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 June 2003 Volume 1
Number 2
NIC VOICE is
a growing network of concerned laity whose purpose is to provide
balanced information and dialog within the Northern Illinois Conference
(NIC).
NOTE:
NIC VOICE
is not
an official publication of the Northern Illinois Conference or the
United Methodist Church. See our Disclaimer below.
 REVISED
NIC VOICE Watershed Moment
presentation
is AVAILABLE on-line!
You may view the
presentation or download at
http://www.nicvoice.org/presentation.htm.
This presentation
includes several updates, including comments made by Bishop Sprague at a
recent speech at the Methodist Theological Seminary in Ohio and concerns
expressed about evangelical renewal groups in a recently released book,
“Methodism @ Risk A Wake Up Call”.
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He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come see the place
where he lay. (Matthew 28:6)
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United Methodist Reporter –
“N. Illinois United Methodists create Web site for public dialogue
on theology”
A
recent article in the United Methodist Reporter (http://www.reporterinteractive.org/index1.htm)
on May 27, 2003 by Steve Smith notes that,
“A group of United Methodists in the
Northern Illinois Annual Conference has started a Web site to engage
laity throughout the denomination in public dialogue over theological
issues regarding the life of Christ.
Brenda Klockenga of Crystal Lake, Ill.,
said she and 13 other lay members at churches in the Chicago-based
conference created the NIC VOICE site,
www.nicvoice.org, in February in response to doctrinal issues raised
in the case of their bishop, C. Joseph Sprague.”
The UMR also interviewed Bishop Sprague:
Bishop Sprague, meanwhile, said he
affirms the group's right to operate the Web site, which he called
"sophisticated and well done," but disagrees with their methods and
theology.
"They are strident in their style and
self-righteous in their presentation," he said. "It is a very small
group representing the theological right among laity in this conference.
They have seized upon the language of the supervisory response team that
suggests theological dialogue, which, of course, is appropriate and
something I've urged for years, but they suggest that they are one of
the designated parties within this conference and beyond to conduct that
dialogue.”
Recent
NIC VOICE Presentation informs
Laity
At
a recent
NIC VOICE
presentation, members from several churches had an opportunity to
discuss their concerns. One participant summarized her experience:
I
must tell you I came to the meeting with one attitude and left with an
entirely different viewpoint. I was sure the answer was to break ties
with the UMC. After seeing your presentation I now realize that the time
has come to take a stand, to draw a line in the sand, to stand up and be
counted -- counted among those who remain faithful to the full gospel of
Jesus Christ. I realize my decision may not be a popular one; however I
also realize I am not alone.
Upcoming
NIC VOICE Presentations
NIC VOICE
will be presenting “Watershed Moment” at the Downer’s Grove public
library on Tuesday, August 12, at 6:30 PM. This is an opportunity for
you to invite someone who would be interested. For additional
information, contact Joe Royston at
joelroydton@hotmail.com or at (630) 663-1087.
NIC VOICE
has been
invited to speak at the Forum
for Evangelical Theology at Garrett Seminary in the coming fall
semester. The purpose of the Forum for Evangelical Theology (FET) is to
engage in conversation about the Christian faith from an evangelical
perspective. You discover more about the Forum at
www.wesleyanforum.org/fet/.
NIC
VOICE
Web Site
Updates:
www.nicvoice.org
The web site continues to be updated,
including new information in the presentation, more Comments, and some
thought provoking insights in what is a Watershed (see home page).
NIC VOICE Press Release On-Line!
http://www.nicvoice.org/about.htm
NIC
VOICE
COMMENTS
I
just read the May 30
issue of the U.M. Reporter and saw the reference to your website. I have
spent the last hour or so reviewing it and downloading and reviewing the
power point presentation. Let me first say that I am grateful to God for
His providing the means for your website to be established. May God's
blessing continue to remain on you and your efforts. I have been a
member of the UMC for about 14 years. I was raised in a Lutheran
tradition. I came to believe that God had to exist when I was 9 because
of the illogical nature of His nonexistence. I made a very personal
commitment to Jesus in 1989, which I do define as my time of rebirth.
Over the years I have
watched with great concern how very vocal individuals, apparently not
liking what the Scriptures say regarding certain issues, want to change
the face of the UMC. It is not like anyone has twisted their arms to
remain members of the church, but it does seem that many along the west
coast would rather change the existing church structure to suit their
own desires rather than leave and start their own church - which is
their prerogative. I also held out the UMC Bishops understood and
supported the nature and truth of the Gospel message. Obviously Bishop
Sprague's comments were of great concern, to the extent that I am
looking towards other church traditions for my future place of worship.
