THIS ONLINE DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED BY THE STUDY COMMISSION ON DOCTRINE – SCOD. In the life of the church there are three levels of authoritative documents. Within the Free Methodist Church we define the three levels in this way: First Level is the BOOK OF DISCIPLINE: Official documents approved by the delegates at the General Conference. Second Level is the STUDY COMMISSION ON DOCTRINE: Guidance provided to the church by those assigned the task. These are not personal opinions, but are vetted by scholars who have various expertise. Though not binding on the church, they are meant to be helpful scholarly works. Third Level is this FREE METHODIST CONVERSATIONS. This online discussion is where various individuals express their own opinions about a variety of issues. These are not authoritative, nor are they necessarily meant as guidance, but God may use them to do so. There are SCOD documents on this site and the members of the SCOD will be participants. We are inviting the entire church to join the discussion. Our intention is not to limit discussion but to elevate it by assuring that God’s love and respect is always expressed. We will therefore post those comments which further our mutual understanding and assure that every person is being treated with dignity even when disagreement is being voiced. Specifically: 1. The SCOD encourages respectful, intelligent and impassioned discussion and debate. 2. The SCOD encourages a Wesleyan method of looking at the topic from a Scriptural perspective as well as that of Reason, Tradition and Experience. We recognize the Revelation of God in Scripture is our primary source of truth, with Reason, Tradition and Experience serving as supportive resources. 3. Any personal attack will keep the entire comment from being posted. This includes not only attacking others within this SCOD conversation but anyone within the larger secular or Christian world. 4. Any libelous, defamatory, profane, vulgar, threatening, harassing abusive, hateful, racially or ethnically objectionable comments will not be posted. 5. Any invasion of another’s privacy or any post that emulates or pretends to be someone else will not be posted. 6. This online conversation is not to be used to solicit or advertise personal blogs. 12. The SCOD, in our sole discretion, retains the right to remove individual posts or to revoke the access privileges of anyone who we believe has violated any of these standards. For more informal conversations with Free Methodists: LIGHT AND LIFE CONVERSATIONS – Facebook page LIGHT AND LIFE MAGAZINE – Facebook page – Online Issues FM RADIO – Facebook page or iTune episodes If there are any questions contact our moderator, Dr. Denny Wayman: dwayman@fmcsb.org.
As the conversation about the benefits and dangers of Artificial Intelligence occurs within our academic, business and political cultures, Dr. Sam Wells, Vicar of St. Martin in the Fields, London, brings the Christian church into this larger conversation. Preached on July 16, 2023, Pastor Wells begins:
Reading for address: Romans 8: 1-11
“Earlier this year,
David M. Scholer
As an historically more reformed seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary has supported the equal calling of Women in Ministry since 1966. In this positional statement Professor David. M. Scholer provides an extensive biblical study on this support. Click here for the entire article.
Women in MinistryIn the following article, we present Fuller Seminary’s position on women in ministry, as described and biblically supported by the late Professor of New Testament David M.
Rev. David Wisener, Redeemer Free Methodist Church
I’m concerned pro-life Christians aren’t being ethically comprehensive. We need to reflect a coherent ethic that does justice to the value of all human life. We need to both recognize how wide- ranging the issues are surrounding the protection of life and be more precise with how we define the stances we choose to take.
A prime example for more precision is The Book of Discipline’s statement regarding abortion: “The intentional abortion of a person’s life,
“A Surgeon General’s Advisory is a public statement that calls the American people’s attention to an urgent public health issue and provides recommendations for how it should be addressed. Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that require the nation’s immediate awareness and action.”
More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media; however, the current body of evidence indicates that while social media may have benefits for some children and adolescents,
JONAH, A LEGACY OF LOVING OUR ENEMIES
Rev. Dr. Amelia Traylor, M.D.
This sermon was given July 2022 at Northern Hills UMC
Rev. Dr. Amelia Traylor is a candidate for bishop.
You can hear Dr. Traylor’s introduction here.
You can hear her interview here.
Amelia Traylor is a medical doctor who is also a Superintendent in the River Conference.
THREE SERMONS PREACHED AT THE ARBOR CHURCH
KAYE KOLDE, 2023
Kaye Kolde is a candidate for bishop. Her introduction is available here.
1. BOLD PRAYER
CLICK HERE. Bold Prayer, Part 1 We look at how Jesus gave us access to a new kind of prayer life, inspired by the Spirit and calling on a good Father.
The Vine, The Wine, and The Sign
Linda J. Adams, February 21, 2021
The Arbor Church, Spring Arbor, MI
Linda is a candidate for bishop and is introduced here.
Since I grew up in this church, you will understand why I know almost nothing about wine. So, for much of my life, some the most prominent symbols in the Bible have been invisible to me.