Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Perhaps he has proclaimed to you the virgin birth, but he has given me no such proclamation.

A.  God's proclamation about the Virgin birth is in many places throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments.  Here is one from Matthew 1 (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus Christ

¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[3] because he will save his people from their sins."

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"^[4] --which means, "God with us."

²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The following information is not on our web site, but might be helpful, “Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin”.

On our web site you will find a Reflection on Virgin Birth that is based on extensive citations from the Bible.

Q:  Who is NIC VOICE?

 A:  NIC VOICE began in February 2003 as an effort among concerned laity in the NIC of the UMC to respond to the doctrinal issues raised by the Bishop Sprague Complaint & Dismissal. This is in harmony with the recommendations by the Supervisory Response Team's dismissal of charges. We believe that many in the NIC are unaware of these issues, and this is an effort to, as the Response Team encouraged, help the laity to become involved in the process of "serious theological reflection on issues of Biblical Authority, Christology and the Mission of the Church". 

 Q:  Why is this laity-focused effort?

 A.  The UMC has a rich heritage of focus on the laity in the life of the church: 

·         As recommended by the General Conference 2000 Connectional Process Team (CPT) Report--Part VI Encourage Doctrinal and Theological Discourse, "United Methodists around the world are connected by a rich array of doctrinal and theological understandings. Listening to views that differ from our own is possible when we are in covenantal relationships that are intellectually honest where we strive together to seek common ground.  The practice of Christian conferencing includes connecting and renewing, discerning and deciding (emphasis added).   Annual conference sessions, as well as other places, can provide opportunities for the discourse, debate, and consideration of these doctrinal and theological ties that bind us."

·         This is in harmony with the recommendations by the Supervisory Response Team's dismissal of charges. We believe that many in the NIC are unaware of these issues, and this is an effort to, as the Response Team encouraged, help the laity to become involved in the process of "serious theological reflection on issues of Biblical Authority, Christology and the Mission of the Church". 

·         Bishop Sprague in Chapter 6 of Affirmations of a Dissenter has encouraged the introduction of laity into dialog about our social principles and to the challenge of historic and present-day theological thinking. 

·          The UMC mentors and encourages laity.  The UMC offers laity tremendous opportunity for training in growth, such as in the Ministry of the Laity and opportunities for training within our Annual Conferences.   

  Q: How can clergy express support and help NIC VOICE promote “serious theological reflection on issues of Biblical Authority, Christology and the Mission of the Church”?  Can clergy participate in these discussions? 

A.   NIC VOICE welcomes the support, prayer, encouragement and participation of all those who affirm the orthodox Christian faith as expressed in the Apostle’s Creed and whom uphold the Articles of Faith of the United Methodist Church. 

Although from the beginning, NIC VOICE has been a laity-driven effort to educate and inform other members of laity, UMC Clergy have volunteered financial contributions and supported our efforts by hosting or inviting participation in NIC VOICE Watershed Moment Presentations.

To augment and supplement the development of NIC VOICE Watershed Moment Presentation, we also sought and obtained input from Clergy.  In addition, clergy have offered their comments to us via the NIC VOICE web site and have graciously agreed to post their thoughts in our Comments section.

We are increasingly convinced that it is essential for concerned laity, clergy and professors of UMC theological seminaries to participate in the dialogue process and ultimately help establish the direction we must take to bring about needed reform and renewal. 

Ideas for how you too can help in this process by becoming more involved may be found on our "Join us in our Mission" page on the web site.

Q:  How is a network different than an organization or group? 

A:  NIC VOICE is a growing network -- laity to laity -- rather than a formal organization or group.  NIC VOICE does not seek to provide news or promote specific options for renewal or reform since there are established organizations and groups who are currently performing this service.  NIC VOICE provides a means to help NIC laity effectively communicate with other NIC laity the key doctrinal issues in the UMC related to Scriptural Authority and Christology.

Q:  How can I talk with someone to get more information?

A:   You can click on this link to reach NIC VOICE:  http://www.nicvoice.org/contact.htm. 

