Report of the
Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee
The Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee continued its work on completing The Biblical Principles For Living. This year we present several Biblical Principles For Living for your consideration. The following Biblical Principles For Living are being presented for First Reading: #109-Repentance And Restitution, #112-Divorce, and #114-Stewardship. The Biblical Principles For Living presented for First Reading have been edited, reviewed, approved by the Committee, and are presented to the Annual Conference for approval and inclusion in the Faith & Order.
The Committee reviewed the present Articles on Dedication of Children, Abortion, Harmful Indulgences, Homosexuality, and Secret Oath-Bound Societies. A number of corrections were made and we are presenting a recommendation with regard to the Article on Secret Oath-Bound Societies. These Articles are being retained and placed into a section of The Biblical Principles For Living titled, Declarations On Particular Issues – 130-1 to 130-5. In our investigation of the statement on Tobacco, the Committee found inconsistencies regarding its restriction to teaching, and this restriction not applying to the use of drugs and other substances.
In the course of our committee meeting with the Committee to Study Divorce as it relates to Eldership, questions were raised as to whether or not 1 Cor. 7 has been studied adequately as it relates to desertion as an additional ground for divorce. This question has come to us on various occasions by members of Annual Conference.
Since this committee is doing its work without changing positions previously established by the Annual Conference, we do not propose changes, but call to the attention of the Annual Conference the concerns expressed on the issues of divorce, secret oath-bound societies and consistency of our position on the use of tobacco and drugs by teachers and leaders.
Several members of Annual Conference gave the Committee their suggestions and insights with regard to The Biblical Principles For Living. We thank these men for their suggestions and have considered the suggestions and in some cases made corrections or additions to the particular Biblical Principles For Living.
Joint Committee On Ethnic Church Planting
The Report of The Joint Committee On Ethnic Church Planting has been, in the past, included with the Report of the Inter-Cultural Committee. The Joint Committee has been considering a number of ethnic groups, in order to pursue the possibilities of ethnic church planting in the BFC. The Joint Committee only met once this past year and considered the planting of a church in a predominantly Hispanic community in downtown Lancaster. [Note: The Articles Of Faith have been produced in Spanish and if you have any Spanish people in your church, these would be helpful for them. You may acquire a copy by contacting the Office Of Church Extension or The Board Of Publication and Printing]
The Joint Committee decided that it should concentrate on planting an Hispanic Church in Lancaster and will be working at the Project in this new year. We will be seeking the advice of Elliot Ramos and the support of the Capitol Region Churches, who have shown interest in the Project. Please pray for this Hispanic Church Planting Project in Lancaster. The Joint Committee is made up of David Gundrum, Dana Weller, Dr. Donald Faust and John Elias.
We remain concerned for other ethnic communities near to our churches and prayerfully the Lord will lead us to pursue the development of a church among other groups in the days ahead. We urge the Annual Conference to continue its support of ethnic church planting and to give to this work through the Fund For Ethnic Church Planting. Continue to send your contributions to The Board Of Missions, designated for Ethnic Church Planting.
Conclusion
For those members of Annual Conference who are not aware of the work of The Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee, a history of the Committee’s work was prepared and titled, “His Glory And Deeds Among All Peoples.” This historical sketch is available by contacting David E. Gundrum, Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee still needs time to complete its work on the Biblical Principles For Living. The Committee requests your prayers and input regarding this work. We also ask you to pray for the Joint Committee on Ethnic Church Planting as it seeks to reach the various ethnic people groups in the target areas of the Bible Fellowship Church.
A “Biblical Principles For Living – Revised for 118th Annual Conference,” booklet has been prepared and distributed with the Annual Conference Report Book. Please reference the Booklet with regard to the Biblical Principles For Living.
The Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee recommends:
1. Whereas, the Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee has reviewed, edited and approved certain Biblical Principles For Living, therefore be it
Resolved, that the 118th Annual Conference approve for first reading and inclusion in the Appendix, Biblical Principles For Living, of the Faith & Order, the following Biblical Principles For Living: Repentance And Restitution-#109, Divorce-#112, and Stewardship-#114.
