RESOLUTION 1

PETITION: The Virginia Annual Conference petitions the 2008 General Conference to amend The Book of Discipline 2004 by adding the term "repentance" in ¶101 p. 45, and by adding the phrase "who is convinced of and turns from sin" in ¶101 p. 46 as per below:

¶101 OUR DOCTRINAL HERITAGE p. 45 "Distinctive Wesleyan Emphases"

p. 45 – "Although Wesley shared with many other Christians a belief in grace, repentance, justification, assurance, and sanctification, he combined them in a powerful manner to create distinctive emphases for living the full Christian life." [Add the word repentance]

p. 46 – "Justification and Assurance – We believe God reaches out to the repentant believer who is convinced of and turns from sin in justifying grace with accepting and pardoning love. Wesleyan theology stresses that a decisive change in the human heart can and does occur under the prompting of grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit." [Add the phrase who is convinced of and turns from sin]. 

RATIONALE FOR THE CHANGES: Jesus Christ proclaimed, "Repent, and believe in the Gospel." John Wesley stated "Our main doctrines…are three – that of Repentance, of Faith, and of Holiness." Modern scholar Colin Williams noted the distinctive place of "repentance" in Wesleyan theology. Highlighting repentance’s place in our doctrinal emphases clarifies denominational confusion.

SUBMITTED BY: H. O. Tom Thomas; Jr., Steven W. Greer; David V. Ford; John A. Bright; Richard McDowell; Edward H. Johnson; Douglas B. Child; Carol I. Bookwalter; James O. Radford; Lynne C. Ellison; David A. Rash; R. Bruce Johnson: and James E. Lavender, Jr.

SUPPLEMENTARY RATIONALE: Jesus Christ proclaimed the Gospel saying, "Repent, and believe in the Gospel." (Mark 1: 15b)

The first Methodist conference of 1744 meeting in London set forth doctrinal teaching foundational to its identity as "Methodists." The design of the meeting considered the question, "What to teach?" Question three asked, "But must not repentance, and works meet for repentance, go before this faith [faith of justification]?" Answer: "Without a doubt." (John Wesley, The Works of John Wesley, ed. Thomas Jackson (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1979), 8, 275).

"Repentance" was a distinctive emphasis of Methodism such that John Wesley stated, "Our main doctrines, which include all the rest, are three – that of Repentance, of Faith, and of Holiness." (John Wesley, The Letters of John Wesley, ed. John Telford (London: The Epworth Press, 1960), 2, 268).

Modern scholar Colin Williams notes the distinctive place of "repentance" in Wesleyan theology. {Colin W. Williams, John Wesley’s Theology Today (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1960), p. 59}

Though "repentance" is stated but unpronounced in The Book of Discipline 2004, in light of recent denominational confusion, even diminution of the doctrine of repentance, highlighting its place in our other doctrinal emphases will give added clarity and completeness to our doctrinal teaching.

RESOLUTION 2

PETITION: The Virginia Annual Conference petitions the 2008 General Conference to amend The Book of Discipline 2004, by adding a new paragraph, titled "The Purpose of Professing Membership", immediately prior to the current "Eligibility" paragraph in par. 214 of The Book of Discipline. 

RATIONALE: Methodists believe that the New Testament teaching of holiness of heart and life expresses the goal of Christian life and the high calling of Christ’s church. This addition clarifies the purpose of church membership to be aiding disciples in attaining the goal of "perfect love" toward God and neighbor.

SUBMITTED BY: Rev. R. Bruce Johnson, Rev. Steven Greer, Rev. John Bright, Rev. James Lavender, Jr., Rev. Carol Bookwalter, Douglas Child, Rev. James Radford, Lynn Ellison, Rev. Richard McDowell, Rev. Dr. H. O. "Tom" Thomas, Jr., Rev. Greg West, Rev. Edward Johnson, Rev. David Rash.