Q:  How can I schedule a presentation in my church or at my committee meeting?

A: You can click on this link to schedule a presentation: http://www.nicvoice.org/schedule_presentation.htm. 

Q:  We are not from the Northern Illinois Conference.  How can we use the resources on this web site? 

NIC VOICE  believes that this research and information would be of value to UMC laity outside the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC), so while we are offering our speakers (at no charge) within the NIC, the web site, NIC VOICE, has a PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes that can be downloaded and used by UMC laity wherever they are.  We are offering the resources on the web site at no charge. 

Q:  How can I get the presentation so that I can present it to my church or at my committee meeting? 

A:  If you have a high speed link, you can download the full presentation with graphics at this link:  NIC VOICE Presentation - With Graphics 

If you have dial-up, you can download the full presentation without graphics (smaller file size at this link: NIC VOICE Presentation - Graphics Free 

If you would like to request NIC VOICE mail a CD with the presentation, please contact us at www.nicvoice.org. There will be a nominal fee to prepare and mail the CD.

 Q:  What if I want to revise the content of the presentation?

A:  You may revise the content with the following disclaimer on each slide that is revised: 

"This presentation has been revised from its original content downloaded from the NIC VOICE site.  Any changes do not necessarily reflect the views of the NIC VOICE network.  Please view the on-line presentation at www.nicvoice.org to view the presentation as officially approved by NIC VOICE.” 

Q:  What if my pastor is concerned about having an outside group making an NIC VOICE presentation at our church?

A:  It can be uncomfortable acknowledging the various positions on doctrinal issues within our individual churches, conferences and denomination.  Yet, as the Response Team indicates, it is essential to our denomination to have open dialogue.  This must be done in a spirit of love and humility.  Sometimes, it is best to conduct these sessions “in house”; other times, it may be easier to invite a speaker to facilitate the discussions.   Some prefer pretending that these concerns do not exist, but face continued loss of membership if we do not openly face and discuss our mutual concerns. 

Q:  What if my pastor will not let us schedule a meeting to discuss these issues?

A:   First and foremost, pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you as you seek to know how to educate your members.  There are many resources available to you on NIC VOICE WEB SITE.  You can also inquire to see if NIC VOICE has scheduled a presentation at another UM church in your area.  We always encourage our host church groups to extend an open invitation to all UM members.  

Q:  How does talking about these issues impact our church? 

A:   Concern for Doctrinal Integrity – How can we “walk together” if there is division over our core beliefs?  What is required in order to join a local UMC or to be a deacon or an elder?  Are there doctrinal standards?

•          Unity in essential beliefs (what is essential?)

•          Liberty in non-essentials (what is non-essential?)

•          Truth in love (what is TRUTH?) 

United Methodists cannot separate themselves from their conference and the denomination.  We are a connected body!  Those within our community of Faith and the community-at-large are likely to be asking us what United Methodist really believe.  NIC VOICE is working to help laity understand the issues raised by the Complaint and the basis of the Dismissal.  All those who claim the name of United Methodism have a responsibility to understand what the Bible teaches regarding these issues.  We are personally responsible for educating ourselves and for participating in the process of enlightening others about what the Articles of Faith and the UMC Book of Discipline have to say about these doctrines. 

Q: Why are we talking about this instead of just trying to ignore it?   

A: If those who call themselves Christians are to have an effective mission in this world, we must identify the core doctrines of the Bible and hold ourselves accountable to them.   As human beings it is impossible not to have a belief system!  The real issue is, "What set of beliefs are held in common by UMC members and clergy"? 

Q:  What are the benefits to me for becoming better informed on these key issues? 

A:  Once we have become better educated about these issues, we'll have the opportunity to confirm our beliefs and exercise our influence within our conference and denomination. Ultimately, each of us needs to confirm that we have professed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Indeed, we must show the world that we are His disciples by witness and our daily walk in His way.   

Q:  Why does the presentation only provide information related to Chapters 3 & 4 of Bishop Sprague’s book, Affirmations of a Dissenter? 

