2020 & 2021 IA Truth Research Committee Meeting Resolutions Adapted by WDC

2020 IA Truth Research Committee Meeting Resolutions Adapted by WDC

I. A brother committed fortification before believing in the Lord; after believing in the Lord, he fervently served the Lord and was elected as a church council member for many years. Can this brother be ordained as a minister? 

Resolution:

This brother’s premarital fornication was done before he believed and received baptism in the Lord. After he received baptism, his sins were forgiven through the blood of the Lord. Therefore, he can be considered to be ordained as a minister.

To ordain a deacon, a church shall comply with the teachings recorded in 1Tim 3:8-13. However, this brother shall also meet the following three requirements:  

1. He has to have sincerely repented and does not deliver false teachings. His proactive and excellent service in holy work should demonstrate this. 

2. He has to have served consistently with fervor for a long period of time, have a good, lasting marriage, and have daily conduct worthy of affirmation.

3. He has to have the abidance of the Holy Spirit and a happy family life, and must be an example to the believers.

II. Please study, based on the truth, the issue of being abandoned in a marriage in the Taiwan GA’s resolution.  After being clearly resolved, believers must follow through. 

Resolution:

Those who meet one of the following conditions can be considered abandoned:

1. His/her spouse commits sexual immorality.  (Mt 5:32, 19:6-9)

2. His/her unbelieving spouse demands divorce. (1Cor 7:15)

2021 IA Truth Research Committee Meeting Resolutions Adapted by WDC

I. To re-discuss the resolution of the 2nd proposal of the 2017 IA TRC Meeting 

Resolution: To keep the original resolution of IA TRC Meeting unchanged.

Original resolution: If the unbelieving party has been confirmed to commit fornication with another/ others after having a sexual relationship with the believer, this unbelieving party is regarded as committing adultery.  The believer can remarry after being counseled and approved by the church council. However, the wedding cannot take place in the chapel.

II-a. TRC proposals resolved differently in GAs – Receiving of the Holy Spirit after one has sinned. 

Resolution:

1. According to the principles of the truth, the church should not discuss the salvation of a believer who has committed a sin that leads to death; it is up to God’s judgement (Jer 17:10) (Rom 4:6-8) (Heb 10:26-31).

2. Whether or not a member who has committed a sin that leads to death speaks in tongues during prayers, it shall not be the cause for the church to justify the forgiveness of his/her sin or his/her participation in the holy works. He who has sinned out of ignorance must truly confess and repent with humility, obey the church's guiding principles, and stay away from sin. He must keep the truth and look to the mercy of the Lord Jesus until the end of his life (1 Jn 5:16) (Heb 6:4-8).

II-b. TRC proposals resolved differently in GAs – If a person divorced before believing in the Lord, can this person marry in the Lord or be ordained as a minster? (2021 WDC13-1, TRC 2021-Resolution: 2b)

Resolution:

1. If a divorcee has believed and has not yet been remarried, he/she is allowed to be married in the Lord. (2Cor 5:17; Eph 4:20-24）

2. If one fulfills the requirements laid out in the Bible for ordination, he/she can be ordained as a minister. (1 Tim 3:1-13）

II-c. TRC proposals resolved differently in GAs – Handling the case of fornication before marriage

Resolution: According to IA’s resolution made in 2017, the church should teach believers that sexual relationships remain restricted to one’s spouse:

1. Oral sex, mammary intercourse, masturbation for one another, anal intercourse, and sexual intercourse are considered sexual activities.

2. Sexual activities, as described above, between a man and a woman before marriage are considered premarital sex.

3. It is inappropriate for the church to solemnize the marriage of a fornicated couple and give the benediction; yet the church may hold a family service for them (Heb 13:4, 1Cor 6:18-20, 1Thess 4:3-5, Gen 49:5-7, Num 25:10-13, Mal 2:4-6, Deut 33:8-11).

II-d. TRC proposals resolved differently in GAs – Funeral and Death 

Resolution:

1. The funeral services should be handled in accordance with the rituals of our church, avoiding superstitious customs.

2. We can meditate on the deceased’s exhortations and conduct of faith in his/her life, and teach it to the next generation.

3. Gathering to celebrate the death anniversaries of a deceased person is a worldly custom. It is inappropriate for our church to hold this kind of service for the deceased.