The Board of Directors has released a letter preparing for the upcoming discussion and possible vote of the Proposed Revision at the National Leadership Conference over June 24-26. The letter begins by reviewing some of the history of our Statement of Faith discussion, and previous decisions that have been made by the Conference.

Then the specifics of the Conference are delineated. One of the more important items in the letter is the section, "Special Rules Relating to Revision of the Statement of Faith." During the Business Sessions we will follow the fromat outlined in our bylaws, but due to the nature of this importnat discussion, the Board of Directors have outlined a few more "Special Rules" for this important and historic Conference.

You can and should read the whole letter, which can be linked here:
http://www.efca.org/about/media/sof-letter-with-rules.pdf

In the near future, likely within the month, the BOD will be sending out some "special rules" for this process leading up to our discussion and possible vote of the Proposed Revision this summer. One of the items contained in these "special rules" is how to go about recommending amendments. These "special rules" will be sent to all pastors of churches, it will be included in an EFCA broadcast email, and they will be posted on the EFCA Website. We will also post it here, along with a link to the document.

We are excited, and have been since we began this process in 2003, when the task of looking at our SOF was initially given to the Spiritual Heritage Committee. As you may recall, it became a denominational-wide discussion in 2005. We remain excited to see what the Lord will do, and because the Lord is leading, we are hopeful!

On June 29, 2007 the National Leadership Conference overwhelmingly approved, by written ballot, the adoption of Transitional Rules for Implementation of a Revised Statement of Faith. As you will recall, the EFCA Board of Directors submitted a motion to the Leadership Conference for adoption of Transitional Rules governing the implementation of a revised Statement of Faith if the EFCA Statement of Faith is ultimately revised by the 2008, or subsequent, Leadership Conference. Transitional Rules numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, and 8 were adopted by the Conference without change from that which was submitted and recommended by the Board of Directors. Transitional Rule #7C, pertaining to the faculty of Trinity International University, was amended by floor action at the time of the business session. In addition, Transitional Rule #9 was amended by floor action, at the business session, to add a third sentence so that this Transitional Rule would apply, specifically, to all District Superintendents.

The entire set of Transitional Rules, as adopted by the Leadership Conference, is now available here ( and on the EFCA Web site): http://www.efca.org/about/media/sof_transitional_rules_adopted.pdf

One of the strengths of our 1950 SOF is its brevity. In the work we are doing on the Draft Revisions of the SOF, we are attempting to retain this strength of being brief. But there is also a challenge with being too brief. Since the SOF is one of the only authoritative documents used for membership in local churches, ordinations of pastors, etc., those things not explicitly stated in the SOF can be addressed pastorally but not as authoritatively. On some issues it would be good to speak more clearly and have the authority of the SOF to support it. Granted, the challenge would be how we determine what rises to the level of biblical and theological importance that must be included.

Regarding length, there are things gained and lost with either brevity or greater length. We cannot be maximalists by including everything, but neither can we be minimalists by including a bare minimum which does not address critical issues in sufficient detail.

Here then is the question: in today's cultural climate and what is happening in the church, is it better to have a brief SOF, or is it better to have a longer SOF (but remember this longer SOF would still only focus on essentials, which would prevent it from becoming too long)?

Input

Since the process question has now been answered, please join in the discussion as we work on the Third Draft. (The Second Draft can be found in the documents section of this site.) The SHC is truly grateful for the input already received, as the congregational conversation has been invaluable.

Resources

As the discussion moves to the local church, the SHC will provide resources to aid in that instruction and dialogue: written documents of presentations, such as �Rationale, Process, and Principles� and �The Hermeneutics of a Statement of Faith,� and other important information included in EFCA Today and The Ministerial Forum; SOF with Scripture references; bibliography on each article of the SOF and also a brief annotated bibliography on hermeneutics; Midwinter Ministerial on the topic of �Inerrancy, Hermeneutics and Eschatology.� In addition to the resources provided to you, the SHC is also interested in hearing about resources you believe would be helpful for you as discussions about the SOF continue in the local church. Please email your suggestions and recommendations regarding the SOF or the need for resources to president@efca.org or include them here on the blog.

Guided Discussion

Guided discussion on the blog will become more active again as we seek specific input and address questions. Beginning the week of August 14, we will post an article per week and discuss it. I will ask guided questions about the article, e.g. on the doctrine of God, what are we affirming, what should be affirmed today, what is presently being undermined of the doctrine of God today, what are we denying, where are remaining silent, etc., and then we will engage in "dialogue." We will also begin to address one "Frequently Asked Question" per week. This will not only serve a informational and educational purpose, but it will also be an additional resource for the discussion in the local church.