A.  It is noteworthy that we may all agree with some areas that Bishop Sprague highlights in his book, such as the need for laity involvement and education, need for strong pastoral leadership.   

There are other areas that are important to understand, but might not be considered as core doctrines, essential to the Christian faith.  Such topics can be explored more fully once the key issues of Biblical Authority and Christology have been resolved.   

Q.  Doesn't the Bible teach we shouldn't have disagreements with each other?

A.  This answer is from "Developing the Art of Gracious Disagreement - Surviving Church Conflict":

"Conflict is unavoidable and not necessarily bad. We don't need to feel guilty just because we are involved in church conflict. Trouble is unavoidable. Conflict will come. It comes to the best of churches, to the best of spiritual leaders, to the best of church boards, and to the best of friendships. Conflict came to Jesus and His inner circle. It came between Paul and Barnabas, and Paul and Peter. Conflict came not only to the immature church of Corinth, but to the much more mature church in Philippi. Conflict came to the inner circle of Christ even after He had served them communion on the night of His betrayal."

In addition,

"Paul, however, never asked for the kind of oneness that compromises the interests or doctrines of Christ. Just as important, Paul never encouraged us to protect or cover one another at the expense of what is right or true. Look again at Galatians 2:11-16 and Philippians 2:1-5. While these two texts look and feel very different, there is something very similar about them. In both cases, Paul argued passionately for the interests and cause of Christ. In both cases, Paul asked for unity based on right beliefs. In both cases, Paul showed how important it is to look out for one another and not just for ourselves."

For the full on-line contents of this brochure is at Radio Bible Class Ministries:  Developing the Art of Gracious Disagreement. 

Q.  Aren’t your web site resources biased toward your view?

1. In our mission statement, we state that: 

NIC VOICE is a growing network of concerned laity whose purpose is to provide balanced information and dialog within the Northern Illinois Conference of the UMC about Doctrinal Issues raised by the Bishop Sprague Complaint & Dismissal.

This is in harmony with the recommendations by the Supervisory Response Team's dismissal of charges.  They urged that the laity become involved in the process of "serious theological reflection on issues of Biblical Authority, Christology and the Mission of the Church".

We affirm the historic, orthodox understanding of the Apostles’ Creed and the Articles of Religion, Section III Our Doctrinal Standards and General Rules in the Book of Discipline.   

We have provided a presentation on the NIC VOICE web site NIC VOICE Presentation that offers a voice within the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) for the view of those whom Bishop Sprague has identified as “neo-literalists”.  Bishop Sprague’s book and speeches reflect the view of those whose biblical interpretation and methodology have been defined as “progressive” or “radical progressive”.

The key sections of the presentation provide a comparison between the progressive interpretation, related doctrinal statements from the Book of Discipline, and scriptures from the Bible in relationship to the authority of Scripture and the four key doctrinal areas.  The presentation also includes views offered by three UMC bishops regarding Chapter Four:  Fully Human Jesus from Affirmations of a Dissenter. 

As noted in an article, “Straining The Limits Of Tolerance:  Christian Truth's Challenge to Relativism, author Peter C. Moore quoting Harold A. Netland's Dissonant Voices: Religious Pluralism and the Question of Truth notes notes that,

“…Far from the usual view of tolerance, which seeks to embrace all points of view as equally valid, he argues that tolerance actually presupposes making a judgment about the content of the other's belief.

You do not tolerate something with which you agree, therefore "toleration . . . has an element of disapproval built into its meaning." To tolerate another religious belief is not to accept that belief in itself, but to accept or endure someone else's holding that belief.”

Bishop G. Lindsey Davis, North Georgia Conference, The United Methodist Church has said,

“…While showing respect for all persons and beliefs, we are nonetheless called to share our faith our Jesus Christ.

Among the world religions, the Christian faith is unique. Paul said it well to Timothy, "There is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all people" (1 Timothy 2:5-6 TNIV).

