Dash of Thought - July, August 2022

A letter of confession

When a letter of confession has been found, it has usually been preceded by some act of assassination. The media have speculated who could be behind the act of violence. The letter of confession reveals the secret. Confession letters therefore give rise to suspicions of bad things.

It is a pity when a confession is linked to a harmful cause. Because a confession related to something good becomes a happy thing for the person and gives to others clarity about what is important to the person. That’s how it is also with confessing faith in Christ.

At the Annual Conference meeting in Schaffhausen (Switzerland) we looked at this positive confession. We want to encourage people to confess their faith before the congregation or to affirm and renew their confession. It should remain fresh and alive. We want to encourage people to take this personal step.

That is why we also distinguish between the fundamental confession of faith in Christ, which should be renewed throughout one's life, and membership in the United Methodist Church, which can remain limited in time depending on life circumstances.

When was the last time you held a confession ceremony in your congregation? Has it been even more than a whole year since then? Let’s encourage people to renew their confession or say it for the very first time. I would be happy if these kinds of "letters of confession" were celebrated much more often in worship.

Bishop Patrick Streiff

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