Trustees of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) are progressing their plans for an Extraordinary General Meeting in November.
At that event, member churches will be asked to vote on proposed changes to the organisation’s Doctrinal Basis, its Women in Ministry ethos statement and its CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Constitution.
Writing on the FIEC website, Chair of Trustees Ian Jones (pictured) explains: ‘These changes are not substantial, but we hope they will provide important theological clarity… Some churches … are not adopting the current FIEC Doctrinal Basis because it does not make a Biblical statement on what we believe about marriage.’
Helpful feedback
He adds: ‘Since sharing these proposals with member churches in March 2023, we have received lots of helpful feedback. Some have asked why we are elevating one ethical issue into the Doctrinal Basis to the detriment of others. Our conviction is that this particular amendment is necessary because of the confusion in the professing church about marriage, and because marriage is a very specific gospel issue, in that it pictures Christ and His bride, the church.
‘Therefore this is not about elevating an ethical matter into the Doctrinal Basis, but rather about providing theological clarity by stating what member churches already believe in relation to marriage, and therefore what would lead us to separate from others.
‘We are also convinced that we should keep the Ethos Statement on Same-Sex Marriage as this adds further helpful clarity to our shared fellowship and will continue to serve as a helpful commentary on the section being added to the Doctrinal Basis.’
One of the draft updated sections of the Doctrinal Basis says: ‘God created us male and female, which is identified by our biological sex. Marriage is the exclusive union of one man and one woman and is a picture of the relationship between Christ and His bride the church. Sexual intimacy is a gift from God to be enjoyed only within the context of marriage.’