So, let us not be timid. Let us love, encourage, and bless all our neighbors. And let us offer them, in God's time, true spiritual nourishment. 

Q:  Methodism is a very open-minded faith and our church is filled with a whole spectrum of believers who fellowship with us who hold many diverse views, from the “radical progressive” to the “neo-literalist”. Why can't we just allow Bishop Sprague his right to teach and believe what ever he feels God has laid on his heart?

I don’t agree with the bishop, but we should be accepting of him as Christians. 

We must remember that we are a people of diversity, and no one has a corner on right and wrong -- everything is relative, so why can't we be big enough to make room for the views and opinions of progressives, liberals and conservatives alike?  

A.  It is true that we do not have members of the UMC sign a statement of faith when they join the church. There is room to, as John Wesley put it, “think and let think”.  However, In Wesley’s sermon on Catholic Spirit (which has nothing to do with the Roman Catholic Church, but with the universal church), he is very clear that we think and let think except on matters that strike at the root of our faith. 

In these essential doctrines, he said, we are “as fixed as the sun.”  We may not be a creedal church in a technical sense, but we very definitely have doctrinal standards and these standards are protected by the restrictive Rules or the Constitution of the UMC so that they cannot be changed except in a very unusual situation. 

In fact, the Model Deed of 1763, prepared by Wesley in anticipation of his death to determine who could and who could not preach in Methodist preaching houses, states specifically that no one would be allowed to preach who did not subscribe to the Methodist Doctrinal Standards. 

Q.  Doesn't everyone have a right to believe whatever he or she thinks is just and right, and good?   

There's no way to really know who is right and who is wrong -- aren't we supposed to be tolerant of one another's views? 

 Also, there are many different ways to God -- how's one to know which way is best for oneself, let alone for somebody else? 

The Copyright applies to the answer to this question:

Unless preceded by another copyright in the text of the previous article, these data files/documents are the sole property of Campus Crusade for Christ, Intl.   They may not be altered or edited in any way. They may be printed only in their entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file and/or document must contain the copyright notice (i.e., Copyright © 1995-2003 www.greatcom.org or www.whoisjesus-really.com, etc.) and this Copyright/Reproduction Limitations notice. 

A complaint often voiced about the Bible is that everyone is entitled to their own interpretation. Some contend that there is no way to arrive at a consensus. People point to the variety of denominations as an example that there can be no unanimity among Bible believers, but even those who do not believe the Bible is true and factual have little difficulty in discerning the central message of its teachings.   

Within the branches of true Christianity, we find basic understanding as to what the Bible teaches.  Generally they accept the standards expressed in traditional creeds and covenants that assert such basic truths.  These “standards” delineate common belief that God made humans in His own image, giving people free choice on how they conduct their lives -- that mankind chose to rebel against God, thus bringing sin into the world. 

Moreover, such traditional interpretation holds that God, because of His everlasting love, became both human and deity in the person of Jesus Christ and died a substitutionary death on behalf of all persons, thereby paying the price for us so that we might avoid just punishment for our sins.  Just by placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and accepting this free gift of grace, it is possible to receive salvation and be restored to a personal relationship with God. 

The Bible’s message is clear for those who will but pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit as we read the passages with an open mind, seeking to understand the gospel message God has put there for us.  The problem comes about by people attempting to make the Word fit their preconceived ideas.  The fault lies with those who insist on personal interpretations by twisting the message in order to bolster agreement with whatever it is they wish it to say. 

Although divisions arising from different interpretations and applications of Scripture have resulted in the establishment of various denominations, it must be stressed that generally these differences arise over doctrines that are not essential to the core beliefs of Christianity’s central teachings. Some people use these differences as an excuse for not believing and accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, but that excuse proves to be entirely invalid.

Jesus made the main issue crystal-clear: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36). The critical issue is not that of some differences in interpretation or denominations, but rather the person of Christ Himself. He clearly and repeatedly claimed to be God Himself and the ultimate Judge of everyone. What will you do with the person of Jesus and His claims? 

