ABOUT US

The Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) connects Spirit-ﬁlled, orthodox churches, clergy, and laity who hold to Wesleyan theology. It is an association or network of individuals and congregations who share a common understanding of our Wesleyan doctrine and desire to become a vibrant, faithful, growing 21st -century church.

OUR VISION

We believe change is coming to The United Methodist Church, and as we live into what comes next, the Wesleyan Covenant Association will connect, encourage, and resource clergy, laity, congregations, and regional chapters by:

Committing to the primary authority of Scripture and the Lordship of Jesus Christ
Creating a uniﬁed response to the Bishops’ Commission recommendation that would maintain traditional, orthodox Methodist beliefs
Developing a plan for a positive and faithful future

The Wesleyan Covenant Association afﬁrms the work of other renewal groups, such as The Confessing Movement, Good News, and UM Action. However, the WCA’s purpose is not to ﬁght the political battles raging across the church, but to prepare for and live into a positive and fruitful future.

Upholding Scriptural Authority and the Lordship of Jesus Christ

The earliest Christian afﬁrmation was “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Acts 2:36). This is the core belief that characterizes all Christians and deﬁnes discipleship. As followers of Jesus, we seek to live together in obedience to Christ’s teachings as found in Holy Scripture (Matthew 28:20). We know Christ authoritatively through the revelation of God’s Word. We believe “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful … so that [we] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16).

Our understanding and application of Scripture is informed by 2,000 years of Christian tradition, along with our reason and experience. But God’s Word is “the true rule and guide for faith and practice” (Confession of Faith, Article IV). The Wesleyan Covenant Association aims to ground all of our beliefs and practices in the authority of Scripture and seeks to reestablish our church on this ﬁrm foundation. Living and serving under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture, we are moving forward with Conﬁdence for the future.

Creating a Uniﬁed Response

We are in a time of great uncertainty in The United Methodist Church. Persistent and escalating disobedience to the order and discipline of our church has created anarchy. While the 2019 special General Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, reaffirmed our church’s sexual ethics, teachings on marriage, and ordination standards, and added enhanced accountability measures, some of our bishops and clergy have responded with defiance and anger.

The Wesleyan Covenant Association exists to give voice to Spirit-filled, orthodox members as we prepare for the 2020 General Conference and a new Methodist movement sure to follow in its wake. The WCA will bear witness to the historic Christian faith in the Wesleyan tradition. We are in a better position to respond to the 2020 General Conference as a unified body of Spirit-filled orthodox believers. Therefore, we seek to gather together as many like-minded clergy, laity, and congregational members of the Wesleyan Covenant Association as possible. This unified association will enable us to respond and move forward together in the strongest way possible. Acting together will give us confidence for the future.

Preparing a Plan for the Future

We are convinced that after the 2020 General Conference a new Methodism will come to the fore. However, we cannot wait until 2020 to figure out how orthodox, evangelical United Methodists will move forward together. That is why the Wesleyan Covenant Association is committed to working on plans for a revitalized 21st-century Methodism that can be implemented either within a United Methodist structure or outside of it. Our plans must uphold the integrity of our belief in the authority of Scripture under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, as well as seek the best framework for a vital, growing church that is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. This planning and preparation will give us confidence for the future.

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WHAT WE PROVIDE

Resources – To Churches

A connection with like-minded United Methodists and Wesleyans around the world that brings encouragement and support
Regional support, resourcing and shared ministry
A system that connects like-minded congregations
Educational materials to help congregations address the conﬂict we are experiencing in United Methodism today
Keep congregational leaders up to date with what is happening across the church in preparation for the 2020 General Conference
A voice and vote in shaping what is next within Methodism
Recommended resources and partner ministries that can increase the effectiveness of local church ministry
A public listing of orthodox, evangelical Wesleyan congregations to help people ﬁnd a congregation
A reason to stay within The United Methodist Church as we prepare together for whatever comes from the Bishops’ Commission and the 2020 General Conference