I would also say that I
do not speak as an illiterate, uneducated individual who thinks that
much of Scripture is filled with "myths" that are outmoded. I am
educated in physics (BS) and geology (MS, PhD) and am considerably well
read in astronomy as well. I have a reasonably large library of books
involving the Scriptures as well and am an active reader of this
literature as well as the Bible. If I, a layman who has studied hard
science and employed mathematics to describe things within the universe,
a scientist who seeks hard facts about the truth regarding how the world
is put together and operates, if I can accept the literal resurrection
of Jesus and find no difficulty, how is it that a Bishop of the UMC
cannot accept that God can do such a thing?
How is it that I have
seen more of the mystical and 'supernatural' within my study of nature
that leads me to this belief and that a Bishop who should have grasp the
mystical and 'supernatural' of the Scriptures cannot be led to such a
belief? To quote from an email I received some time ago from an English
Professor who also studies CS Lewis, "Jesus is not the founder of
Christianity; he IS Christianity. Jesus did not show us a way to
find/reach God; he IS the Way. Jesus, like Plato and Buddha, taught
truths and furthered both religious life and philosophical light, but
Jesus alone claimed to be Light and Truth and Life Itself." There is no
doubt that God would have all people turn to Him.
But the cold, hard facts
are that not all people will. The mystery of Christianity is that Christ
died for not just the Jews but also for the gentiles. Christianity is
not for one culture - it is open for everyone, for ALL people. If Jesus
is who he said He is, and that in the end is the only question that
matters, "then to say that Jesus is the only way to God is not elitist;
it is merely common sense." To have this gift we must give up our
rebellion and accept what God offers. Satin's sin was wanting to be God;
so was ours. And we our still wanting to be God when we are unwilling to
accept the means that has been provided freely to us - the acceptance of
Jesus the Christ as our Lord and Savior through repentance, which is the
good news.
Thank you for this
opportunity to speak.
--Dr. Richard J. Erdlac,
Jr., Midland, Texas
Thank
you for being courageous and standing up for Jesus. I am from Central
UMC, Traverse City, Michigan and we have a new pastor and we are
experiencing the same false teachings here. We are attempting to
organize a Good News Fellowship within the church to keep our
congregation together and are meeting a great deal of resistance both
from the pastor and other members. It gives us strength to know that
you also are standing on Christ the foundation of the Church.
May
God continue to bless us.
—Ron Bell, Traverse City, Michigan
I
thank God for the
boldness that God has given this group!
We must stand together
and insist that ALL United Methodist bishops preach, teach, but more
importantly, believe, the major tenets of our Christian faith that they
have VOWED to uphold. The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:3 says: "As I
urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you
may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer." And in
1 Timothy 4:16: "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in
them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
Let us be obedient to the Word of God and command these men not to teach
false doctrines any longer.
—Russ Knight, Perry, Florida
I
am a member of a
very small church of about 50 people in the Northern Illinois Conference
who love the Lord and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been appalled
at the Bishop's comments and are seeking the Lord on His direction for
the church. I would like to learn more about NIC VOICE.
—Karen Michelini, Arlington, IL
During
a time when truth is constantly questioned it is refreshing to find a
site dedicated to spreading truth. Our denomination (UMC) is being
divided over truth, and this site is about uniting those who hold to
truth.
—BG, Crystal Lake, IL
I
saw a wonderful
presentation last Sunday evening presented by NIC VOICE.
NIC VOICE is a group of concerned members of United
Methodist Churches in our Northern Illinois Conference. Their goal is to
educate other church members who may not be aware of some significant
doctrinal issues and share their concerns. The web site is at
www.nicvoice.org. The first newsletter is there, as well an outline
of the presentation.
Since reading and
hearing Bishop Sprague's views, it was interesting to hear the official
United Methodist statements to compare the two to arrive at an informed
decision for myself.
—Joe Royston, Downer's Grove, Illinois
This
is an important time in our denomination and every United Methodist
should be aware of these facts. The
NIC VOICE Presentation
provides thorough,
well-balanced information in an easy to understand format. Whether you
agree or disagree, you will learn and be affected.
—John Crissman,
Grayslake, Illinois
What can we do?
