The Web Site of the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship in New England

Evangelical Renewal Fellowship is the New England Association of the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church

 The New England Conference Evangelical Renewal Fellowship is about spiritual renewal within the United Methodist Church.

  We take seriously John Wesley's call to believe, to love, and to obey -- a healthy and spirit-filled balance between service and doctrine. Too often, doctrine in the United Methodist Church has divided us as Christians. We seek to heal that rift, while at the same time witnessing to the essentials of the Christian faith.

 We abide by Wesley's dictum, "As to all things which do not strike at the root of Christianity, think and let think." This statement implies that there are some doctrinal issues on which we should respect each other's differences. However, this statement also implies that there are essentials of the Christian faith in which we should have unity. NE ERF seeks to be a witness for these essentials of apostolic Christian teaching, as there are some who represent the United Methodist Church within our conferences and seminaries who appear to have abandoned the essentials of Christian teaching. We believe, as John Wesley would have, that these essentials are found in the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church.

We realize that not all Christians will agree with each stand and interpretation of doctrine contained in the Confessing Movement's Statement of Faith. But, we do hope you will recognize in our witness a sincere commitment to love and serve Jesus Christ. We are in full support of the dialogue that has begun within the New England Conference on issues such as the practice of homosexuality and the authority of Scripture so that we can better understand each other.

 We seek to honor our past while being intentional about our future. John Wesley felt that the church must constantly be attentive to its message, making it both relevant and available to all. We believe that witnessing to the centrality of Christ in our personal and corporate lives will bring tremendous spiritual renewal to the church.

 We believe that the rift in our church can only be healed by sound doctrine grounded in Scripture, and loving worship of God. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:6-8 (NIV)

 Let us join hands together and confess Jesus as Son, Savior and Lord.