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NIC VOICE NIC VOICE is a non-profit, non-business association of members within the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. NIC VOICE is not incorporated or filed as 501-C-3 tax deductible entity.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:6)  NIC
VOICE offers the laity within NIC
churches an opportunity to become INFORMED. Upon
invitation from a NIC church or group,
NIC VOICE will provide a
speaker to conduct a presentation entitled
"WATERSHED
MOMENT: Discussion
of Theological and Doctrinal Issues in the UMC Raised by the Bishop
Sprague Complaint & Dismissal".What is a Watershed? NIC VOICE provides an open meeting package (see "How to Schedule an NIC VOICE Meeting) to assist you in scheduling the meeting.)
From NIC VOICE Links & Resources: Bishop Sprague Complaint and Dismissal (Links directly related to Bishop Sprague's writings, the complaint, dismissal and responses) Prayer of Protection & Guidance Have you visited the NIC VOICE Comments Section lately? NEW Comments have been added. Have you visited the NIC VOICE Resources & Links Section? Great resources are added frequently! Check it out!
 NICVOICE
Around the World We have had visitors from the following countries (*** = NEW):
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 and beyond 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 To subscribe/unsubscribe, go to newsletter.htm. If you don't have Web access, send your name and email address to:nicvoice@nicvoice.org
or contact us:
For past issues, visit our archives at newsletter.htm. Tell a friend about NIC VOICE. It's free! If they do not have e-mail access, you can print this newsletter and distribute it (see REPRINT AND FORWARD POLICY below.) 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. REPRINT AND FORWARD POLICY Subscribers are encouraged to forward NIC VOICE News Letter and web site links to others and/or print it in its entirety, without any changes, for noncommercial use only. If forwarding to another publication, please do so with the appropriate citation NIC VOICE in accordance with "fair use" rules, and our Disclaimer. You can easily forward the NIC VOICE News Letter at newsletter.htm using the Send this Newsletter link to a friend capability. UNSUBSCRIBE NIC VOICE News is sent to inform you about significant additions to our web site or relevant information. If you would like to be removed from this list, please click "UNSUBSCRIBE". |
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NIC VOICE
Annual Conference
2004 News Updates |
| NIC VOICE GENERAL CONFERENCE 2004 News Updates |
The
following NIC VOICE
GC2004 reports link to reports, articles and commentary,
including UMNS, Reporter Interactive, Good News, Confessing
Movement, Institute for Religion and Democracy, Reconciling
Ministries Network national and PNW, Affirmation, CorNet,
SoulForce, links to various video, audio and transcripts and
more:
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 36
(press reports,
Commentary and reports from AC's in the North Central
Jurisdiction)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 35 (press
reports, Commentary and reports from AC's in the Western
Jurisdiction and Illiff Seminary)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 34 (press
reports, Commentary: HOW SHALL WE DEAL WITH UNITED
METHODIST HERETICS)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 33 (press reports, Commentary: IN THE END WHAT DID WE ACCOMPLISH)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 32 (press reports, A Statement of Conscience by Bill Hinson)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 31 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 7 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 30 (press reports, Resolution on Church Unity)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 29 (press reports, Statement by Dr. James V. Heidinger II, Good News)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 28 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 6 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 27 (UMNS: Conservatives consider 'separation' of United Methodist Church)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 26 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 25 (press reports on proposed UMC split)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 24 (IRD Press Release: An Amicable and Just Separation)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 23 press reports, Commentary: FUNNY BUT SAD)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 22 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 5 and Text for Judicial Council Decision 985)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 21 (IRD Press Release: Renegade Bishop Participates in "Gay" Church Service)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 20 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 19 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups, commentary, Judicial Council elections)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 18 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 4 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 17 (UMNS Daily Wrap-Up - May 3 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 16 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 15 (Reports from PNW RMN and from Delegate Mark E. Williams)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 14 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 13 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 3 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 12 (press reports and reports from advocacy groups, Commentary: THE LANGUAGE OF THE SHEPHERD)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 11 (press reports and reports from advocacy groups, Commentary: A CERTAIN PEACE)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 10 (UMNS Daily Wrap-Up - May 1 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 9 (Judicial Council Decision 984 and UMNS - GC asks court to re-examine acquittal of lesbian pastor)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 8 (UMNS Daily WrapUp - May 1 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 7 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 6 (UMNS Daily WrapUp - April 29 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 5 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 4 (UMNS Daily WrapUp - April 29 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 3 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 2 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - April 27)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 1 (How to Watch/Listen to GC2004, Council of Bishops Pastor Letter, 04/26/2004)
| Current News - go to NIC VOICE's News Page |
Affirmations of a Dissenter by C. Joseph
Sprague
Discussion Guide and Recommended Reading
Affirmations of a Dissenter (Abingdon Press, 2002)
offers a composite of affirmation and dissent on the
work and mission of the church today and challenges
readers to maintain their faith and hope while
working within the church for congregational
renewal. As bishop of the Chicago area, Northern
Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church,
C. Joseph Sprague shares his insights and
suggestions on such issues as racism, church
leadership, world peace, homosexuality, and biblical
authority. He calls Christians to become one with
Christ and each other by living their faith and
making a difference in the world. You may not always
agree with him as you read this book, but Bishop
Sprague succeeds in making you think about what you
believe and why you believe it. Read
More
"The
Message of Jesus Enrages the People",
Rev. Scott Shreve, Feb. 1, 2004,
St.
