About CMF
The Christian Medical Fellowship was founded in 1949 and has over 4,500 British doctor members in all branches of medicine, and over 1,000 student members. We are linked with around 60 similar inter-denominational bodies worldwide through the International Christian Medical and Dental Association (ICMDA).
If you are interested in joining CMF, view the membership page.
Aims of CMF
Our new constitution was accepted unanimously at the CMF AGM on 21st June 2004. This enables us to formalise the direction we believe that God is calling us to take. It makes clear our areas of focus in being a witness to patients, being a public voice for Christian values, becoming multidisciplinary in our overseas work and taking more responsibility for the growth of new Christian medical groups throughout the world.
Our revised aims are:
- Discipleship
To unite Christian doctors and medical students in Christ, and to encourage them to deepen their faith, live like Christ, and serve him obediently, particularly through acting competently and with compassion in their medical practice. - Evangelism
To encourage Christian doctors and medical students to be witnesses for Christ among all those they meet. - Mission
To mobilise and support all Christian doctors, medical students, and other healthcare professionals, especially members, in serving Christ throughout the world. - Values
To promote Christian values, especially in bioethics and healthcare, among doctors and medical students, in the church and in society.
How are CMF's aims achieved?
Conferences and meetings
CMF organises a regular programme of national, regional and day conferences, as well as smaller local meetings and discussion groups.
Literature
A quarterly periodical goes to more than 70 countries worldwide. A regular Newsletter keeps members up to date. Students have their own quarterly magazine, Nucleus. We also publish books and booklets which relate Christian faith to the practice of medicine.
CMF Services
A Library and resource centre are situated at the London Office and members are encouraged to visit. Audio-cassettes of the conference addresses and lectures are available from the Rhodes Tape Library. A GP Bureau advises Christians on all aspects of a career in general practice,
and keeps a list of applicants and vacancies. CMF is first and foremost a fellowship and is pleased to offer practical help to members whenever asked. It is also regularly requested to make submissions to Governmental and Professional Enquiries.
Overseas support
CMF directly helps members working abroad by sending medical journals free, paying for histopathological services and advice in this country, running a micro-fiche service and organizing an annual Refresher Course on aspects of modern medicine.
Student support
Conferences and meetings present the Christian message to medical students and help them apply their faith to medicine. CMF is linked with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship. Contacts are encouraged at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
CMF's Christian beliefs
- There is one God in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- God is sovereign in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement.
- The Holy Bible, as originally given, is the inspired and infallible Word of God. It is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour.
- Since the fall, the whole of humankind is sinful and guilty, so that everyone is subject to God's wrath and condemnation.
- The Lord Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son, is fully God; he was born of a virgin; his humanity is real and sinless; he died on the cross, was raised bodily from death and is now reigning over heaven and earth.
- Sinful human beings are redeemed from the guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death once and for all time of their representative and substitute, Jesus Christ, the only mediator between them and God.
- Those who believe in Christ are pardoned all their sins and accepted in God's sight only because of the righteousness of Christ credited to them; this justification is God's act of undeserved mercy, received solely by trust in him and not by their own efforts.
- The Holy Spirit alone makes the work of Christ effective to individual sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and to trust in Jesus Christ.
- The Holy Spirit lives in all those he has regenerated. He makes them increasingly Christ like in character and behaviour and gives them power for their witness in the world.
- The one holy universal church is the Body of Christ, to which all true believers belong.
- The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person, to judge everyone, to execute God's just condemnation on those who have not repented and to receive the redeemed to eternal glory.