3293. Receive Guidelines for Ministering to Mormons Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Who Seek to Become United Methodists

WHEREAS, United Methodists seek to act in ways that are faithful, compassionate, and just in relationship to other faith traditions, extending hospitality toward all and charity toward those whose faith and practice differ from ours; and

WHEREAS, as an expression of such hospitality and charity, United Methodists need to offer the pathways into membership for persons of other faith traditions with graciousness, consistency, and clarity; and

WHEREAS, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints presents itself as a faith tradition outside the parameters of historic, apostolic Christianity;

THEREFORE, we continue to recommend that United Methodist churches should receive persons from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by offering the sacrament of Christian baptism following a period of catechesis (a time of intensive exploration and instruction in the Christian faith); and

FURTHER, we continue to affirm Sacramental Faithfulness: Guidelines for Receiving People from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) as a study resource and guideline for pastors and congregations who seek to offer pathways to receive former Mormons members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who seek to become United Methodist; and

FURTHER, we authorize the General Board of Discipleship to provide ongoing resources in accordance with Sacramental Faithfulness: Guidelines for Receiving People from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) to the Church to guide pastors and congregations who receive such persons who seek to become United Methodists in ways that are faithful to our United Methodist heritage; and

FINNALY, since the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has ended its formal relationship with the Boy Scouts of America, we encourage local United Methodist church’s to welcome interested youth from The Church of Latter-Day Saints into their scouting ministries programs.