Last August we were very blessed to be able to attend the First Fruits of Zion conference in Toledo, Ohio. At that conference we met a number of people, but one individual stands out in our memory. That person was Bishop Stephen R. Sanchez, S.T.D., Primate of North America and Dependencies of the Evangelical Reformed Methodist (ERM). We had never heard of the Evangelical Reformed Methodist, nor did we have any idea how they differed from the Methodist Church.
      ERM currently has sixty-eight congregations throughout North America. They have separated themselves from the Methodist Church and are making every effort to return to the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 1:3).
      What does this mean? Well, first of all they have determined to observe the seventh day Sabbath. The following quote is from; Doctrines and Discipline of the Evangelical Reformed Methodist.
      "Much of the Believing world, as a result of Romish influence, has adopted Sunday as the Sabbath. The Welsh, British, Scottish and Irish tradition -- the Anglican and Methodist heritage -- held a Saturday, biblical, seventh day Sabbath for 1,200 years." (p. 35).
      According to Bishop Sanchez, the ERM is not changing Methodist doctrine, they are merely returning to that which was set down at the beginning. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement was, at one time, a seventh day Sabbath keeper and believed in keeping the dietary laws of Leviticus 11.
      Points of ERM doctrine found under the heading Sundry Issues include: 1.) Prayer for the Jewish People, 2.) Saturday as the Sabbath, 3.) Eating a Biblically ‘Clean’ Diet, 4.) Abstention from Blood, 5.) Righteous Observance as Opposed to Legalism, 6.) The Role of Women, 7.) Beards, 8.) Women’s Head Coverings, 9.) The Use of the Words ‘God,’ and ‘Lord.’ 10.) There Are No Crosses in the ERM, and 11.) The Episcopacy.

      The government of ERM is based on the Episcopal form. It is governed from the top down. Bishop Sanchez was chosen through "much prayer and petition" to be the Prelate of the ERM. He serves as a "Pastor to the Pastors."
      Men are expected to wear beards (per Lev. 19:27 and 21:5). Women are expected to wear head coverings. This latter practice is based on Isa. 61:3 (the Hebrew word peer, translated ‘beauty’ in KJV literally means ‘bonnet,’ or ‘turban’), Isa. 3:20, Ezek. 16:10 and I Cor. 11:5-6.
      Because of the common misuse of the terms ‘God’ and ‘Lord’ in everyday speech, "...the ERM will, out of respect and honor to the Most High, use such terms as: Providence, Almighty, Father, Creator, and such similar nomenclature." (p. 43).
The ‘Historical Statement’ of the ERM begins as follows:
      "The doctrine and spirit of Primitive Christianity has existed at different times and in different degrees in all branches of the faith. It is a matter of historical fact that Celtic Christianity (of Britain, Wales, Scotland and Ireland), from which grew the Anglican, and thereafter the Methodist traditions, were, for the first 1200 years more similar to Judaism and the original Nazarenes in doctrinal expression and practice. This, however, came to a halt in the mid-thirteenth century, when the armies of Roman Catholicism moved in suppressing and replacing historical and Biblical faith." (p. 8).
      God is working in many different and wonderful ways. Here at Hebrew Roots, we rejoice in knowing that many people, from a variety of Christian backgrounds, are beginning to live their lives according to all of the Scriptures. The example of these Methodists, who are stepping out in faith and returning to their Biblical roots, is very inspiring to us. We pray that God will assist them in their every effort to draw closer to Him in spirit and in truth.

DEW