CEDAR GROVE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES (TRADITIONAL METHODIST)

STATEMENT OF FAITH AND PRACTICE

(Updated and adopted by the Administrative Council 12/18/2024)

Background: In May of 2024 the General Conference of the United Methodist Church changed the Book of Discipline redefining marriage as between two consenting adults; allowing Gay Weddings; allowing for ordained clergy to be openly members of the LGBTQ+ community and removing previously prohibited sexual behaviors as grounds for clergy to be brought up on charges. 

We at Cedar Grove Christian Ministries (Traditional Methodist) reject these changes. At the same time the above changes were made, provision was made for individual congregations, such as Cedar Grove UMC, to forbid these changes in our local church and to be “Traditional” in our Faith and Practice. Pastors who are assigned here by the Bishop are to follow the beliefs of this local church in these matters and meet our Standards for Ordained Clergy. (see footnote: Restrictive Rules)

This Statement is a clear witness to our community that we stand on Traditional Christian Values and Practice. These beliefs are basic to this commitment and not intended to be exhaustive. 

1. God’s Word: The Bible

1.        We believe the whole Bible—all 66 books—to be the inspired Word of God.

2.        We believe the Bible to be inerrant, accurate, and true in the original manuscripts, infallible and trustworthy in everything. The Bible doesn’t affirm anything that is contrary to fact.

3.        The Bible alone is our final source of authority and is sufficient in matters of faith and practice. Therefore, it guides our discussions of purpose, doctrine, morals, church membership, church leadership, church governance, and ministry.

4.        God’s Word is essential for showing and knowing the way of salvation, for maturing in the faith, and for discerning God’s will. It is necessary for the equipping, growth, and transformation of every gospel-believer. Therefore, it is the centerpiece of our preaching, teaching, singing, and counseling.

5.        The good news of God’s redemptive plan through Christ is the central and dominant theme of the Bible—in both the Old and New Testaments—and in human history. God’s Word unveils God’s plan through creation, the fall, salvation, transformation, and restoration—impacting the individual, the Church, and the world.

6.        God has revealed Himself truly, clearly, and progressively
 through His Word so that, with God’s help, the Bible’s teachings can be understood  and applied. 

2. The Triune God

1. There is one God, creator, sustainer, and ruler of all. 
2. God is three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
3. Each person is fully God—co-eternal, co-equal, and co-existent, co-creator. 
4. The three persons of the Trinity are one in essence, yet distinct in person, dwelling in perfect harmony as three in one, mutually glorifying and loving one another. 
5. Our Triune God has created all things, and by nature, He transcends His creation and dwells eternally outside of time, space, and matter. He is infinite in His holiness, perfection, and glory. 
6. By choice, God is fully present within His creation, displaying His goodness, love, wisdom, justice, mercy, and grace. 
7. God created all things for His glory, and He providentially rules over all He has made. The skies proclaim His glory. His people are redeemed for His glory. Forever we will praise His glory. 

 
3. The Fall and Effects of Sin

1. God created Adam and Eve in perfect holiness and gave them clear commandments. Eve was tempted and deceived by the serpent, and both Adam and Eve disobeyed and rebelled—willfully sinning against God. 
2. Spiritual death, physical death, and the sinful nature entered the world through Adam’s Fall and are passed on to all humans. Every person is totally and morally depraved, spiritually dead, and separated from God. Each person is hopelessly and helplessly lost without God’s intervention. 
3. God commissioned Adam and Eve to rule over creation. However, through their sin, all of creation is broken, cursed, and fallen. Humanity’s relationship with God, with one another, and with creation itself is broken beyond human repair. Sin, suffering, and death have marred all of creation. 
4. Sin is any outward or inward failure to conform to the moral law of God, affecting our actions, attitudes, thoughts, words, and motivations. As sovereign and holy, God establishes the moral law as a reflection of His righteous nature. Therefore, we sin when we violate His law or anything not consistent with His nature. 

