LETTER AND CONFESSING STATEMENT
CHERRY GROVE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
Lanark, Illinois
Cherry Grove COB
14395 N Brethren
Rd
Lanark, IL
61046
11-16-02
Fellow Brethren,
Over the past few years the members of this congregation
have noticed the continued slide of the Church of the Brethren away from
solid biblical values and principles. While we have seen some encouraging
signs lately we still see much that is not what it should be. In
our annual council meeting we took up and approved the attached statement
and suggestions. We felt that it was time for us to rise up and let everyone
know just what this congregation stands for. Now we pass it on to
all of you with the hopes that your congregations will adopt the same statement
and suggestions. If we stand together in faith we can pull this denomination
back up the slippery slope.
Please contact us at Cherry Grove and let us know if we
can count on you to stand beside us in this. This is just a first
step. There is still much that needs to be done.
The Cherry Grove Church of the Brethren meeting in Annual Council this
3rd day of November, 2002 joins faithful believers throughout the Church
in confessing:
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That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the only way of salvation.
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That the Holy Scriptures are the triune Gods divinely revealed Word, the
Church's only infallible rule of faith and life.
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That God's people are called to holiness in all aspects of life.
This includes honoring the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman,
the only relationship within which sexual activity is appropriate.
We therefore announce our commitment to the above confessions and implore
all Brethren who share these historic Christian convictions to:
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Renew their individual commitments to the above confessions.
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Urge their congregations and districts to affirm these confessions and
to declare that they will not ordain, install or employ in any ministry
position any person who will not affirm them.
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Urge congregations not to send delegates to District or Annual Conference
who will not affirm them.
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Urge District and Annual Conferences to instruct the District and General
Boards to require that all program personnel uphold these confessions and
insure that these confessions are followed faithfully in all programs and
policies of the Church of the Brethren.