Q.  I believe the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is both the son of man and the Son of God, and I think all Deacons, Elders, Bishops and other clerical officials are obligated to live according to their pledges and vows given to both God and the Church.  What can I do as an individual to hold our leadership accountable for their actions?  

The ACTION section of the NIC VOICE web site has some initial steps of action for your consideration.  In addition, the Links and Resources provides you with links to various resources to explore to learn more about the various reform and renewal efforts within the UMC, as well as a myriad of other helpful links.  This could be your portal into not only information on the UMC but evangelical Christianity. 

Q.  What can our church do to keep faith with the Bible, the values of John Wesley and the traditional creeds of our fathers? 

A.  The Resources for Further Study section of the NIC VOICE web site provides you with information about several good Bible study resources, including the Disciple series.   

Q.  How is NIC VOICE contributing to spiritual growth in addition to dialog and education? 

A.  NIC VOICE has developed a growing list of suggested resources at Links and Resources.  We hope many will find these resources useful for spiritual growth, especially the books in the bibliography.  We are continuing to update this bibliography.  In order to explore more deeply our Wesleyan heritage, we are developing resources related to John Wesley at What Would Wesley Say.  There is ongoing work in this area.  There is also a section that provides more in-depth reflections on the doctrinal areas of concern at Reflections on Doctrine. 

The following questions are from recent Comments submitted to the NIC VOICE web site:

  Q.  My real concern is the question of whether a UM needs to subscribe to certain doctrines. 

A.  With regard to what we believe as members of the UMC, as stated in Paragraph 216 in the 2000 United Methodist Book of Discipline  

“When persons unite with a local United Methodist church, they, or, if unable to answer for themselves, their parent(s), legal guardian(s), sponsor(s) or godparent(s), profess their faith in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Spirit. Thus, they make known their desire to live their daily lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. They covenant together with God and with the members of the local church to keep the vows which are a part of the order of confirmation and reception into the Church:

1.       To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of their sin;

2.       To accept the freedom and power God gives them to resist evil, injustice, and oppression;

3.       To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their Lord;

4.       To remain faithful members of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world;

5.       To be loyal to The United Methodist Church and do all in their power to strengthen its ministries;

6.       To faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, and their service;

7.       To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

In addition, the Meaning of Membership in the UMC is stated at:  Meaning of Membership in the United Methodist Church. 

When describing our beliefs, the official UMC web site contains the following words, "Our Doctrinal Standards and General Rules.  

What is a standard?  Mirriam Webster's defines a standard as, "something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example: CRITERION".  

 Included in our Doctrinal Standards that describe the UMC view of the "Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments" is the following statement: 

Article II—Of the Word, or Son of God, Who Was Made Very Man

The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.

The complete Articles of Faith are located at:  Our Doctrinal Standards and General Rules - Articles of Faith

UMC Beliefs are described at:  United Methodist Beliefs

These are not standards or beliefs or opinions of NIC VOICE (although we affirm them), but the stated beliefs and standards of the United Methodist Church.  The reason that these are important is that they reflect agreement with the Bible on the person and mission of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Q.  Perhaps he has proclaimed to you the virgin birth, but he has given me no such proclamation.

A.  God's proclamation about the Virgin birth is in many places throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments.  Here is one from Matthew 1 (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus Christ

¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[3] because he will save his people from their sins."
²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"^[4] --which means, "God with us."
²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The following information is not on our web site, but might be helpful, “Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin”.

On our web site you will find a Reflection on Virgin Birth that is based on extensive citations from the Bible.

 Q.  I find your inability to accept the fact that I don't agree with you to be hard to take. I hope that you learn to be more tolerant.

With regard to tolerance, Josh McDowell, noted Christian author, notes that:

Webster's defines the word "tolerate" as follows:  "to recognize and respect [others' beliefs, practices, etc.] without sharing them" and "to bear or put up with [someone or something not especially liked]."