SUPPLEMENTARY RATIONALE:

The New Testament teaches that holiness of heart and life is God’s will for all disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:48, I Thess. 4:3ff);

John Wesley preached that the purpose of the Church is "to promote holiness," and that "the Church is called holy, because it is holy, because every member thereof is holy, though in different degrees" (Sermon #74, "Of the Church");

The distinctive doctrines of The United Methodist Church have always included the doctrines of sanctifying grace and Christian holiness (or "perfect love" expressed in all human relations, beginning with one’s relationship to God), as the aim and fulfillment of Christian life (2004 Book of Discipline, Par.101, p.47; Par.103, Articles of Religion: "Of Sanctification;" The Confession of Faith, Article XI; and The General Rules);

Upon taking the vows of membership for admission into The United Methodist Church, every new member pledges to "remain [a] faithful member of Christ’s holy church," by grace (vow #4);

United Methodists declare that "the Mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ" (2004 Book of Discipline, Par. 120). We understand also the vital link between the life of discipleship and church membership, in that "the membership vows express God’s call to discipleship" (Mark Stamm, "Our Membership Vows in The United Methodist Church");

This crucial connection between Christian holiness, the life of discipleship, and our membership in Christ’s Church and in The United Methodist Church, although implicit, is not clearly stated in the current edition of the Book of Discipline.

RESOLUTION 3

PETITION: The Virginia Annual Conference petitions the 2008 General Conference to amend The Book of Discipline 2004, ¶214 "Section on Church Membership," [to] add [the following] new paragraph after the words, "may recite the appropriate vows on their behalf." and before ¶215.

SUBMITTED: Rev. David A. Rash, Rev. R. Bruce Johnson, Rev. Steven Greer, Rev. John Bright, Rev. James Lavender, Jr., Rev. Carol Bookwalter, Douglas Child, Rev. James Radford, Lynn Ellison, Rev. Richard McDowell, Rev. Dr. H. O. "Tom" Thomas, Jr., Rev. Greg West, Rev. Edward Johnson

RESOLUTION 4

PETITION: The Virginia Annual Conference petitions the 2008 General Conference to amend The Book of Discipline 2004, ¶217 "Section on Membership" after number 7 of the vows of membership, following the words "….Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments." Insert a new paragraph as below.

SUBMITTED: Rev. David A. Rash, Rev. R. Bruce Johnson, Rev. Steven Greer, Rev. John Bright, Rev. James Lavender, Jr., Rev. Carol Bookwalter, Douglas Child, Rev. James Radford, Lynn Ellison, Rev. Richard McDowell, Rev. Dr. H. O. "Tom" Thomas, Jr., Rev. Greg West, Rev. Edward Johnson

RESOLUTION 5

PETITION: The Virginia Annual Conference petitions the 2008 General Conference to add the following resolution to The Book of Resolutions.

"God’s earth is aching for peace. Domestic strife, civil conflict, ethnic and racial clashes, religious schism and interfaith rivalry, terrorist attacks, wars between nations, and threatened use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons – all of these prevent us from achieving God’s shalom. In response we who are disciples of Jesus Christ are called to be peacemakers for the transformation of the world.

The biblical foundation for peacemaking is the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus taught, "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9), "Don’t react violently against the one who is evil" (Matthew 5:39, Scholars Version), "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44), and pray to forgive those who trespass against us (Matthew 6:12, 14-15). Paul echoed Jesus’ teaching when he instructed Christians in Rome, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:14-21). He told the church in Corinth that through Christ we have a "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

For The United Methodist Church peacemaking is an essential task for achieving success in other initiatives. Working with the poor to eliminate poverty, caring for children, and conducting global health initiatives can be most successful in stable and just societies free from armed conflict. To have sufficient resources for these tasks requires global peace and disarmament in order to redirect vast amounts of public funds now spent on armed forces and weaponry. Moreover, a strong concern for peace and justice is a necessary feature of vital congregations.

Therefore, the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church calls upon:

The 2008 General Conference calls upon boards and agencies to incorporate peacemaking into their regular programs and budgets, including but not limited to the following:

The 2008 General Conference requests the following reports for submission to the 2012 General Conference:

*This resolution was prepared by Howard Hallman of Methodists United for Peace with Justice for submission to General Conference.

SUBMITTED: John Copenhaver, Pat Shipley, Rob Vaughn, Hunter Mabry, Elaine Williamson, Jim Hassmer