1996 Book of Discipline: Paragraph 217| General Conference 2000

THE MEANING OF MEMBERSHIP

¶ 217. When persons unite with a local United Methodist church, they, or, if unable to answer for themselves, their parent(s), legal guardian(s), sponsor(s) or godparent(s), profess their faith in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Spirit. Thus, they make known their desire to live their daily lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. They covenant together with God and with the members of the local church to keep the vows which are a part of the order of confirmation and reception into the Church:

1. To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of their sin;

2. To accept the freedom and power God gives them to resist evil, injustice, and oppression;

3. To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their Lord;

4. To remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world;

5. To be loyal to The United Methodist Church and do all in their power to strengthen its ministries;

6. To faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, and their service;

7. To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.



	1996 Discipline ¶ 217
	`THE MEANING OF MEMBERSHIP` ¶ 217. When persons unite with a local United Methodist church, they, or, if unable to answer for themselves, their parent(s), legal guardian(s), sponsor(s) or godparent(s), profess their faith in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Spirit. Thus, they make known their desire to live their daily lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. They covenant together with God and with the members of the local church to keep the vows which are a part of the order of confirmation and reception into the Church: `1. To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of their sin;` `2. To accept the freedom and power God gives them to resist evil, injustice, and oppression;` `3. To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their Lord;` `4. To remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world;` `5. To be loyal to The United Methodist Church and do all in their power to strengthen its ministries;` `6. To faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, and their service;` `7. To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.`
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1996 Discipline ¶ 217