Luke United Methodist ChurchLast week
Bishop Sprague provided a message that brought forth a
variety of responses from the congregation. Some were deeply
appreciative of what he said and how he said it, while
others were shocked, appalled and offended by his message.
There are copies of his sermon at the literature racks by
the entrances if you were not present and would like to read
the sermon that ignited such a wide range of reactions.
Bishop Sprague addressed the major issues that our
denominational representatives will be working through at
the General Conference this Spring. The three issues he
identified were as follows.
First, the potential cutbacks on funding for the work that
our Church is doing with children and the poor throughout
the world as the denomination is experiencing some financial
challenges. He advocates that we need to find cuts in the
budget elsewhere. That did not bring forth a reaction in one
way or another.
The second issue he raised was the level of inclusiveness
that the United Methodist Church chooses to maintain. Within
this context he specifically addressed how gays and lesbians
are included or excluded from the life of the church. Our
denomination's current stance on homosexuality reads as
follows:
Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are
individuals of sacred worth. All persons need the ministry
and guidance of the church in their struggles for human
fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of
a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with
God, with others, and with self. Although we do not condone
the practice of homosexuality and consider the practice
incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's
grace is available to all. We implore families and churches
not to reject or condemn their lesbian and gays members and
friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with
all persons.
The phrase in that passage that gets great attention at each
General Conference every four years is, "Although we do not
condone the practice of homosexuality and consider the
practice incompatible with Christian teaching..." The
question is, should that phrase be reaffirmed or changed?
Bishop Sprague is a strong proponent for full inclusion of
gays and lesbians in the life of the church. He framed this
within the context of biblical understanding as well as a
historical reference to groups of people that have been
excluded from the church in the past. If you were not
present, you now know one of the issues that brought about a
variety of reactions.
Lastly, the third issue he lifted up was the need, from
his perspective, for the United Methodist Church to clarify
its stance on war. Is our denominational stance pacifist,
just war, just peace, or crusade war? To illustrate his
point he made specific reference to the U.S. action in Iraq
and he went on and clearly stated that the manner of the
U.S. attack and present occupation of Iraq was and is wrong.
Once again, if you were not present, you now know another of
the issues that resulted in a variety of reactions.
Read More and
also
Pastoral Ponderings
I've
withdrawn from process that would develop chaplaincy
(May 21)
Commentary by Bishop C. Joseph Sprague It was with appreciation
and gratitude that I accepted the offer to become, in
retirement, the first "Chaplain on the Hill" in partnership
with the General Board of Church and Society in Washington,
D.C. During the recent General Conference in Pittsburgh,
however, I withdrew from the process that would have
developed this new position and placed me in it.