2. Whereas, Whereas, certain Articles in the Standards Of Worship And Life are valuable statements on particular issues and not necessarily addressed in the Biblical Principles For Living, and
Whereas, the Committee believes that these Articles should be retained; therefore be it
Resolved, that Dedication Of Children-#130-1, and Harmful Indulgences-#130-3, be approved for First Reading and placed in the Biblical Principles For Living — Declarations On Particular Issues; and further
Resolved, that Abortion #130-2, Homosexuality #130-4, and Secret Oath-Bound Societies 130-5 be re-located to Biblical Principles For Living — Declarations On Particular Issues.
3. Whereas, we once did not approve “oaths” as acceptable in the behavior of believers, and
Whereas, we rejected that position at the 79th Annual Conference ( 1962 Yearbook, pp.54,55); and
Whereas, Article 112 – Secret Oath-Bound Societies in the Standards of Worship and Life includes a prohibition in the use of oaths and does not define “secret societies”, and
Whereas, this Committee has committed itself to the Annual Conference not to change existing standards in developing Biblical Principles For Living, therefore be it
Resolved, that we recommend to the 118th Annual Conference the appointment of a committee of five ordained ministers to study in the light of the Scripture our position on Secret Oath-Bound Societies and bring its report to the 119th Annual Conference.
4. Whereas, The Biblical Principles For Living cover more issues than the Standards of Worship and Life; and
Whereas, The Biblical Principles For Living give more complete statements, more explicit Biblical substantiation, and broader statements of the subjects than the Standards of Worship & Life, and
Whereas, The Biblical Principles For Living also state things in language which is more clear to this generation and transferable across cultures, therefore be it
Resolved, that The Biblical Principles For Living collectively replace The Standards Of Worship & Life in the Faith & Order after their Second Reading and further,
Resolved, that the section in the Faith & Order which will contain The Biblical Principles For Living, be titled Biblical Principles For Living, and further,
Resolved, that the listing of The Biblical Principles For Living in the Faith & Order be as follows:
Biblical Principles For Living
Preamble
Relating To God-The Christian Before God
101 Worship
102 Spirit World
Relating To Personal Qualities-The Christian In Christ
103 Holiness
104 Justice
105 Mercy
106 Humility
107 Truth and Integrity
Relating To Personal Relationships-The Christian In Personal Relationships
108 Humanity In God’s Image
109 Repentance and Restitution
110 Marriage & Singleness
111 Family
112 Divorce
113 Shared Life
Relating To Personal Activities-The Christian In Society
114 Stewardship
115 Work & Rest
116 Civil Government
117 Christian Liberty & Servanthood
Declarations On Particular Issues
130-1 Dedication Of Children
130-2 Abortion
130-3 Harmful Indulgences
130-4 Homosexuality
130-5 Secret Oath Bound Societies
5. Whereas, we believe the Biblical Principles For Living are God’s intended principles by which we should live, and
Whereas, we believe the Biblical Principles For Living should be urgently and diligently taught to our congregations, therefore be it
Resolved, each Pastor and Delegate seek ways to implement the teaching of the Biblical Principles For Living for their congregations and further,
Resolved, we encourage that lesson plans be developed and submitted to David E. Gundrum for ideas in the development of teacher guides.
6. Whereas, monies are needed to plant ethnic Bible Fellowship Churches, and
Whereas, the Committee believes that God has provided the people and opportunities and desires His church to reach the alien in the land and plant churches, therefore be it
Resolved, that each Pastor and Delegate to Annual Conference, if they have not already established a line item in their budgets for ethnic church planting, be encouraged to work with their churches to budget monies for ethnic church planting.
7. Whereas, the work of the Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee is not yet complete, and
Whereas, the Committee would like to prepare the Biblical Principles For Living for second reading, therefore be it
Resolved, that the 118th Annual Conference direct the Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee to continue its work.
The Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee: Roy A. Hertzog, Chairman; David E. Gundrum, Secretary; Delbert R. Baker II, Carl C. Cassel, G. Wayne Clapier, Daniel G. Ziegler.