The Role of SCOD

I’m introducing you here to the Study Commission on Doctrine (SCOD) of the FMCIC. These individuals were elected at General Conference 2024. (Rev. Jay McIntyre also served with us until recently, when he asked to be relieved of this responsibility, as he has taken on the national role of connecting “Next Gen” leaders and ministers.)

SCOD serves the FMCIC in three major ways. First, we reflect on doctrinal and theological themes that either we or others request us to consider, and we write Position Papers on these themes. For instance, several months ago, we posted a paper on Marriage and Human Sexuality. We are about to add two more papers to our page on the website—one on gambling and one on end-of-life issues. More are in the works. Position Papers expand on The Manual’s paragraphs, giving more rationale and Scriptural support on the subjects, interpreting and articulating Free Methodist thinking on various issues.

Secondly, SCOD serves as the Editorial Committee for The Manual. We are working on a comprehensive update, to be ready in time for General Conference. Many changes are minor (titles of positions or departments have undergone changes, grammar and punctuation are being corrected), but others will require Resolutions.

This brings us to our third function. SCOD serves as the Resolutions Committee for the General Conference. All resolutions that are submitted by societies or delegates will be considered by SCOD. They can then be sent to Conference for consideration and a vote, or revised with the authors’ consent, or deemed unsuitable but reported out to all the delegates. In that case, Conference could overturn that decision by a 75% vote of the delegates to bring it to the floor for discussion.

Your Study Commission on Doctrine will be extremely busy between now and April 15-18, 2027. Pray for us!