Report of the
Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee
The Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee continued its work on The Biblical Principles For Living. This past year the Committee finalized several BPLs which are to be considered this year for First Reading. It also revised the BPL, Stewardship. The Committee asked several individuals to be “readers” for the First Reading materials and then held an open meeting on January 22, 2002 for the purpose of gaining more input from our men. About 50 men came to the meeting and the Committee took back for consideration the men’s suggestions. The Committee has published the BPLs on the BFC Web site and offered the Conference significant opportunities to review our work. We appreciate and thank all who have responded with their observations. The following Biblical Principles For Living are being presented for First Reading: #102-5 – Truth & Integrity, #103-2 – Repentance And Restitution, #103-5 – Divorce, #104-1 – Stewardship. The following Declaration On Particular Issues is presented for First Reading: Harmful Indulgences #1003-2, Tobacco and #1003-3 Drugs and Other Substances. The Biblical Principles For Living and the Declaration 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. You will be receiving with your Report Book, a separate Booklet containing these materials for First Reading.
In a previous Report to Annual Conference the Inter-Cultural Committee produced an Historical backdrop to its work. This paper is titled, His Glory And Deeds Among All People, and is available by contacting David E. Gundrum, secretary of the Committee.
It should be noted that throughout the year the Committee has met with representatives of several other Committees of Annual Conference in order to complete its work on the BPLs. With guidance and suggestions from these Committees the Inter-Cultural Committee has a plan in place for the BPLs to replace the Standards of Worship & Life in the Faith & Order within the next two years. The Committee met with the Study Committee on Divorce to finalize the BPL , Divorce. It also met with the past and present Chairmen of Annual Conference along with members of the Agenda Committee in order to prepare for the completion of the First and Second Readings of the BPLs. The recommendations accompanying this report are a reflection of thoughts and agreements of these meetings.
Numerous members of Annual Conference gave the Committee their suggestions and insights with regard to The Biblical Principles For Living. The Committee values this input. These comments have been reviewed and discussed and in some cases corrections, additions, or deletions were made to the particular Biblical Principle For Living.
Joint Committee On Ethnic Church Planting
The Report of The Joint Committee On Ethnic Church Planting is included here as has been the case in the past. The Joint Committee has focused its work this past year on planting churches in the Hispanic communities where there are a number of BFC churches clustered. (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 concentrated on producing a proposal for planting an Hispanic Church in Lancaster City. The Committee met with the Capitol Region Consortium ( BFC churches in Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York Counties). The Consortium approved the proposal, then took it back to their churches. The churches have now approved it and several have already set aside funds for the project. The Committee then proceeded to complete its demographic work in Lancaster and decided to target the northern section of the city where four thousand Hispanics live and there are only two churches reaching this group. It is now the Committee’s task to locate an Hispanic church planter and the project will be ready to launch. Please pray for this Hispanic Church Planting Project in Lancaster.
The Committee recently met with the Berks County Pastors and they are forming a Task Force to investigate the possibilities of doing a regional church plant in the city of Reading among the Hispanic population. The Joint Committee will be assisting the Berks County group. Pastor Bob Sloan has taken the lead in this project as a part of Sinking Spring’s Global Focus approach to missions.
We urge the Annual Conference to continue its support of ethnic church planting and to financially give to the Fund For Ethnic Church Planting. Continue to send your contributions to The Board Of Missions, designated for Ethnic Church Planting.
Conclusion
The Committee needs to complete its work on the Biblical Principles For Living as it sets in motion a plan for concluding the Readings of the BPLs and then to have them replace the Standards of Worship & Life in the Faith & Order. Included in the following resolutions is the plan by which the BPLs will be in place by the 2003 Conference.
It should be noted that the 118th Annual Conference appointed a Committee to study the Declaration: #105-5 – Secret Oath-Bound Societies (New unofficial number is #1005). This Committee will be reporting separately to the 119th Annual Conference.
A “ Biblical Principles For Living – Revised for 119th 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 and the Declaration On Particular Issues.
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 119th Annual Conference approve for First Reading and inclusion in the Appendix, titled, Biblical Principles For Living, of the Faith & Order, the following Biblical Principles For Living: #102-5 – Truth & Integrity, #103-2 – Repentance And Restitution, #103-5 – Divorce, #104-1 – Stewardship, and the following Declarations On Particular Issues: Harmful Indulgences #1003-2 — Tobacco, and #1003-3 — Drugs and Other Substances.
2. Whereas, the BPLs and the Declarations on Particular Issues (DOPI) are two distinct bodies of work, and
Whereas, the BPLs are to be Principles that describe the BFC’s views on areas of Christian living,
Resolved, that the DOPIs be included in its own section (presently and unofficially #1000) in the Faith & Order; and further
Resolved, that the 119th Annual Conference approve for First Reading, Declarations On Particular Issues: Harmful Indulgences #1003-2 — Tobacco, and #1003-3 — Drugs and Other Substances.
3. Whereas, BPL 102-1 on Holiness has been already approved at First Reading; and
Whereas, we desire to add Acts 17:30, 31 as an additional reference to footnote #5; therefore be it
Resolved, that we add Acts 17:30, 31 to footnote #5 in BPL 102-1 on Holiness.
4. Whereas, the 108th Annual Conference directed the Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee, “to proceed with a review of the Standards Of Worship & Life to assure that they express culturally transcendent Biblical truths and values in language that is applicable to all cultures, (1991 Yearbook, pg.151); and
Whereas, the Committee determined that the Standards Of Worship & Life contained, “…confusing and archaic language, an absence of statements on some significant values, demonstrated inadequate Scriptural support, (1992 Yearbook, pg.173); and
Whereas, the 109th Annual Conference directed the Inter-Cultural Ministries Study Committee to, “develop culturally transcendent Biblical ‘Value Statements’” (1992 Yearbook, pg.176), ( Conference changed the name to “Biblical Principles For Living”); and
Whereas, Conference has demonstrated its agreement with the production of the Biblical Principles For Living, having approved certain BPLs for First and Second Readings since they were initially presented at the 110th Annual Conference; and
Whereas, the 113th Annual Conference approved by rule of exception that the Second Readings of the BPLs, “be extended beyond the three Consecutive Annual and be given as much time as necessary between readings” (1996 Yearbook, pg. 29); and
Whereas, the 118th Annual Conference approved, “that the Biblical Principles For Living collectively replace The Standards Of Worship & Life in the Faith & Order, after their Second Reading,” and further resolved, “ the section in the Faith & Order which will contain the Biblical Principles For Living, be titled Biblical Principles For Living” ( 2001 Yearbook, pg. 36); and
Whereas, Annual Conference has expressed its desire to complete the work on the Biblical Principles For Living and have the Principles put in the Faith & Order, replacing the Standards of Worship & Life; and
Whereas, even if Annual Conference limited discussion to thirty minutes per Principle, it will need at least three hours for the First Reading Materials and twelve hours for the Second Readings and at the current scheduling of half day sessions for the discussion of the Principles it would take till 2005 to complete the Readings; therefore be it
Resolved, that enough time be given at the 119th Annual Conference to complete the First Reading materials; and further
Resolved, that the Agenda Committee allow at the 120th Annual Conference at least six hours for Second Readings; and further
Resolved, that Annual Conference have an adjourned session of Conference in 2003, if necessary, to complete the Second Readings.
5. Whereas, we believe the Biblical Principles For Livingare 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 Livingfor their congregations; and further
Resolved, that we request lesson plans for the Biblical Principles For Living be developed by The Christian Education Committee of Annual Conference.
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 Readings, therefore be it
Resolved, that the 119th 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.