Trail Life is considering modifying their Statement of Faith. It is currently:
We believe there is One Triune God – God the Father; Jesus Christ, His one and only Son; and the Holy Spirit – Creator of the universe and eternally existent. We believe the Holy Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. We believe each person is created in His image for the purpose of communing with and worshiping God. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to live godly lives. We believe each of us is called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We believe God calls us to lives of purity, service, stewardship and integrity.
Interestingly, the current Statement of Faith does not mention anything about salvation through Jesus Christ. So, they are proposing to add:
We believe salvation is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and that our eternal hope is rooted in His sacrificial death and resurrection.
Opponents to adding this give the following reasons:
- Would deviate from Statement of Faith of American Heritage Girls
- Should not modify what is not broken
- Can promote disunity
- Catholics can misinterpret this addition
Response from board argues:
- Wording is not to emphasize by “faith alone”, but to emphasize in “Jesus alone”
- Board realizes “faith alone” can distance Catholics and have intentionally not used “faith alone”
Links