolated,membersshallbedealtwithbecauseofsuchviolationsandnotbecauseofthemembershipitself.
(5)To follow the teachings of the Scriptures regarding gender identity and sexual conduct.
Gen. 1:27; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; 7:17-24.
TowardFamily
(6)TofollowtheteachingsoftheScripturesregardingmarriageanddivorce.Weaffirmthatsexualrelationshipsoutsideofmarriageandsexualrelationshipsbetweenpersonsofthesamesexareimmoralandsinful.Wefurtheraffirm thatmarriage between one man and one woman is God’s design, andweregardsexualsinofthespouse,suchasadultery,homosexualbehavior,bestialityorincest,asclear biblicalgroundsforconsideringdivorce,andthenonlywhenappropriatecounselinghasfailedtorestoretherelationship.
Ex.20:14,17;22:19;Lev.20:10–16;Matt.5:32;19:19;Mark
10:11–12;Luke16:18.
(7)Topreserve the sanctity ofthe homeby honoring Christin everyphaseoffamilylifeandbydemonstratingChristlikelove(alwaysavoidingviolence,includingphysical,psychological,emotional,orsexualabusetowardone’sspouseorfamilymembers,aswellassexualinfidelityordesertion,anyofwhichwarrantchurchdisciplinefortheoffenderandmayjustifyseparationordivorceiftruerepentanceandappropriatecounselingcannotbringaboutreconciliation,andbylivingpeacefullywithoneanother,therebybuildingupone’sspouseandfamilymembersthroughwordanddeed,andencouragingthenurtureandeducationofthechildrenintheChristianfaithsoastobringthemearlytothesavingknowledgeofChrist.
Prov.22:6;Malachi2:13-16;Mark10:9;1Cor.7:10–16,
Eph.5:28;6:4.
TowardTheChurch
(8)ToworktogetherfortheadvancementofGod’skingdomandforthemutualedificationoffellowbelieversinholiness,knowledgeandlove;towalktogetherinChristianfellowshipbygivingandreceivingcounselwithgentlenessandaffection;byprayingforeachother;byhelpingeachotherinsicknessanddistress;andbydemonstratinglove,purityandcourtesytoall.
Rom.15:1–2;Eph.4;1Thess.5.
(9)Togrowintheknowledge,loveandgraceofGodbyparticipatinginpublicworship,theministryoftheWord ofGod,the Lord’s Supper,familyandpersonaldevotionsandfasting.
Mark2:18–20;Acts13:2–3;14:23;Rom.12:12; 1 Cor.
11:23–28;Eph.6:18;Phil.4:6;1 Tim.2:1–2; 2Tim.3:16–17;
Heb.10:25;1 Peter2:2;2 Peter3:18.
(10)Topreservethefellowshipandwitnessof theChurchwithreferencetotheuseoflanguages.TheWesleyanChurchbelievesinthemiraculoususeoflanguagesandtheinterpretationoflanguagesinitsbiblicalandhistoricalsetting.ButitiscontrarytotheWordofGodtoteachthatspeakinginanunknowntongueorthegiftoftonguesistheevidenceofthebaptismoftheHolySpiritorofthatentiresanctificationwhichthebaptismaccomplishes;therefore,onlyalanguagereadilyunderstoodbythecongregationistobeusedinpublicworship.TheWesleyanChurchbelievesthattheuseofanecstaticprayerlanguagehasnoclearscripturalsanction,oranypatternofestablishedhistoricalusageintheChurch;therefore,theuseofsuchaprayerlanguageshallnotbepromotedamongus.
Acts 8:14–17;1Cor.12:1–14:40; Gal.5:22–24.
TowardOthers
(11)To dogoodasmuchasispossibletoallpeopleasGodgivesopportunity,especiallytothoseinthebodyofChrist;bygivingfoodtothehungry,byclothingthedestitute,byvisitingorhelpingthosewhoaresickorinprison;byinstructing,correctingorencouragingtheminlove.
Matt.25:31–46;Eph.5:11;1Thess.5:14;Heb.3:13;10:23–25.
(12)To respect the inherent individualrights ofallpersons, regardlessofrace, color or sex.
1Cor.8:13;12:13;Gal.3:28;1Tim.5:21.
(13)Tolivehonestly,bejustinalldealingsandfaithfulinallcommitments.
Eccl.5:4–5;Rom.12:17; Phil.4:8–9;1 Peter2:12.
268.ThesearetheMembershipCommitmentsofourChurch.WebelieveallthesetobeconsistentwiththeprinciplesofChristastaughtintheWordofGod,whichistheonlyandsufficientrulebothofourfaithandpractice.Ifanyamongusdonotobservethem,and/orhabituallybreakanyofthem,wewilladmonishsuchpersonsinlovewiththehopeofrestoringthemtolivesofharmonywiththeaboveMembershipCommitments.Ifsucheffortsofrestorationcontinuetoprovefruitless,officialactionmay betakentowardterminationofsaidpersons’churchmembership.However,thechurchmembersareencouragedtocontinueeffortstowardthespiritualrestorationofthesepersons.
Matt.18:15–17;1Cor.5:6–7,9–13;2Cor.2:5–7;5:18–20;
6:14–18;Gal.6:1–10;Eph.4:25–32;Titus3:10–11.