Faith and Practice EFC Southwest
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0 Faith and Practice EFC Southwest 2011 Edition Reprint May 2016 EFC SOUTHWEST 18639 Yorba Linda Blvd. Yorba Linda, CA 92886 www.efcsouthwest.org 1 CONTENTS Chapter 1 Our Beliefs ........................................................................................... 4 Historical Introduction ........................................................................................... 4 An Affirmation of Faith .......................................................................................... 7 Fervent Convictions ............................................................................................... 7 Counsel on Contemporary Issues ........................................................................ 11 Values ................................................................................................................... 13 Accountability Questions ..................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2 Historical Faith Statements ................................................................. 18 George Fox Letter to Governor of Barbados – 1671............................................ 18 Richmond Declaration of Faith – 1887 ................................................................ 21 Friends Church Southwest Elements Statement – 1994 ..................................... 29 Chapter 3 Regional Organization ........................................................................ 32 Final Authority ..................................................................................................... 32 Friends Way of Doing Business ............................................................................ 33 Annual Conference Business Sessions ................................................................. 33 Representatives ................................................................................................... 34 First Fruits Covenant Giving ................................................................................. 35 Assessment .......................................................................................................... 35 General Nominating Committee .......................................................................... 36 Executive Staff ..................................................................................................... 36 Organization of Boards ........................................................................................ 37 Strategy Forum .................................................................................................... 38 Elder Board .......................................................................................................... 38 Trustees................................................................................................................ 40 Faith Boards ......................................................................................................... 41 Service Boards ...................................................................................................... 42 Related Organizations .......................................................................................... 42 Chapter 4 Church Organization ........................................................................... 45 The Evangelical Friends Objective ....................................................................... 45 Membership ......................................................................................................... 45 Business Meetings ............................................................................................... 46 Officers ................................................................................................................. 47 Representatives ................................................................................................... 49 Committees .......................................................................................................... 49 New Churches and Organization ......................................................................... 50 Property Titles ...................................................................................................... 50 Property of Discontinued Churches ..................................................................... 51 Chapter 5 Church Discipline ................................................................................ 52 Who is disciplined? .............................................................................................. 52 The Extent of Discipline; Restoration................................................................... 52 Legal Issues .......................................................................................................... 53 Wise Precautions ................................................................................................. 54 2 Chapter 6 Pastoral Roles and Relationships ........................................................ 56 Roles ..................................................................................................................... 57 Relationships ........................................................................................................ 58 Financial Arrangements ....................................................................................... 59 Resignation .......................................................................................................... 59 Termination ......................................................................................................... 60 Settling Disputes .................................................................................................. 60 Community Involvement ..................................................................................... 61 Chapter 7 Recording and Commissioning ............................................................ 62 Principles for Recording ....................................................................................... 62 Specific Steps to Recording .................................................................................. 64 Questions ............................................................................................................. 65 Commissioning ..................................................................................................... 67 Accountability of Recorded and Commissioned Ministers .................................. 68 Rescinding of Recording and Commissioning ...................................................... 69 Certificates of Ministry ........................................................................................ 70 Licensed Minister ................................................................................................. 70 Appendix .................................................................................................................. 71 Amendments........................................................................................................ 71 Editing .................................................................................................................. 71 Glossary ................................................................................................................... 72 3 CHAPTER 1 OUR BELIEFS Historical Introduction The Friends Church began in England in the mid-seventeenth century and spread within a few decades throughout the British colonies that bordered the Atlantic Ocean. As an extension of the Protestant Reformation, Friends emphasized a direct, personal encounter with Christ, typified in the experience of its most prominent and enduring leader, George Fox. Founder George Fox Born in 1624, Fox participated regularly in the Church of England with his parents until the age of nineteen. During these years he observed an empty formalism and a dead religion that failed to quench his spiritual thirst. He also became deeply disturbed and depressed over the presence of sin in his own heart. Fox wandered from place to place, seeking help from various people and also from reading his Bible. Finally, in 1647, when his hope was nearly gone, Fox found the answer to his spiritual restlessness through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that made his heart “leap for joy.” Through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he discovered that Jesus is a living Savior who overcame temptation, sin, and Satan, and that through Christ’s power and grace, so could he. A Growing Movement Fox was not alone. Scores of others in England had experienced the same spiritual longings. As he began to talk and preach about his new-found faith in Christ, Fox encountered many eager listeners and sometimes attracted great crowds that quickly turned into a growing movement. Within ten years, from about 1650 to 1660, the Friends grew to an estimated 50,000 followers. During this period, they were the fastest growing religious group of any kind in the English-speaking world. An early distinctive of Friends was their emphasis on evangelism and missions. Fox explained that God had called him to “turn people from darkness to light, that they might receive Christ Jesus,” and he encouraged other Friends to join him in this great cause. Both men and women traveled as missionaries throughout England, among the British colonies, and to various other nations. They preached the gospel to anyone who would listen and, at times, even to those who refused. Obviously,