|
A Sanctifying Process: In July, delegates to the general conference of the Free Methodist Church of North America voted 272 to 7 in favor of a proposed amendment to the Article of Religion on Entire Sanctification (item A/119 in our denomination’s Book of Discipline). Such constitutional changes/referendums are rare, and require a 2/3 vote to approve by each of the denomination’s 12 general conferences as well as full approval by the World Conference [see sidebar]. The new article, as revised by the Council of Bishops in September 2005, reads: “Sanctification is that saving work of God beginning with new life in Christ whereby the Holy Spirit renews His people after the likeness of God, changing them through crisis and process, from one degree of glory to another, and conforming them to the image of Christ. As believers surrender to God in faith and die to self through full consecration, the Holy Spirit fills them with love and purifies them from sin. This sanctifying relationship with God remedies the divided mind, redirects the heart to God, and empowers believers to please and serve God in their daily lives.
While affirming the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification, the revised article reframes our understanding of holiness within the entire work of salvation, according to Bishop David Kendall, a participant in the amendment process. “I am convinced that we are now on firmer biblical ground from which to engage our culture more effectively,” Kendall said. “What’s notable is that we have broadened our articulation of holiness beyond simply a focus on a second crisis experience, a second form of commitment,” he added. “We still affirm that, but we are acknowledging that the Holy Spirit is at work to grow us up in Christ and make us like Christ from the very beginning … The commitments we make throughout our life, including the climactic one that settles the bent of our life, are all set within a lifelong process of conformity to Jesus.” World Conference Convenes this Month The World Conference of the Free Methodist Church is held every four years, this time convening Nov. 8-11 in Brazil. Delegates from the Free Methodist Church of North America, selected at July’s general conference at Spring Arbor University, are bishops Kendall, Roller and Thomas, along with Larry Roberts, John Ellis and Rebecca Sawyer. Reserve delegates are Carol Bartlett, Rosemary Ramundo and John Davis.
|
Thus, God sets His people free to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love their neighbor as themselves.”