| This document was distributed at the New York Mennonite Conference the Delegate Assembly on September 26, 1998. It accompanied a Polity Statement on those who deviate from conference norms of faith and practice. | Pastoral Letter "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (I Cor. 6:9-11, NIV)
It is important that the church not be deceived about the consequences of the sinful lifestyles named in this scripture. Any and all who persist in any of them without repentance will be kept out of God's Kingdom. However, it is not enough for the church to identify and condemn these sins. The church has good news to preach to the sinners. As Christians we must be able and willing to offer support, time, and above all the spiritual authority needed to deliver any sincere seeker from bondage to these sinful practices. Unless the church exhibits the love and power to humbly offer washing, and sanctification, and justification in Christ and the Holy Spirit so that repentant persons can enter the Kingdom of God, the church is in no position to condemn those who refuse to enter. The church has been given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. We have authority to bind and loose. We are challenged to be diligent in learning to use our keys to loose all whom God calls out of their bondage in sin (Matt. 16:19), that the Lord may free them by his Spirit and transform them increasingly into the likeness of Christ. (II Cor. 3:16-18).
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