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MWC Faith and Life Council Documents 'Core Convictions'

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — Anabaptists around the world will study a new statement on beliefs they have in common over the next three years. The Mennonite World Conference General Council approved the statement here on August. 17.

The new statement is not a confession of faith, but it might be used by those of MWC's 90 member churches in 54 countries that do not have one, council members said.

MWC's Faith and Life Council, whose membership is the same as its 120-member General Council, prepared the statement. It is based on statements of core convictions received from 19 MWC member churches and one from an association of church

The document's seven points describe basic beliefs held in common with most Christians, such as salvation through Christ, as well as beliefs Anabaptists emphasize, such as nonviolence.

Nelson Kraybill, president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana (USA) who helped draft the statement, said it could be used to define who belongs to the Anabaptist family. Tom Finger, a U.S. theologian, said the statement could be useful for defining Anabaptism to others.

The statement lists the following points:

1. God is known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Creator who seeks to restore fallen humanity by calling a people to be faithful in fellowship, worship, service and witness.

2. Jesus is the Son of God who showed in his life and teaching how to be faithful, and through his cross and resurrection redeemed the world.

3. The church is a community of those whom God's Spirit calls to turn from sin, acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, receive baptism upon confession of faith and follow Christ in life.

4. The faith community, under Holy Spirit guidance, interprets the Bible in the light of Jesus Christ to discern God's will for our obedience.

5. The Spirit of Jesus empowers us to trust God in all areas of life so we become peacemakers who renounce violence, love our enemies, seek justice and share our possessions with those in need.

6. The faith community gathers regularly to worship, to celebrate the Lord's Supper and to hear the Word of God in a spirit of mutual accountability.

7. We seek to live in the world without conforming to the powers of evil, witnessing to God's grace by serving others, caring for creation and inviting all people to know Jesus as Savior and Lord."