Mentor's Manual

Sec t i on I : Under s tand i ng The Urban Mi n i s t r y I ns t i tute 49

Dealing with Theological Diversity: Holding Fast the Good

As an educational institution rooted in an interdenominational mission organization, The Urban Ministry Institute affirms the legitimacy of the various communions, organizations, and denominations which affirm the tenets of the historic orthodox faith. We are unashamedly evangelically orthodox, and seek to partner and collaborate with all those who affirm our Affirmation of Faith Statement, a document which is in sync with the classic Christian confession of Christ as Lord. God has greatly used our unabashed loyalty to the Great Tradition of the Faith, and we have formed numerous productive partnerships with other kindred churches and organizations that hold to the same confession. A major role of your work as a Mentor will involve equipping your students to be clear regarding the historic orthodox confession and, at the same time, charitable and open to others who may differ on the non-essentials of the Christian confession. You will often find in many of your teaching sessions students from very different tradi- tions, whose viewpoints diverge on numerous issues confronting the Church today. The Urban Ministry Institute is unashamedly evangelical but not sectarian. Your students may come from Baptistic, Reformed, Pentecostal, Methodist, Holiness, Independent or any other of the varied traditions that represent evangelical Christian belief. Our theological framework is the Nicene Creed and our focus is on the essentials of the faith held in common by all orthodox Christian traditions. On non-essential issues of doctrine there is freedom to disagree. Your students will likely hold differing positions on such issues as the meaning of divine election, baptism in (with) the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, ordination of women, the Lord’s Supper, modes of baptism, etc. We want to explain the boundaries of historic Christian orthodoxy and, to a lesser extent, help people see how and why it is that within those boundaries the traditions differ on more specific issues and how they scripturally support those positions.

Note: we have included for your convenience a pdf

printable version of this document on our website at www.tumi.org/mentor . We encourage you to print copies for your students, and discuss the principles in it. Without question, your students who learn the art of critical thinking can be used effectively in ministry to train others!

Dealing with

Theological Diversity