Read More
Delegates
work to re-write church law (May
21) - This documents NIC
delegation activities at GC2004 in:"I fear that the General Conference, given the heat around the aforementioned clergy trial, will be so strident that the world will note, not our love for Christ and neighbor, but our infighting and unwillingness to allow the Spirit to break down all the dividing walls of hostility among us." Read More
"..Despite what we decide on matters of doctrine and finance, structure and style, sexuality and peace, that we will not act as the GC did in Cleveland: namely, in a vindictive, strident and hurtful manner." Read More
St. Paul Confronts Peter
Now to conclude
Get
Connected: Methodist Laity
Reform Movement (Iowa)
Bishop Sprague Rejects Key Christian Beliefs But Is Not Held Accountable
United Methodist Bishop Joseph C. Sprague of Chicago has publicly rejected Jesus Christ’s eternal deity, virgin birth, bodily resurrection, and atonement for the sins of the world. He denied that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and said the Gospel of John is not true. Sprague made his attack on the Christian faith in a January 28, 2002 speech at United Methodist Iliff School of Theology in Denver and again in a book, both entitled “Affirmations of a Dissenter.” The full text of his speech is at www.ird-renew.org/umaction. Sprague is still drawing a salary as a United Methodist Bishop. A complaint filed by 28 United Methodists charged him with violating the Book of Discipline by disseminating doctrines contrary to established United Methodist doctrine and by disobedience to the order and discipline of the church. The complaint was dismissed. Methodist Laity Reform Movement defends Sprague’s constitutional right to believe and advocate whatever he chooses. But it is dishonest to hold the office and receive the pay of a United Methodist Bishop while attacking the traditional Christian faith of John Wesley and his church. Decency and integrity require Sprague’s resignation or removal. Will the 2004 General Conference take action to restore faithfulness and accountability in The United Methodist Church? The future of this great church is in grave danger. Read More
Our Church in Wonderland? Or in Orwell’s 1984?
Do words still have meaning in The United Methodist Church? Consider:
Book of Discipline, par. 404.1: “As followers of Jesus Christ called to servant leadership, bishops are authorized to guard the faith, order, liturgy, doctrine,
and discipline of the church.”
Jesus Christ: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)
Bishop C. Joseph Sprague: “I must dissent from Christocentric exclusives which hold that Jesus is the only way to God’s gift of salvation.” (Speech at Iliff
Seminary 1-28-02)
Articles of Religion of the UMC: “Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body....” (Article III)
Sprague: “I believe in the resurrection of Jesus, but I cannot believe that his resurrection involved the resuscitation of his physical body.” (Speech 1-28-02)
Articles of Religion of the UMC: “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; ...” (Article II)
Sprague: “The myth of the virgin birth was not intended as historical fact.... “ (Speech 1-28-02)
Book of Discipline, Doctrinal Standards, par. 101: “We share with many Christian communions a recognition of the authority of Scripture in matters of
faith ...”
Sprague: “I have chosen here not to deal with John’s account of the gospel ... Jesus simply did not preach, teach, or describe himself as John suggests...
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?” (Speech 1-28-02)
Sprague: “I can affirm my faith through the symbolic language, the theological poetic utterances of the ancient creeds, but it is incumbent upon me as
believer and evangelist to unpack this ancient, obtuse language about Jesus in order to make a semblance of finite sense out of infinite mystery on behalf of those who find the ancient creedal language confusing or implausible.” (Speech 1-28-02)
What does all this mean? In The United Methodist Church, a Bishop can and does reject basic Christian and UM beliefs — and is NOT held
accountable. The great words remain, but they mean anything or nothing — whatever meaning is chosen by anyone who “unpacks” or “makes sense out of” the faith given to us by the Bible and the apostles. Read More
Letter to Members of the Administrative Board, Castle Rock United Methodist Church, PNWAC - April 26, 2004
The following letter is authorized for publication by NIC VOICE and www.ucmpage.org by Scott & Julie Bean. It was sent by them to their church in April, 2004, for prayerful consideration and action. They have requested that details on apportionment dollars be omitted until final action has been determined. This letter has been revised for publication (addition of references, insertion of hyperlinks, and notation of authors and their positions).