Learn More About Jesus'
Resurrection and Gift of Salvation
Individual and Corporate
Prayer
Send Expression of Concern
to UMC Bishops
Send petitions for
accountability to Annual Conference and General Conference
Continue to stay informed
Schedule a presentation of
"Watershed Moment" using the downloaded PowerPoint presentation at your
church or at a public facility to invite churches in your area
Network to inform laity
and with other laity and laity/clergy led groups by sending the NIC
VOICE newsletter or Press Release!
Hold a small group series or
summer adult education study using the resources you will find at NIC
VOICE and focus on the key doctrinal issues
Bishop Sprague Denies the Virgin Birth and Deity of Jesus
s
"Thus, if the Virgin
Birth did not occur in a physical historical sense, if Jesus were born
of human parents, as I affirm he was, and if Jesus did not
possess trans-human supernatural powers, as I do not believe he did,
what sense can we make of the miraculous stories about him in the gospel
accounts?"
Affirmations of a Dissenter:
Chapter 4, "Fully Human Jesus" (underlined added for emphasis)
"This
powerful myth was not intended as historical fact, but was employed
by Matthew and Luke in different ways to point poetically to the Truth
about Jesus as experienced in the emerging Church."
Affirmations of a Dissenter:
Chapter 4, "Fully Human Jesus" (underlined added for
emphasis)
The
Bible says:
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be
with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel".
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
"For in Christ all the
fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given
fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." Colossians
2: 9-10 (NIV)
The UMC Book of
Discipline says:
"The Son, who is the Word of the Father… 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…. 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."
Article VII (excerpts with underlining for emphasis)
Reflections
on Virgin Birth
Watershed Moment
It
is important that we not allow the passing of what Bishop Ough’s
Supervisory Team has characterized as a “Watershed Moment” without
examining their dismissal of recent charges brought against Bishop
Sprague. More importantly, presentations and discussions such as this
forum will allow United Methodists throughout the Northern Illinois
Conference an opportunity to decide for themselves what they believe to
be the Biblical Truth about the doctrines that are at the root of
this controversy.
The
charges in the complaint against Bishop Sprague state that his positions
are contrary to the Statement of Faith in the United Methodist Book of
Discipline. This controversy became public when a transcript of Bishop
Sprague’s speech at Iliff Seminary was released in the summer of 2002.
Subsequent to that, Chapter 4 of his book, “Affirmations of a Dissenter”
was released by Bishop Sprague on the NIC web site.
In the
fall of 2002, the UMReporter published a series of articles contrasting
excerpts from Chapter 4 of Bishop Sprague’s book with the published
response of Bishop Whitaker.
In
addition, various renewal groups officially within the UMC, as well as
other groups not officially connected, have covered various aspects of
this controversy on their web sites. They have published information
and opinions about the complaint that was made by a group of laity and
clergy late in 2002, and the subsequent dismissal in February of 2003.
These groups provide a forum for this and other issues of concern within
the UMC.
MISSION
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".
Questions or comments about NIC VOICE
may be
directed to:
nicvoice@nicvoice.org.
NIC VOICE
offers the laity within NIC churches an opportunity to become more
INFORMED:
-
Upon
invitation from a NIC church or group,
NIC VOICE
will provide a speaker to conduct a presentation entitled "Discussion
of Theological and Doctrinal Issues in the UMC Raised by the Bishop
Sprague Complaint & Dismissal", or
-
You
may choose to conduct the presentation 'in-house', using the NIC
VOICE
Watershed Moment Presentation, at a single meeting or in
a series of studies on these key doctrinal issues of:
-
Christology (Trinity, Virgin Birth, Deity of Jesus)
-
Resurrection of Jesus Christ
-
Salvation through Jesus Christ Alone
-
The
Atonement of Jesus Christ
SUBSCRIPTIONS
NIC
VOICE
P.O. Box 604
Crystal Lake, IL
60039-0604
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DISCLAIMER
NIC VOICE is
sponsored by a laity-led network in the Northern Illinois Conference of
the United Methodist Church dedicated to providing balanced information
and dialog about issues of concern relating to the Bishop Sprague
Complaint & Dismissal. This group has sole responsibility for the
content of this letter.
NIC VOICE
provides original content on our web site and may distribute information
from other sources. NIC VOICE
exercises no more editorial control over such information from other
sources than does a typical public library, bookstore, or newsstand. The
views and opinions expressed in such information do not necessarily
reflect those of
NIC VOICE.
Copyright
(c) 2003,
NIC VOICE.
All rights reserved.
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