(AgapePress) - A group of United Methodists that filed a complaint against controversial Bishop Joseph Sprague says it is deeply disappointed that the charges were recently dismissed.

In late December, the group called for Sprague's removal after he openly rejected biblical truths such as the virgin birth, the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that salvation is through Christ alone. Last week, a committee of bishops in the United Methodist Church (UMC) dismissed the charges against Sprague, one of their colleagues.

Pastor Thomas Lambrecht of Greenville, Wisconsin -- whose group initially filed the complaint against Sprague -- says the supervisory team that dismissed the complaint has unfortunately adopted the Chicago bishop's heretical viewpoint, and has not objectively considered his group's perspective.

"It is painful for us to hear this decision [being] made," Lambrecht says. "It appears to give official sanction to the personal interpretation of our doctrinal standards in a way that diminishes their unifying and binding force in our church -- and we hate to see that happen."

Lambrecht says his group is not permitted to appeal the decision, but will continue its efforts to restore faithfulness to the doctrinal integrity of the denomination. He says it is time for Methodist lay people to help re-establish the basic biblical teachings their denomination once held to.

"We are still in the process of evaluating the decision and considering our next steps," he says. "We don't have any recommendations at this time -- but we will be mobilizing people to gather support for the foundational doctrines and beliefs of our church."

Lambrecht says even though bishops like Sprague serve a life tenure, Methodists should not leave the church or form another denomination over the matter.

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