This past April, the Board of Directors voted to bring to the Conference a �Resolution Affirming Basic Rules Under Which Consideration of a Possible Revision of the Statement of Faith Should Proceed.� (The Resolution can be read here.) In the April update, the BOD promised to bring a report �outlining the process in which we are considering the revision of our EFCA Statement of Faith� prior to the presentation and discussion of the Resolution.

Following the reading of this report at the Conference, there was much healthy discussion regarding the Resolution. A motion was made to amend the Resolution, which would have created another whole process in addition to the process that has already taken place. This �motion was defeated by a strong majority via voice vote� (as recorded by the secretary). After further discussion, the Resolution was �passed by a strong majority vote via voice vote,� and it was also �upheld by a strong majority via standing vote� (both results also recorded by the secretary).

The Board of Directors and the Spiritual Heritage Committee are encouraged by this discussion and decision. The Conference has approved the process of �consideration and discussion� of the SOF, affirmed some guiding principles in our ongoing discussion, and placed an expectation on the BOD to bring a draft document of our SOF to a future Conference.

Being faithful to fulfill this expectation, the SHC will present, Lord willing, a Third Draft Revision to the BOD at their September meeting. If the BOD agrees to submit this draft to the EFCA for �consideration and discussion,� it will be made available the first week in October 2006.

To read the complete update, click here.

At the national leadership conference in Denver in June, we will continue the discussion of the SOF. There are three opportunities for discussion, and you can read about the specifics of these sessions below.

EFCA Statement of Faith Discussion (Thursday, June 29, AM)
"Introduction" - This session is designed for those who have not been a part of the SOF discussion at either the Midwinter Ministerial or one of the District conferences. The Spiritual Heritage Committee will address the rationale, process, guiding principles and the value and benefit of the process.

EFCA Statement of Faith Discussion (Thursday, June 29, PM)
"Question and Answer" - This session will be a follow up to the initial presentation. Attendees will have an opportunity to respond to the presentation and to ask any other questions about the Second Draft Revision or the process. For those who desired to continue the discussion at the Midwinter Ministerial or the District conference, this will be the session where that will be done. To gain the most from this session, it will be helpful to be prepared to respond in one of four ways: 1) I have a question; 2) I would like some clarification; 3) I have a comment; 4) I have a recommendation.

EFCA Statement of Faith Discussion (Friday, June 30, AM)
"A Primer on Biblical Hermeneutics (Interpretation): History, Principles and Practice" - This session will serve as a transition from the discussion up to this point, and the direction the discussion will be moving in the coming days. One of the important questions raised has focused on hermeneutics. The Spiritual Heritage Committee will present a paper on this topic, which will be about one-half of the session, and this will be followed by a time for questions, dialogue and interaction among those in attendance.

The EFCA Board of Directors' (BOD) recent decision regarding the ongoing process of considering and discussing the Second Draft Revision of the SOF is posted here. This Update and Resolution has been sent to EFCA constituents. Please read the document in full, and then pass it on to others.

Here are some of the key things stated in the document:
1. The Second Draft Revision will not be presented at the National Leadership Conference (NLC) this June for a first reading.
2. At the NLC, an update on the process up to this point will be provided, and a Resolution will also be brought regarding the ongoing process.
3. Based on the excellent input the Spiritual Heritage Committee (SHC) has received, we are working on a Third Draft Revision that will be, Lord willing, presented to the BOD at their September meeting.
4. The SHC will continue the discussion of the Second Draft Revision at the NLC. We are planning to do something similar to what has been done at District conferences (during the all-day Thursday seminar), and also to bring the discussion to the next level (Friday morning).
5. The SHC will also be providing resources for local churches to aid in this ongoing process of considering and discussing the Second Draft Revision.

We (Spiritual Heritage Committee) are seeking to provide as many opportunities for discussion as possible. One of the important places for discussion of the Second Draft Revision of the EFCA SOF is the district at the annual (or semi-annual) conference. A member or members of the Spiritual Heritage Committee will be at each of these district gatherings to be a part of the presentation, the dialogue and the discussion. (The exception will be Hawaii, but we will carry on the discussion through the phone in a conference call.) We have already been a part of five district conferences (EFCA Texas Oklahoma, Southeastern Central, Northern Plains, Midwest and Southeastern), and have greatly appreciated the opportunity to be a part of these important discussions at this level.

We encourage you to attend the district conference (if able) in your area. The discussion has been helpful, insightful, encouraging, informational, educational, etc. All who have been a part of the discussions have learned and grown. The reason we can carry on these discussions is because we are the people of one Book, the Bible, and we are always seeking to order our beliefs and behavior to it.

