Submitted to the Board of Ordained Ministry of the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, January 1984, as part of the requirements for Deacon/Probationary status.

C. The Christian Life

1. What is your understanding of the Christian life as set forth in the Articles of Religion, the statement of our theological Task, and the Social Principles in the Discipline of the United Methodist Church?

The Christian life, as articulated in the Articles of Religion, the statement of our Theological Task, and the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church, is rooted in a dynamic and living tradition. Our faith is not self-originated but inherited from generations of faithful witnesses who have reflected deeply on their experiences with God.

Christian belief is not static. It has been continually shaped and refined through the lived experience of the community of faith. The Articles of Religion give us the doctrinal foundation, the Theological Task invites us into reflective engagement with Scripture and the world, and the Social Principles call us into responsible action within society. Together, they form a holistic vision of the Christian life.

Whether we are new disciples seeking clarity, seasoned believers renewing our commitment, or seekers navigating spiritual uncertainty, we are all drawn into the same journey: to know God, to love others, and to participate in the transformation of the world.

Our beliefs emerge from experience—our own and that of the community. We reflect on today through the lens of the Social Principles, we wrestle with yesterday through our Theological Task, and we honor the wisdom of our past through the Articles of Religion. In dialogue with tradition, reason, and Scripture, our faith grows.

The United Methodist Church’s ecumenical spirit is one of its greatest strengths. It allows us to embrace a wide spectrum of experiences and viewpoints while remaining grounded in core convictions. The Christian life, therefore, is a faithful response to God’s grace, lived out in community, shaped by reflection, and expressed through love, justice, and service.

As a United Methodist, I embrace this calling not as an abstract ideal, but as a way of life—an ongoing journey of faithfulness, shaped by grace, grounded in tradition, and lived for the transformation of the world.