New Jersey Association of ConfessingUnited Methodists
New Jersey Association of Confessing
For many Methodists in New Jersey, the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church offers a clear description of the serious doctrinal problems within our denomination and a call to return to honoring Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. To date, the Confession Statement has been used with varying success in the Northern New Jersey (NNJ) and Southern New Jersey (SNJ) Conferences. With the merger of these two conferences approved for 2000, concern exists over the future direction of the new conference. To this end, 20 laity and clergy from nine different congregations gathered at Crosswicks UMC on December 6, 1998.
Common ground was quickly found among these believers and issues of general concern were discussed. With the recent decision by the UMC Judiciary Council prohibiting conferences from voting to become Transforming, Reconciling or Confessing Conferences, the formation of a confessing association for the state of New Jersey was considered. Individual as well as local congregations that support the Confessing Movement would be offered membership. A motion to form the association passed unanimously. The organization will be known as the New Jersey Association of Confessing United Methodists.
The consensus for a confessing association was the result of several
months of dialogue and prayer between United Methodists in the Northern New Jersey (NNJ)
and in the Southern New Jersey (SNJ) Conferences. Following the vote to merge the annual
conferences, the first informal discussions occurred between Reverends Ed Conway
(Crosswicks/Ellisdale UMC) and Rich Dudinak (Flemington UMC). In September 1998, SNJ laity
met with Bishop Johnson and the NNJ and SNJ District Superintendents to discuss the
Confessing Movement. That same month Rev. Dudinak, as Confessing Movement Coordinator for
NNJ, met with his district coordinators and several interested laity from the north. In
October, 175 SNJ laity and clergy gathered at Moorestown UMC in support of the Confessing
Movement. And finally, on November 8, 1998, representatives from NNJ and SNJ met and
scheduled the Crosswicks session.
While confessing
Jesus Christ as Son, Savior and Lord, the NJACUM exists to encourage the United Methodist
Church to retrieve its classical doctrinal identity and to live out our lives out as
disciples of Jesus Christ.
Promote personal and corporate spiritual renewal within the United Methodist Church
Proclaim and defend the apostolic Christian faith based on the full and primary authority of Scripture
Support and encourage the Bishops, National Boards, Seminaries, Annual Conferences, local churches and individual members of the United Methodist Church to be accountable for doctrinal integrity based on the doctrinal standards as defined by the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church
Support and promote Biblically-based and Holy Spirit-empowered ministries within our communities, state, nation and world in the name of Jesus Christ
Network with,
support and encourage like-minded members, congregations of the United Methodist Church in
New Jersey, and the national Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church.
On Saturday, May 15, 1999 approximate 50 United Methodists met for the First Annual Spring Meeting in Bordentown, New Jersey. Bill McMahon, co-chair of the NJACUM, called the meeting to order. Rev. Richard Dudinak led a time of praise and worship. The first hymn sung was Victory in Jesus.
Dr. Ira Gallaway was introduced as the first speaker. Dr. Gallaway is the Assistant Executive Director of the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church. He encouraged the group to keep up the struggle for doctrinal purity within the UMC. The outcome of the battle is not in question; truth will ultimately prevail.
Dr. Gallaway stated that the true issue facing our denomination is the definition of the Trinity. The current controversies over homosexuality, partial birth abortion and global missions are just flash points for this underlying schism.
What occurred at the manger? Did God become a man?
What occurred at the cross? Was Jesus’ sacrifice sufficient for the forgiveness of sins?
Was the tomb empty? Was death truly conquered, opening the only way to eternal life?
Even in 1999, we can take solace that we are not facing any new heresies. All the false gospels had been conceived by AD 300 and classical Christian doctrine can refute each one.
Bill Plumb, the other co-chair for NJACUM introduced the second speaker, Mark Tooley of the Institute for Religion and Democracy. [hot link to http://www.ird-renew.org/]. Mr. Tooley described the watchdog roll of the IRD in Washington DC. United Methodists need to keep informed on how our agencies are spending apportionments and how they are representing United Methodism. In many instances, historic Christian beliefs have been abandoned in favor of a "politically correct" or secular humanist approach.
After a time of questions and answers, the meeting was closed with Holy Communion,
administered by Reverends Ed Conway and Ron Sell.
Bill Plumb mickeybill@aol.com
Bill McMahon wamcmahon@sprintmail.com
Kenneth Allport kallport@bellatlantic.net
Cindy Arndt gwarndtjr@sprintmail.com
NJACUM
c/o Crosswicks UMC
Box 303
Crosswicks, NJ 08515
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