2. We praise and support all that is good in The United Methodist Church (UMC)—John Wesley's heritage of heart-warming Christianity, discipline, evangelism, and spreading Scriptural holiness to all persons and society; our UMC Articles of Religion which strongly affirm the traditional Christian faith; our welcome to all people, including all races, ethnic groups, and income levels; Confessing Movement; Upper Room ministries; Walk to Emmaus; Disciple Bible Study; Marriage Encounter; the Ingathering; Volunteers in Mission; Iowa-Nigeria Partnership; and many more helpful ministries.

3. Because we are loyal to The United Methodist Church (UMC), we seek to help heal its sickness, restore its faithfulness, and reverse its disastrous decline. We love our Church. We help our Church by speaking the truth and working to heal and reform it— just as true friends would urge a sick person to seek healing and would not pretend that all is well.

4. Only God can heal our Church, but we can help.

5. The laity must become more active in the leadership, reform, and decision-making of our Church. The laity must hold Church officials accountable. We call on every lay person in the UMC to speak out boldly.

6. We ask all members to stay within the UMC—do not leave; do not abandon all that is good within our Church. We believe faithful Christians are the majority within the UMC. If we persevere, with God's guidance we can change the Church and right what is wrong.

7. We affirm the UMC's Mission (Christ's Great Commission): "to make disciples of Jesus Christ" (Book of Discipline, page 114). We affirm the UMC's Ongoing Priority "to proclaim the good news that salvation comes through Jesus Christ" (Book of Discipline, par. 703.9). Everything the UMC does should support this Mission and Ongoing Priority.

8. The UMC must get out of partisan politics and stay out. The Church must never allow any political faction—left-wing, right-wing, Republican, Democrat, Socialist, or any other—to promote its agenda through the Church. The UMC should not have a paid lobbyist.

9. The UMC should take a stand on an important public policy issue if there is a clear Christian position supported by a large majority of UMC members. The UMC's social witness should reflect the informed conscience of the UMC members, and should rise up from the Local Churches rather than being imposed from the top down.

10. The UMC must reduce and decentralize its top-heavy structure and budget, and give a higher priority to Local Churches and their mission and ministries.

11. We believe in the power of prayer. We will pray for our Church and for its reform, renewal, and faithfulness. We will pray for all within the UMC, including our opponents.

12. We will "speak the truth in love." (Ephesians 4:15.) We must and will inform the Iowa laity, speaking honestly and boldly. We respect the sincerity of our opponents even while we must oppose what they are doing to our Church. Our opponents are not enemies; they are persons with whom we deeply disagree, while we respect their right to advocate their views.

13. We will not be silenced. We expect to be attacked. No attack or condemnation will weaken our determination. Most of the laity have been silent too long—no more! We are the "fellowship of the unintimidated".

14. Our members are not obligated to agree with all of our Principles or Reform Agenda. We respect our members' right to think and speak for themselves.

15. We are not a lobbying organization and will never lobby for or against any legislation in the Iowa Legislature or U.S. Congress. Our members probably will have differing opinions on many Legislative issues and we encourage them to express their own views.

16. We are independent. We are not affiliated with any other UMC organization.