Here are the dates of the district conferences, and we would love to see you at one of them. (If you need more information about these conferences, please contact the district office: http://www.efca.org/districts/

I am finally able to get back to the blog. I am sorry for my absence as far as responding to comments goes. But I want to reassure you that I have read all of them (as I have to approve them before posting them). And let me also say thank you to those of you who have posted. We are interested in reading your comments, suggestions, recommendations, affirmations, etc.

Part of the purpose of the blog is for dialogue, which means that not only will I comment in response to individual posts, but that there will also be dialogue between those who post. This is happening, which means we are accomplishing part of what we had hoped with this blog. I also want to encourage you to continue the dialogue, not only with me, but also with others who post.

As a reminder, I will not be able to respond to all of the comments but I will read them. Those I believe are important to pursue in a more extended form, or those a wider readership ought to know will be addressed in an entry rather than a comment. This is what I will do with the comments we have received thus far.

What is this?

"The Statement of Faith Revision - Our Unity in God’s Gospel" is a unique blog in that the focus group is primarily limited to the EFCA and the topic is the revision of our Statement of Faith. It is considered the “unofficial official” blog addressing the Statement of Faith. Although I will be overseeing the blog, I will bring in the other members of the Spiritual Heritage Committee for interaction as well. The SHC desires to hear from the people in the EFCA, so we are using as many means of communication as possible. We believe this will provide a great opportunity for dialogue and discussion to aid in this important process.

About the Author

Greg Strand has been the EFCA's Director of Biblical Theology and Credentialing since 2002. He holds a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in New Testament from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is currently working on a Ph. D. from Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Heverlee, Belgium. He and his wife, Karen, have been married for 21 years and have three children, Michael (17), Elyssa (14), and Anna (8).

Greg has served in pastoral ministry in the Evangelical Free Church of America since 1989, first as an associate pastor of adult ministries, and than as a senior pastor. Since 1995, he has served on the Board of Ministerial Standing and as the Dean of the annual EFCA Series of Theological Discussions. At present he serves as the Chair of the Spiritual Heritage Committee. He is passionate about God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered ministry rooted in the Word.

Comments and Guidelines

We desire honest, open communication through the comments written in this blog. To help foster a healthy conversation, here are some general reminders as we carry on this biblical and theological discussion:

1. God sees and knows all (Ps. 139). We are to glorify Him in all we do and say (1 Cor. 10:31).
2. We confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and thus we live under His authority, and we seek to please and honor Him in what we do and say (Phil. 2:9-11). By confessing “Christ is Lord,” we have given up all of our rights to Him, our Lord (Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:14-15).
3. As those who confess the name of Christ, we are brothers and sisters (Jn. 15:15; 1 Cor. 1:2; Heb. 2:11). This is a family discussion.
4. Our character ought to be reflective of the truth we speak and defend. It is important to remember that the mouth speaks what is in the heart, words for which we will be accountable (Matt. 12:34-37).
5. We are committed both to doctrinal purity and Christian unity (cf. Eph.); but we are not given to purity at the expense of unity (sectarianism), or unity at the expense of purity (liberalism).
6. We must understand the difference between first-order doctrine and second-order doctrine (e.g. Acts 15:36-41; 1 Cor. 15:1-5; Gal. 1:6-9).

It is also important to remember the following specifics as we carry on a dialogue with one another:

1. Speak (write) the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Speak (Write) to your position passionately, but do so lovingly.
2. Think before you speak (write) (1 Cor. 14:20).
3. Make sure what you say (write) is accurate; get your facts straight (Eph. 4:25).
4. Focus on the issue when making statements, comments or suggestions, not on people (Tit. 2:7-8).
5. Be quick to hear, listen respectfully and attentively (Jms. 1:19); speak (write) and engage in discussion with humility (Phil. 2:3-5).
6. Give preference or honor to the other above yourself (Rom. 12:10).
7. Do not impugn the motive(s) of others (1 Cor. 4:5).
8. Do not allow yourself to be angry with a brother or sister (Matt. 5:21-22; Eph. 4:31).
9. Do not create personal loyalty tests (1 Cor. 1:10-13), or attempt to make your point or defend your position through manipulation (cf. Matt. 5:37).
10. If you have offended another, apologize and be reconciled (Eph. 4:3, 26-27).
11. If you have been offended by another, communicate that and seek reconciliation (Matt. 18:15; Eph. 4:32).

With these biblical truths as our framework, we will post most comments we receive. We do, however, reserve the right to edit comments that have compromised biblical truth or Christian character. Our desire is to foster appropriate God-honoring dialogue.

Disclaimer

Many articles on this blog will be “works in process” and are not official EFCA positions. Moreover, since I am providing the oversight to the blog, what I say may not officially represent the views of the SHC. This is one of the beauties of a blog dialogue, but also one of the limitations. When a stated position is officially endorsed by the SHC or the EFCA, I will note it.