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"Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God."

If United Methodists follow these three simple rules as they reach out beyond the walls of the church, the world will be rich with discipleship, Bishop Jane Allen Middleton told the members of the 224^th session of the Baltimore-Washington Annual conference.

Bishop Middleton, episcopal leader of the Central Pennsylvania Conference, led a two-part study at annual conference session May 22-24 based on the book, "The Three Simple Rules," by Bishop Reuben P. Job.

In order to stay faithful and focused, "we need to know who we are, whose we are and why we are here," Bishop Middleton said. "The Three Simple Rules are our compass and they help us know that we are on the right path."

These rules were originally put forth by John Wesley, Methodism's founder.

"We call them simple rules, but living them is hard," said Middleton.

"Do no harm," sounds like an easy rule to follow. But, said the bishop, it's all too easy to find fault in others, and in so doing this we avoid looking into our own hearts. She urged everyone to stop being self-righteous.

The bishop also spoke of sin that binds and traps people in confinement. To feel the free flow of God's spirit we must eradicate sin from our lives. "There is a struggle in each of us in wanting to do good and failing," she said.

As Christians deal with economic struggles and temptations of the world, Middleton told clergy and laity, they must "do good."

She quoted John Wesley, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."

Doing good, Middleton said, means demonstrating love to our neighbor, who includes child, parent, husband, wife, co-worker, friend and those who challenge our hearts and minds.

In order to "stay in love with God," Middleton said, United Methodists must continue to have, and grow, in an intimate relationship with God.

"These rules are more than rules, said Middleton. "They are a way of life, guidelines, stepping stones and our GPS. We need God and God's grace. We are all created unique; God will come to us in a unique and particular way."