This traditional definition is perfectly compatible with Scripture. In fact, the Bible says we are to "accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (Romans 15:17, NIV). This is the same attitude that Paul expressed in his first epistle to the Corinthian church when he explained that love "endureth all things" (13:7, KJV). This type of tolerance differentiates between a person's thoughts or actions and the person himself (emphasis added). Unfortunately, the dictionary definitions of tolerance no longer capture the full meaning promoted by the "new tolerance;" at least not according to the majority of people and institutions using the term.

He explains further:

G. K. Chesterton, the English author who strongly influenced the life and writing of C.S. Lewis, once said, "Tolerance is a virtue of a man without convictions." This statement alludes to one of the dire consequence of the new tolerance: the loss of conviction. In order for a person to possess convictions about a belief, it is necessary, by definition, for the person to be convinced that his or her belief is true. But if I sincerely consider everyone's beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims as equal to my own (even when they contradict my beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims), I can no longer claim any genuine conviction regarding my own beliefs. The new tolerance requires me to admit that I may just as easily be as mistaken or misled as my neighbor. If no truth is "more true" than any other "truth," then there is no truth worth defending. And if there is no truth worth defending, there is no room for conviction (emphasis added).

So it is from our conviction of the truth of God's Word, we seek to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 1:3).

As noted in the presentation on the NIC VOICE web site, the following are questions we all need to consider:

•           Is the Bible true?  Does it represent a mythological or symbolic view of spiritual truths, or it the revelation of God fulfilled in Jesus Christ, based on historical facts that speak to spiritual truths?

•           Who is Jesus?  Was he a human, like anyone else, who became God through a “confluence”, or was he God Incarnate, Emmanuel, God with Us?  

•           Why did Jesus come?  To make the world a better place in this life?  To found a religion? To teach us to love?  What was the ultimate purpose?  Was it to reconcile sinful men to a holy God because he so loved us?  

•           Is the “How” important?  

•           Why should we believe the Bible at all?  

•           Why not believe other religions?  Isn’t everyone saved through their faith in their religion?  

Q. (With regard to the Gospel of John and Jesus’ divinity) Absolute truth?? Absolutely not!! Sorry, it just doesn't wash. 

A.  The question of the Authority of Scripture is an area that needs to be addressed in the UMC.

Article V – Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation (Book of Discipline) states:

“In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church.”

The United Methodist Church affirms in Article V that the Old and New Testament Books of the bible are authoritative and accepted by the Church.  The church has ruled by placing into our canon the books of the Old and New Testament that the writings are inspired by God.  God speaks through His people.  The writings that were determined to be Scripture are the words of God and “canonized”.  Therefore, the Book of John is believed to be written by the inspiration of God. Christians believe that the author of the book of John did not put words into Jesus’ mouth, but recorded them for posterity.  The final verses of the book of John say this: “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down.  We know that his testimony is true.  Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

Christians believe what is written in the Holy Bible and place themselves willingly under its Authority.  The Book of Discipline says in Article V: “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation.”  Those who wish salvation will find it in the passages of Scripture, which tell us what we must do to be saved.  Scripture testifies to us Who God Is (Father/Son/Holy Spirit) and how He offers us salvation in and through the Son, Jesus Christ.

We hope that you will explore more about the authority of Scripture and Truth.  You may also find the following information helpful as you explore "Absolute Truth":

Honest Answers to Tough Questions

How Do You Spell Truth? 

M-A-P-S to Guide You through Biblical Reliability 

 Q. "'NIC' presumably stands for Northern Illinois Conference. If you are not officially related to the conference, you should clearly indicate this." 

A.  The following is posted prominently on the home page: 

NIC (Northern Illinois Conference) VOICE, a growing network of concerned laity whose purpose is to provide balanced information and dialog within The United Methodist Church. 

NIC VOICE is not an official publication of the Northern Illinois Conference or the United Methodist Church. 

We also stated that we are not "official" in the article in the United Methodist Reporter. 

Q. [I] "still do not understand why your website does not do in a "Who Are We" section what is customary in practically all other organizational websites: name your officers, provide brief biographical sketches, identify your sponsors, and clearly identify your origins."  