4. Salvation

1. Salvation is a divine and unmerited gift based entirely on the unconditional love and grace of God. 
2. Through His work on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Jesus offers forgiveness, mercy, grace, and eternal life to all who believe—resulting in access to the very presence of God where believers can enjoy unhindered union, intimacy, and communion with God Himself forever. 
3. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in the person and work of Christ. Genuine conversion involves the human response to the gospel, consisting of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel and believing Gentiles were saved by faith just as people in this age are saved by faith. 
4. Those who believe the gospel are born again. They are made alive in Christ as new creations complete with a new nature.  This is accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit in all of His functions, including all Spirit Gifts. 
5. The saving work of Christ reconciles and justifies believers, declaring them holy, blameless, and not guilty in God’s sight, giving them peace with and full access to God. 
6. Christians are “in Christ” and are given the very righteousness of Christ, resulting in a right-standing before God to be experienced and enjoyed forever. 
7. Though we were once His enemies, God the Father adopts gospel-believers into His family to enjoy a relationship as His beloved children. 
8. God redeems us, breaks the chains that once bound us to sin, selfishness, and Satan, and sets us free to live in response to Christ’s love. 
9. The work of Christ secures the believer’s salvation and begins the process of transformation into His likeness. Jesus works in individual believers and in entire churches to grow and change them over time. Out of love for Christ and while transforming into His image, we obey, do good works, love others, flee temptation, fight the flesh, endure hardship, and pursue holiness. 
10. We believe that all who are born again are kept eternally secure in the hands of our Father by the sealing of the Holy Spirit and intercession of Christ as long as we remain a person of faith. God preserves gospel-believers with ongoing faith until their salvation is fully realized in His presence. 
11. The work of salvation produces a people who are unified in the Spirit and interdependent upon one another as family and friends. Individual members of the body of Christ are called to use their spiritual gifts and to display the fruit of the Spirit for the growth of the whole Church. 

 
5. Biblical Sexuality and Marriage

Cedar Grove Christian Ministries (Traditional Methodist) welcomes all people to worship with them. The church’s statements on Marriage and Sexuality do not provide grounds for bigotry, bullying or hatred.  Every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity regardless of their lifestyle. Hateful or harassing behavior are sinful and not a part of the church’s doctrines.

In order to preserve the functional integrity of the church as the local body of Christ, and provide a biblical example to the church members and the community the following by-laws have been adopted:

Section 1: Marriage

      A.     God sanctions marriage as a union between one biological man and one biological woman. Therefore, Cedar Grove Christian Ministries (Traditional Methodist) recognizes only weddings compatible with those standards.  No person shall be permitted to unite in marriage same sex couples on church property.

      B.     Approval by the trustees shall be required for marriages performed on church premises.

      C.     Pastors may be subject to dismissal for officiating at a same sex marriage ceremony.

      D.     The building and grounds/ property of Cedar Grove Christian Ministries (Traditional Methodist) shall in no way be used, rented, or leased to conduct activities whose participants engage in the acts of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery or pornography.

Section 2: Sexuality

      A.     No one who admittedly participates in the afore-listed activities (Section 1-D above) shall be allowed to be a member, officer, teacher or pastor of this church.

      B.     The church regards as sinful the intent or desire to surgically alter one’s biological sex to a different sex, since the body is a creation of God.

      C.     No intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of the marriage between one man and one woman.

      D.     All human life is sacred, created by God, in every stage or condition from conception through natural death.  The church is called to defend, protect, and value all human life.

6.   Additional Beliefs on Sexuality and Marriage:

1. God created Adam and Eve, the first human beings, in His own image—equal in worth and dignity—distinct, similar, and interdependent as biological male and biological female. The divinely ordained differences between male and female reflect God’s original design and are meant for human good and flourishing. 

2. We believe God has designed marriage to be a covenantal relationship in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the law. It’s a sexual, procreative, lifelong union of one biological man and one biological woman (as husband and wife), and is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and His bride, the Church. 

3. God’s revealed will for all people is chastity outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage. As a wonderful gift from God, sexual intimacy is to be expressed between a man and a woman within the commitment and love of a marital relationship. Therefore, we believe that any other form of sexual intimacy or activity is contrary to God’s perfect gift and design for the marriage covenant. 

4. Concerning Pastoral Leadership 

4. 1. Pastors who serve Cedar Grove Christian Ministries (Traditional Methodist) shall meet the requirements listed in 1Timothy 3. Due to these requirements members of the LGBTQ+ community are not eligible to be ordained, licensed, or assigned as Pastor of our congregation. Pastors must hold to celibacy in singleness and fidelity in Marriage.

5.         Summary
               We believe all people are uniquely broken, and no person is beyond the hope of the gospel. We are committed to speaking the truth in love at all times, including when we discuss difficult and sensitive issues. The grace of God in Christ is sufficient to forgive all sins and to give every gospel-believer the power to make holy choices. 

