Have You Faith in Christ?: A Bishops Insight into the Historic Questions Asked of Those Seeking Admission into Full Connection in The United Methodist Church.

by Ernest S. Lyght

John Wesley taught his followers to ask questions. New Christians were placed in small classes where they were queried weekly about their progress in the Christian journey: how it is with your soul, are you making progress, are you going on to a perfection of love in the walk with Christ? Christian spirituality can only be understood and experienced within community. And within that community, those designated to lead have a profound responsibility to clarify with believers the nature and purpose God has for them in life.

In this book, Bishop Lyght draws attention to another set of questions originating in John Wesley: The Historic Examination for Admission into Full Connection. These 19 questions are asked of candidates desiring to be ordained into the ministry of the church and must be answered to the satisfaction of the bishop prior to the bishop laying on hands and bestowing the spiritual gift of ordination.

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2015

Reviews

[Bret Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whereas Carolyn Moore's book on the same subject (The 19) is more a call to arms for recapturing the integrity of the denomination, Bishop Lyght's book is more instructional and geared toward those seeking ordination in the United Methodist Church. That said, it was refreshing to read a Bishop's perspective that was not antinomian in nature, and that pulled no punches when dealing with this important subject. Let us not treat these questions as a simple formality, he says, but rather understand deeply what we are vowing and agreeing to when we affirm our connection to the church. A must read for anyone - lay or clergy - who does the work of God for the United Methodist Church.

[John Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was required reading for my ordination. Would you read it if you aren't preparing to be ordained? I don't know. I'd recommend it, though, if you're a Methodist. These questions provide insight into who Methodists are and what our purpose is. Yes, they are questions asked prior to ordination, but they are core questions of who we are as a people.