NIC VOICE is a laity led network, and as such, is not officially affiliated with our conference, the UMC, or any other group.  Participating individuals may be aware of the national organizations that are active in renewal and reform, but surprisingly enough, we find that many are not aware of these efforts.  We do not receive funding from any of these national groups. 

So:

1.  We have no named officers -- we have volunteers to present the presentation that is on the web site and to consult with for content.  When a volunteer is assigned to a presentation, information is provided.

2.  We are a network -- we have no "sponsors" other than individuals who choose to donate for the minimal costs we have to run the web site and produce literature.  We do have a volunteer who helps us with the treasury function and a web site editor.

3.  We are growing -- anyone who affirms our mission and the Apostle's Creed and wants to become part of the network to communicate with other laity can do so.

4.  We are not a reform or renewal group with an ongoing strategic plan.

5.  If you are not from our conference you would probably not know any of us.  We are simply laity.  Some of us are lay members to our annual conference, and some are not.  Some choose privacy, and we honor that.  Some of us are more visible. 

Our stated goal is to provide resources that can be used independently of any of us throughout the US.  If you are in the Northern Illinois Conference and would like to talk with one of us in more detail about scheduling a presentation, we would be happy to do so.  We are not available to offer our resources to travel outside the conference, so the web site is a free resource to others who would like to learn more. 

Volunteers of the NIC VOICE network agree that they affirm Biblical Christianity as stated in the Apostle's Creed, the Bible, and the UMC Book of Discipline, Articles of Faith.  We do not claim any personal authority but the authority of the Scriptures themselves.  

As such, we have not sought to highlight ourselves or our backgrounds.  Some of us are lay members of our annual conference and one was recently elected as an alternate to jurisdictional at our Annual Conference.  What unites us all, however, is the bond of unity in a saving, personal relationship with Christ through faith and a desire to express this within the Northern Illinois Conference. 

Our origins are this:

The genesis of NIC VOICE was discussion among a small group of family and UMC laity regarding Bishop Sprague's Illiff Seminary speech and later publication of Chapter 4 of his book, Affirmations of a Dissenter, on the Northern Illinois Conference website, along with articles published in the The United Methodist Reporter.  We soon realized that many of our friends felt the same way we did about the progressive interpretation of the Bible and the Book of Discipline.

Some of us emailed Bishop Sprague explaining our concerns about his symbolic and metaphorical theological approach.  He confirmed that he took a different approach to theology.   Then we began researching opinions about the Bishop's speeches and his book, including what other bishops had to say. In addition, we began to study and gather Biblical references that speak directly to these doctrines.  We also researched the Book of Discipline (BOD) and our UMC Statement of Faith for applicable references.

We continue feeling the leadership of the Holy Spirit to help inform and have dialogue with the laity of the Northern Illinois Conference about the core issues underlying the complaint and its subsequent dismissal.  It was decided the best way to present the results of our research was to develop a presentation that we elected to call,  NIC VOICE Watershed Moment.  It was designed so that we can share it with laity of NIC churches desiring dialog about what Bishop Ough's Supervisory Team calls a Watershed Moment.  NIC VOICE, along with a large percentage of UM laity, share in common the affirmation of traditional, orthodox, literal interpretation of the Apostle's Creed.

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Recently, NIC VOICE was asked a serious of questions about Bishop Sprague's retirement and the future.  These questions and NIC VOICE's answers follow and are now also included in the NIC VOICE FAQ:

Q:  Bishop Sprague is set to retire later in 2004.  What is NIC VOICE's observations about his retiring?

Bishop Sprague's episcopal tenure in Northern Illinois was largely overshadowed by issues of homosexual practice and same-sex covenants brought into sharp focus during the trial of Rev. Gregory Dell and by issues of theology as expressed in his book, "Affirmations of a Dissenter". The Bishop's advocacy in both of these cases put him at odds with the ethics and theology of the majority of United Methodists, as expressed by the actions of General Conference and the Book of Discipline. Unfortunately, this has led the Northern Illinois Conference, and its delegation to the upcoming General and Jurisdictional Conferences, into a somewhat adversarial relationship with the rest of the church. This is deeply troubling to many of us. 