 
       
 
References
1:1  Zechariah 7:12; Matthew 5:17-18; John 10:35; Acts 4:24-26; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 3:15-16
1:2. Numbers 23:19; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; John 17:17; Romans 1:2; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18
1:3. Deuteronomy 30:15-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 2 Peter 3:15-16
1:4. Psalm 19:7-11; Matthew 4:4; Romans 10:13-17; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:3
1:5. Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; Luke 24:13-45; Galatians 3:16, Hebrews 9:15; Revelation 21:3-6
1:6. Deuteronomy 30:11-14; 31:9-13; John 14:26; Romans 15:4; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:1-2
2:1. Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19
2:2.  Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2
2:3.  Genesis 1:1; John 1; Acts 5:3-4
2:4.  Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; John 14-17; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 John 4:7-8
2:5.  1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 102:25-27; Isaiah 48:11; John 17:5; Acts 17:24-25; 2 Peter 3:8; Revelation 21:22-27
2:6.  Exodus 34:6-7; John 3:16; Philippians 4:5; Colossians 1:17
2:7.  Exodus 20:4-6; Isaiah 43:7, 21, 25; 48:11; Psalm 19:1-2; Matthew 10:29; John 17:1-5; Acts 4:27-28; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 5:9-10
3:1.  Genesis 1:28-31; 2:15-17; 3:1-6; Romans 5:12; 1 Timothy 2:14
3:2.  Genesis 3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 1:10
3:3.  Genesis 1:28-30; 2:15; 3:7-24; John 16:33; Romans 8:18-22
3:4. Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 5-7; Mark 12:30; Galatians 5:13-26
4:1.  John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 6:23; 8:28-30; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:1-10; 3:14-17; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 4:9-10
4:2.  John 1:12; 14:6; 15:1-5; 17:20-23; Romans 6:1-11; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:18; Colossians 2:12-15; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 1:4; 3:9; 1 John 2:2
4:3.  Genesis 15:1-6; Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 17:30-31; Romans 1:16; 3:21-31; 4:1-25; 10:9-13; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Galatians 2:16, Hebrews 11
4:4.  John 1:12; 3:3; 14:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 3:18; 1 John 2:29; 4:7; 5:1
4:5.  Genesis 15:1-6; Romans 3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 2:15-3:29; Colossians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 3:18
4:6.  Romans 5:18-21; 6:17-18; 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:4
4:7.  John 1:12; Romans 5:10; 8:7, 15-17, 21, 23-25, 29; Galatians 3:26-28; 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:5; 2:12-22; Colossians 3:12; 1 John 5:4-5
4:8.  Romans 3:24; 6:5-18; 8:1-2; Ephesians 1:7, 14; Colossians 1:14; 2:13-15; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18-19
4:9.  Matthew 4:19; John 14:15; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Peter 2:2; 1 John 3:9; 5:2-3
4:10.  John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:28-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 3:14-15; 7:23-25; 10:35-39; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 1 John 5:9-13
4:11.  1 Corinthians 12:4-13:13; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16; 1 Peter 2:5
5:1.  Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-25; Galatians 3:26-29
5:2.  Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 22:1-14; John 2:1-12; Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:21-33; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 19:6-8
5:3.  Genesis 39:7-12; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Judges 19:22-23; 2 Samuel 11:1-12:15; Job 31:1; Proverbs 5:15-23; 6:20-7:27; Matthew 5:27-30; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-7:9; 1 Timothy 1:9-10
5:4.  Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Galatians 5:13-26; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Timothy 1:15-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:11
6:1.  1Timothy 3

Footnote: The 2016 Book of Discipline,

Section III. Restrictive Rules.

These are the basics of who we were as United Methodists. The 2024 General Conference actions clearly violate these rules, some of which are referred to here. Upon this basis, we reject their recent actions and deem them void and unenforceable in our local church, leading us to establish our own Statement of Faith and Practice.  
Par. 17. Article 1.–the General Conference shall not revoke, alter, or change our Articles of Religion or establish any new standards or rules of doctrine contrary to our present existing and established standards of doctrine.
Par.18 Article 2.– the General conference shall not revoke alter or change our Confession of Faith.
2016 B.O.D. Doctrinal Standards and our Theological Task: Par.102 “… we share with many Christian communions a recognition of the authority of Scripture in matters of faith…”
2016 B.O.D. Par. 104 Article V—Of the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation. “The Holy Scripture containth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed…” (the paragraph then lists all books of the Bible, both Old and New Testament)
2016 B.O.D. Par. 104 Article XXII—Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches. “It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same, or exactly alike… so that nothing be ordained against God’s Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church… ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like…”
2016 B.O.D. Par. 104 Article IV—The Holy Bible. “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith…”
2016 B.O.D. Par. 105 Theological Guidelines: Sources and Criteria.  “Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture… Scripture is primary, revealing the Word of God ‘so far it is as necessary for our salvation’. Therefore, our theological task in both its critical and constructive aspects, focuses on disciplined study of the Bible.”
2016 B.O.D. Par. 105 Reason. “In theological reflection, the resources of Tradition, Experience, and Reason are integral to our study of Scripture without displacing Scripture’s primacy for faith and practice.”