In light of recent events happening in the United Methodist Church, Julie and I have been doing research as to how our apportionment money is being spent and how consistently the discipline is being applied. We found the results to be quite disturbing. Last year, our church paid all of its apportionments in full. We paid a total of $xxxxxx in apportionments total. Approximately $xxxxx of these funds were required by the General Conference to pay for pensions and salaries for district and conference staffing. The additional $xxxxx was spent to support funds which are participating in questionable activities. Under the World Service Fund (WSF) several organizations such as the Global Board of Church and Society and General Board of Global Ministries Woman’s Division have clearly disregarded the wishes of General Conference and the Book of Discipline(BOD) in order to promote causes which are inconsistent with Christian faith. Among these causes is a push to normalize homosexual activities and promote homosexual clergy, to advocate all abortion on demand, and to incorporate non-Christian practices and other heresy into worship services through programs such as Reimagining Conferences. We feel the question our church needs to address is “Can we continue to contribute to these causes?” In order to help you understand the scope of the problem, we would like to share our findings.
....
Even at the highest levels of power in the UMC, the basic tenets of Christian faith are being denied and leadership has refused to intervene.
Bishop Sprague of the Northern Illinois Conference is openly denying the virgin birth, saying any language in the Bible which could be construed as saying Mary was a virgin was symbolic instead of literal; the resurrection, saying Christ may have been raised in spirit but not physically because it would break the laws of science and “God does not work that way”; and that Christ was God, saying since he was born to human parents he could be nothing more than human. He also maintains that any concept of a need for blood sacrifice and atonement is nothing more than idolatry offering “better methods of atonement instead”. Charges were pressed by pastors in his area for heresy, but have been dropped by the Council of Bishops. Sprague does not honor the authority of the Bible. Instead, he views “Christology as the second most divisive issue in the Church today” and supports efforts to create a multi-faith world. Read MoreLeaders of an organization calling for full inclusion of homosexual people in The United Methodist Church warn that they will engage in civil disobedience and break misdemeanor laws if General Conference delegates don't give them what they want.
On the other end of the spectrum, leaders of the Good News evangelical renewal movement said they are marshalling resources to keep or tighten bans on ordination of self-avowed and practicing homosexual people, pastors performing same-sex ceremonies and other issues revolving around homosexual behavior.
About 1,000 delegates from throughout the country are expected to attend the convention, the denomination's highest legislative assembly, in Pittsburgh April 27-May 7 and consider 1,600 petitions that will affect The United Methodist Church for the next four years. More than 75 petitions on various aspects of homosexual behavior in the Book of Discipline are slated for consideration, conference officials said.
A survey of delegates shows that homosexuality is one of the top issues facing the denomination as well as society at large. United Methodist News Service reported that denomination researchers polled the 998 delegates and found that homosexuality shared the top billing with war and violence, racism, poverty, church finances, membership loss, restructuring and denomination unity as major issues.
Meanwhile, evangelical clergy and lay members
from about 25 United Methodist churches in the
Pacific Northwest Annual Conference decided
recently to ask General Conference to let them
separate from the conference, the
Yakima (Wash.)
Herald-Republic newspaper reported.
Read More
Despite our mistakes and lack of faith and often undeserving behavior, God still has a plan for the United Methodist Church. Some are tempted to see the latest antics of the Rev. Karen Dammann, or the Rev. Karen Oliveto, or of Bishop Joe Sprague, or of countless others who have violated their most solemn ordination vows, as signals of the church's demise. In fact, they are the fading wails of a movement that has nearly run its course. Twentieth century liberal theology was tried and has failed. Our current century will realize its ongoing demise, we pray within our lifetimes!
The evidences of this are too
numerous to cite here. But perhaps the inability of the
Board of Church and Society to raise an endowment to fund a
Capitol Hill chaplaincy for our church's most high profile
embodiment of theological inertia, Bishop Sprague,
is the most dramatic evidence of the last year that the
church left is more sterile and moribund than ever.
Read More
Affirmations of a Dissenter by C.
Joseph Sprague: Discussion Guide and Recommended Reading
Affirmations of a Dissenter (Abingdon Press, 2002)
offers a composite of affirmation and dissent on the work
and mission of the church today and challenges readers to
maintain their faith and hope while working within the
church for congregational renewal. As bishop of the Chicago
area, Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist
Church, C. Joseph Sprague shares his insights and
suggestions on such issues as racism, church leadership,
world peace, homosexuality, and biblical authority. He calls
Christians to become one with Christ and each other by
living their faith and making a difference in the world. You
may not always agree with him as you read this book, but
Bishop Sprague succ