Evidence of the result of this leadership is reflected in the passage in the June 2003 Northern Illinois Annual Conference of Resolution 700-23 Reflecting the Love of God by 56% of those clergy and laity who voted.  This resolution instructs and encourages local NIC churches to proclaim teachings that directly contradict the Book of Discipline and call upon the General Conference to pass this resolution so that this conference’s views would change the historically accepted apostolic doctrines of the UMC.

Sadly, during Bishop Sprague's tenure the Northern Illinois Conference has continued to lose members, is experiencing extreme financial difficulty, and, with the exception of issues related to casino gambling expansion, has lost influence, and competence to lead in the twenty-first century. 

In a Charge Conference report, one pastor’s musings reflects what many pastors feel – that this has been a year of “dissention, turmoil, bewilderment, and anger” regarding Bishop Sprague’s theological teaching and the passage of Resolution 700-23.  While many members simply slip quietly away, some communicate that they no longer desire to be part of to a denomination that refuses to uphold its own doctrinal standards.

Bishop Sprague does not intend to just fade away quietly into the night.  He will continue to use his influence within the Northern Illinois Conference, make addresses at events and speak out on every occasion he is given.  We know that his imprint overshadows a wide-ranging sphere of influence.

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Q:  What will the Northern Illinois Conference gain/lose by his retirement?

 

The events of the last year have placed the NIC at the crossroads of time – this has been our Watershed Moment.  In the face of such challenges, the response has been muted; in the clergy, by fear of repercussions and in the laity by disinterest, apathy, lack of understanding of Methodist theology and lack of knowledge.   Only time will tell if God has removed His hand from the UMC in general and the NIC in particular. Prayer is the only key that will unlock this door.

Many pastors feel that they do not know what the future holds and determine that they will focus on the ministry in their own church.  Some laity and clergy have simply “dropped out” of the Annual Conference, not participating at all.  Perhaps a new bishop can encourage the return of many who feel that they would rather not be a part of the NIC.

The retirement of Bishop Sprague, and some of his colleagues in the Council of Bishops, clears the way for the possible election and assignment of visionary episcopal leaders who are grounded in the apostolic, ecumenical faith, relevant to the spiritual seeking of the current generation

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Q:  Is NIC VOICE doing anything to influence who is named his replacement?

 

NIC VOICE remains focused on our key objectives to reach out and provide a forum for education.  The NIC VOICE website at, www.nicvoice.org is the primary vehicle, along with presentations in churches in the conference.  We hope that through this process, laity will become more involved in the conference in the coming years. 

In addition, NIC VOICE was invited to speak at the Forum for Evangelical Theology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in October 2003. The topic of the presentation was “Contending for the Faith."   We believe that one of the essential elements for education is to reach out to the seminaries to help them understand how laity feel about the theological issues within the UMC.

We have submitted 25 petitions and resolutions for consideration at the General Conference of 2004. These will add our voice to those of similar content that have been or will be submitted by other conservative factions within the UMC.

With regard to this upcoming election of a new bishop, our primary attempts to influence the election and assignment of bishops are made through prayer. We long for the day when Bishops are in partnership with the laity and clergy of their annual conferences and focused on the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. 

The Northern Illinois Conference Evangelical Association (NICEA) was established five years ago to provide a forum to uphold “The Centrality of the Bible, Upholding Our Doctrinal Standards, and our engagement in the world through UMC Social Principles”.  We have communicated to NICEA the thoughts and feelings of concerned laity and clergy (some of these are posted at the Comments section of our website, but many others are personal reflections from both clergy and laity), and this group will be speaking directly to the NIC Jurisdictional Delegation, and is additionally studying actions that could be taken to be influential in the overall North Central Jurisdiction election process.

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Revision Date:  08/07/2004 – Please use only the latest revision from www.nicvoice.org
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