Support – To Clergy

A connection with like-minded United Methodists and Wesleyans around the world that brings encouragement and support
A system that facilitates the connection of like-minded clergy in a regional area for support, resourcing, and addressing the concerns unique to clergy
Encouragement and support in staying true to the orthodox, biblical gospel message
Keep congregational leaders up to date with what is happening across the church in preparation for the 2020 General Conference
A voice and vote in shaping the “next” Methodism for a revitalized 21st -century church
Recommended resources and partner ministries that can increase the effectiveness of local church ministry
Resources, prepared materials, and recommended guidance for delivering a uniﬁed message to the congregation, to the community, and to United Methodist denominational leaders
A public listing of orthodox, evangelical Wesleyan clergy that can facilitate persons who are seeking such a pastor to ﬁnd one and facilitate such clergy connecting with one another
A reason to stay within The United Methodist Church as we prepare together for whatever comes from the Bishops’ Commission and the 2020 General Conference

Solidarity – To Laity

A connection with like-minded United Methodists and Wesleyans around the world that brings encouragement and support
Solidarity with other laity in promoting a traditional, orthodox, Wesleyan understanding of the Christian faith
Offering a way to help and strengthening the Spirit-ﬁlled, orthodox Wesleyan voice through membership, as the Wesleyan Covenant Association advocates for the Lordship of Jesus Christ through the primary authority of Scripture and prepares to respond to the Bishops’ Commission and the 2020 General Conference
Regular communication that keeps laity up to date with what is happening across the church in preparation for the 2020 General Conference
Recommended resources and opportunities for lay participation
A reason to stay within The United Methodist Church as we prepare together for whatever comes from the Bishops’ Commission and the 2020 General Conference

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OUR BELIEFS

Statement on Biblical Authority

Given the current challenges directed to the unique place of the Bible in the church, we affirm that the core of the Christian faith is revealed in Scripture as “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3; NRSV). We look to the Bible therefore as our authority and trustworthy guide, which “is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16; NRSV). Illuminated by tradition, reason, and experience, the revelation of Scripture is the church’s primary and final authority on all matters of faith and practice.

Statement of Faith

We affirm classical Wesleyan doctrine and the historic faith, which the church has used to define the parameters of Christian teaching. Doctrine, properly understood, unifies the church and gives direction to its life. All congregational, clergy, and lay members of the WCA affirm the following Doctrinal Standards:

The Nicene Creed (AD 381) –
http://anglicansonline.org/basics/nicene.html
The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church (AD 1808) –
http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/the-articles-of-religion-of-the-methodist-church
The Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church (AD 1963) –
http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/confession-of-faith
The Standard Sermons of John Wesley –
http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/John-Wesley-Sermons/John-Wesley-Sermons
The Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament by John Wesley (1755) –
http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/john-wesleys-notes-on-the-bible

The General Rules of The Methodist Church (1868) –
http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/general-rules-of-the-methodist-church

Statement of Moral Principles

Given our current time and context, we highlight and affirm the following moral principles, acknowledging that other moral principles merit our further attention.

Gender Equality

Scripture teaches that men and women are of equal value in the eyes of God. Accordingly, the church should treat women and men equally. We believe that both women and men are called to and gifted for ordained and licensed ministry, and both genders are able to hold any role of leadership within the WCA.

Equality

We believe that all persons are of sacred worth. Therefore, we gladly welcome all who seek to grow in their relationship with God to attend worship services and participate in the church’s ministries. No person shall be disqualified from becoming a member of a local congregation, holding a leadership position in the church, or becoming an ordained or licensed clergy based on race, color, nationality, national origin, marital status, or economic condition. The WCA specifically renounces all racial and ethnic discrimination and commits itself to work toward full racial and ethnic equality in the church and in society.

Marriage and Sexuality

We believe marriage and sexual intimacy are good gifts from God. In keeping with Christian teaching through the ages and throughout the Church universal, we believe that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. We believe that God intends faithfulness in marriage and celibacy in singleness.

Human Dignity

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual or group are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the WCA.

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