2016 Wesleyan Discipline:MRP-2004

2004. God’s design and purpose for all people is to be saved from sin, transformed into the image of Christ, filled with the love of God, and to live a life of holy love on behalf of others

(Matt. 22:36-40; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Luke 19:1-9; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:John 1:12; Rom. 3:23f; 5:19-21; 8:1ff; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 2:8-10; 4:22-5:18; Gal. 5:13-14; 1 Thes. 4:3-8; 3:8; 1 John 3:16ff).
Wesleyans celebrate the optimism of God’s grace to transform humanity, while at the same time recognizing that it is still possible for a Christian to sin. In addition, it is surely God’s desire for ministers to carry out their leadership responsibilities with due diligence according to the grace given by God.

This is true for ministers as well as Christians in general. When ministers do fall, whether through sin or other reasons, they nevertheless continue to remain the object of God’s redemptive love and desire for spiritual restoration and interpersonal reconciliation. There are several examples of restoration of ministers in the New Testament, including Peter who denied Christ in the hour of His greatest need, yet was restored personally by Jesus (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Luke 22:32; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:John 21:15-22), and the other ten apostles (excluding Judas).

Sin, is always to be taken seriously because of its inherently destructive nature towards God’s will for individuals, relationships, institutions, systems, society, and the created order. Likewise, extreme leadership negligence, emotional burnout, and other life experiences also take their toll. Even still, God’s grace is greater than our sin and shortcomings. All people, including ministers, have an advocate in the person of Jesus (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1 John 2:1-2). Since the Church is the body and presence of Christ in the world (1 Cor. 21:27; Eph. 1:22-23), including when addressing disciplinary matters (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Luke 18:15-20), the process of investigation, spiritual restoration, and restoration of credentials (when applicable) is to be carried out in the same spirit of compassion and grace that Jesus himself manifested.

The New Testament is clear that believers are to deal firmly yet compassionately with the offender in order, if possible, to bring about a restoration to grace and fellowship (1 Cor. 5:1-5, 9-13; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Titus 3:10-11). In fact, Paul admonishes those who are spiritual to restore gently and with humility those caught in a sin (Gal. 6:1-2). Being self-aware of one’s own redemption from sin helps temper one’s disposition and response toward others who sin (Lk.18:9-14; Gal. 1:1-2; 1 Tim. 1:15), remembering that Jesus came to take away our guilt and sin, not to condemn. It is the responsibility of the church to lead those who express remorse for theirs into the freedom and restoration provided by the Gospel of Christ.