Restrictive Rules and Lessons Learned
Article 3
In this article, in the series on the Global Methodist Church (GMC) Constitution, we want to examine in more detail the importance of the doctrinal standards included in the restrictive rule as suggested by the Shreve Community Church Council’s amendment in the upcoming adoption of the constitution (https://shrevecommunitychurch.org/amendments/). We also want to be reminded of lessons learned from how doctrinal standards were handled in The United Methodist Church history and how adoption of the proposed Amendment will help prevent issues like the consequences of Judicial Council Decision 1366.
The constitution and restrictive rules play a crucial role in establishing and safeguarding the doctrinal standards of the GMC. The constitution serves as the supreme law, structuring church governance and ensuring all subordinate laws and actions align with its principles. A hierarchical legal system ensures coherence, placing the constitution at the top, followed by statutory laws, administrative regulations, and case laws. The restrictive rule, embedded within the constitution, acts as a safeguard by limiting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers, ensuring adherence to core doctrinal standards. This rule prevents any alterations to established doctrines without substantial consensus, thereby preserving theological integrity and continuity. The Shreve Community Church Council’s proposed amendments emphasize protecting historical doctrinal documents and procedural rights, reinforcing the church’s commitment to its foundational principles and fair judicial processes. This structured legal framework, and protective measures ensure the church remains steadfast in its beliefs while allowing for careful doctrinal development.
Here are the general components necessary for a church to create doctrinal standards. These elements form the foundation upon which a Christian church builds its beliefs, practices, and community life.
Scripture:
The Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, is considered the authoritative word of God.
Creeds, Articles of Religion, and Confessions of Faith:
Statements of belief that summarize core Christian doctrines.
Theology:
Systematic theology: An organized approach to understanding God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and eschatology (end times).
Biblical theology: Interpretation of the Bible's teachings within its historical context.
Sacraments or Ordinances:
Practices instituted by Christ, such as Baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion).
Church Authority and Governance:
Structure of church leadership, such as bishops, elders, pastors, and deacons. This includes the organizational hierarchy and decision-making processes.
Worship and Liturgy:
Forms and patterns of worship services, including prayers, hymns, readings, and sermons. Liturgical churches follow set forms, while others may have more spontaneous worship styles.
Ethics and Morality:
Guidelines for Christian living and moral behavior based on biblical principles. This covers personal conduct, social justice, and community relations.
Mission and Evangelism:
The church's mission to spread the gospel and make disciples, both locally and globally. This includes outreach, service, and missionary work.
Tradition:
The historical practices and teachings handed down through generations. This includes theological writings, church fathers' teachings, and denominational histories.
Catechism:
Educational instruction for new believers or members, often in a question-and-answer format, to teach the fundamentals of the faith.
The key anchors of doctrine in a Christian church generally focus on the foundational beliefs and practices that define the faith. Among the ten elements listed, the primary anchors typically include: Scripture (including Wesley’s Notes on the New Testament), Creeds and Confessions of Faith (including the Articles of Religion and Confession of Faith), Theology (including Wesley’s Standard Sermons), Sacraments or Ordinances, Church Authority and Governance. While the other elements (worship and liturgy, ethics and morality, mission and evangelism, tradition, and catechism) are also important, they are often built upon and informed by the core doctrinal anchors. The five key anchors form the foundation upon which a church's beliefs and practices are established and maintained.
If these key anchors are not included in the restrictive rules as anchors to our doctrinal foundations, more than likely there will be a drift in our life together and our life with God. The practical lesson of this was experienced in the life of The United Methodist Church in Judicial Council Decision 1366.
One of the key issues addressed in Judicial Council 1366 was whether the rituals of same-sex marriage and same-sex ordination were compatible with the doctrine of The United Methodist Church. Specifically, it addressed whether these rituals were in agreement with the Articles of Religion and the Confessions of Faith outlined in the Restrictive Rules of the church's Constitution. I (Zilhaver) presented an argument based on several logical points.
1) The first Restrictive Rules asserted that no new doctrinal standards may be established.
2) The Articles of Religion (XXII) mandated that rituals should not violate God’s Word.
3) Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the New Testament describe same-sex practice as “idolatry”, “the greatest of sins”, and equate it to dishonoring the body in a manner as severe as idolatry itself (Romans 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9-10).
4) Rituals that endorse same-sex practice which are described by Wesley as dishonoring, idolatrous, and sinful are in direct conflict with the Confession of Faith (XIII) and Articles of Religion (XXII).
5) The Judicial Council had previously set a legal precedent by striking down practices considered directly contrary to the Articles of Religion (JDC 142; 1109).
Therefore, I argued that if the General Conference approved a ritual that blesses a practice deemed idolatrous and one of the greatest sins under the scriptural hermeneutical interpretation of Wesley’s Notes on the New Testament then it would be in direct opposition to the Articles of Religion and the Confession of Faith. This would make such an approval impossible under the provisions of constitutional and statutory law.
However, in the case of Judicial Council Decision 1366, the Judicial Council found that the General Conference could approve same-sex marriage and ordination because the Explanatory Notes on the New Testament were not authoritative as a doctrinal hermeneutic for interpreting Scripture. This was because the Explanatory Notes were never ratified through the constitutional/restrictive rule process but were only approved by a majority vote of the General Conference. Therefore, they were statutory in nature and did not bind the General Conference to change its biblical hermeneutic at any General Conference.
Should the Explanatory Notes on the New Testament had been contained in the restrictive rules of The United Methodist Church, it would have established a doctrinal hermeneutic by which the Scriptures would be interpreted. As it stood the Judicial Council found that as The United Methodist Church had no established hermeneutic, and the Explanatory Notes on the New Testament were simply suggestions and historical in nature. Because there was no doctrinal hermeneutic of Scripture by Wesely, the interpretation of Scripture could simply be changed by a majority vote and therefore allow the approval of same-sex rituals.
To ensure the Global Methodist Church maintains theological integrity, avoids the mistakes of The United Methodist Church, and prevents doctrinal drift, it is imperative to include doctrinal standards such as hermeneutics, theological structure, and ecclesiastical structure within the restrictive rules of the constitution. The lessons learned from The United Methodist Church's Judicial Council Decision 1366 highlight the necessity of embedding these standards within the constitution and restrictive rules to prevent inconsistencies and unauthorized doctrinal changes. By adopting the Shreve Community Church Council’s amendments, the GMC will safeguard its core doctrines and ensure that any changes require a substantial consensus, thus preserving the church’s foundational beliefs and practices.
Rev. Robert F. Zilhaver & Rev. Nathanael J. Fugate