NIC VOICE - Newsletter May 2003

Volume 1, Number 1 May 2003

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.

The NIC VOICE Watershed Moment presentation is NOW AVAILABLE on-line! You may view the presentation or download at http://www.nicvoice.org/presentation.htm.

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:6)

Northern Illinois Conference Bishop Sprague denies bodily resurrection of Christ:

"I affirm resurrection, the resurrection of Jesus. God’s essence cannot be killed, buried, or kept from being alive in creation or history. God is from everlasting to everlasting. But, resurrection, including that of Jesus, does not include bodily resuscitation." (From transcript of Sprague's speech at Illif in Denver, Colorado)

The Bible says:

"For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep [died] in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." I Corinthians 15:16-19 (NIV)

UMC Book of Discipline says:

"Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day." (Underlining added for emphasis)

Bishop Sprague Complaint and
Dismissal of Charges by Judicial procedure:

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.

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".

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:

The NIC VOICE Watershed Moment presentation is available for on-line viewing and download at http://www.nicvoice.org/presentation.htm.

Slide 5: Watershed Moment Presentation

Q: Who is NIC VOICE?

A: NIC VOICE began in February 2003 as an effort among concerned laity in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church 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: 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: To reach NIC VOICE, you can send an email to nicvoice@nicvoice.org or click: http://www.nicvoice.org/contact.htm.

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NIC VOICE

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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.

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