In language I can understand, please.

I'm thinking about taking the family there.

Good folks, lots of great missionary work...Women pastors and bishops...Very LARGE churches in SA....

If you will check some are beginning to accept homosexual marriages.

Think of a mix of Baptist and Anglican. More ceremonial than Baptists, but more fundamental than Anglicans.

My father attends a Methodist church. The priests (?) wear traditional ritual garments, they sang very traditional hymns, and they gave a Scripture-based sermon. Being raised Baptist, the whole thing seemed a little overdone to me, but I don't mean that in a bad way.

I was raised Baptist, but have been a member of the Methodist denomination for the last few years. Here's a summary of the basics:

What Methodists Believe

Traditionally, we have emphasized the following:

* God will comfort, guide, and forgive every person, no matter who they are or what they've done.
* Serving others and Christian faith go hand in hand.
* We find peace with God and spiritual fulfillment both in solitary moments of reflection and in a community of faith.
* Our Church is made up of people who share faith in Jesus Christ.
* We seek to make our private and our public actions congruent with our faith.
* We are a global movement of churches that’s making a difference in the world.

In practice, we are similar to other Protestant denominations, affirming our beliefs through the sacred symbols of baptism and communion. United Methodists share with other Christians the conviction that Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine. Through Scripture the living Christ meets us in the experience of redeeming grace. We are convinced that Jesus Christ is the living Word of God in our midst whom we trust in life and death.

Through baptism, we accept God’s gifts through Jesus. There is no strict rule among United Methodists about how baptism must be performed, although sprinkling water on the head of the person being baptized is most common. Everyone is accepted and welcome at the communion table, whether members of the Church or not, kids or adults.

Our identity as a denomination started with founder John Wesley, who felt his own heart strangely warmed nearly three centuries ago. After this experience, he was compelled to reach out to England’s poorest citizens, which he did with the help of his brother, Charles. Their work launched a movement that spread to the American colonies and took hold with a fervor that still exists almost 300 years later.

Today, United Methodists comprise the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Our churches are connected by a system to guide our work and govern our policies. We continue to take the lead in social, spiritual, political and moral concerns. In the tradition of John and Charles Wesley, our members study scripture, encourage thoughtful debate, and confront the tough issues of the day. We still lead with our hearts, keep our minds open, and welcome everyone through our doors.

Our church is made up of people, not drywall and plywood and stucco. Church carries a lot more importance and has more soul than a building; it is a "community of faith," meaning that church can be out in the streets, or wherever "two or more are gathered," as Jesus told us. While the unique function of the church is worship, it is also wherever its members gather to celebrate God in their lives. When we pray together, make plans together, do volunteer work together, have worship services together, that’s church.

Being a United Methodist doesn't mean that you must believe everything all other Methodists believe. This church encourages you to seek the answers to deep questions not in doctrine, but instead through your own ability to reason, using experience, tradition, and, most important, the Bible as a guide. One of our church leaders, Bishop Bruce Blake, made this point crystal clear: "United Methodists are never expected to agree with the church 100% because every United Methodist has a brain and is encouraged to use it."

I cannot speak for the Methodist denomination, but I can tell you about my experiences with many that were raised in the Methodist denomination. I have been in position to interview people about their faith, and I cannot tell you how many times I heard this phrase..."Well, I was raised Methodist so you know what that means..." I honestly did not know what that meant, so I aksed. By their own confession, most of them said that the Gospel was never really declared in their local churches. They were also lacking in basic theological knowledge. I have attended a Methodist church only once in my life, so I do not claim to be an authority, but this just seems to be a very common theme among the many Methodists that I have spoken with over the years.

three and out - we've noticed that with the bible studies (at least the young adults class we attended briefly). As for the service, ours usually contains at least 2 readings from scripture (1 OT & 1 NT) along with a Biblically based sermon. Beyond that there is currently a Bible in a year reading push along with weekly class to help dicuss the previous week's readings.

My wife and I have recently been attending a Bible Church that I attended in high school because it has a more active couples class and night services (which helps since we're frequently out of town, especially during football and deer seasons). It is much more Biblically oriented, though much more relaxed (jeans are as dressy as it gets) which is comfortable but a bit odd growing up in the Baptist church.

Overall, I like the doctrine of the Methodist Church but wish it had more of the preaching of the Baptists.

Well said, AggieFrog

Methodism is very ritualistic. It's similar to Catholicism in that manner. Growing up, I thought everyone went to church and got ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday...I was honestly 17 before I realized that it was mainly a Catholic tradition.

Don't judge a Methodist church by the first service you go to--there was varying methods of worship within the church. Many churches offer both what is called "contemporary" worship (current music, upbeat, usually a younger crowd), and the 'traditional' worship. In my church's traditional service, the pastors wear black robes and stolls around their neck that correspond to the time in the Christian calendar. The hymns used are rarely written after 1900 or so. There's 2 scriptures read, and the sermon is based directly on them. If you don't like this kind of worship, the contemporary offers the same message, but in a more informal (usually without robes, and with newer music) atmosphere.

I do not agree that the "Gospel is not declared" in Methodist churches. There's scripture evident in every service, and it's quoted directly, then applied. On the other hand, Methodist kids don't go around memorizing insane amounts of the Bible like other denominations. They are exposed to it from very early though, and are knowledgeable about the Bible enough to be able to find what they're looking for when the occasion arises. I can spout of dozens of verse numbers, but could quote you hardly anything.

I'd strongly advise you to give the Methodist church a try--and go to the varying types of services if they're offered. Even try to find a small/large church depending on what you prefer. I really do believe the Methodist church is fitting to almost anyone's preferences of worship because of choices like that.

Good luck in the search!

AggieFrog-

I am glad to hear of your church putting much emphasis on Scripture. And musicalaggie, these were not MY statements but statements of those raised in the Methodist denomination. I would be incredibly happy if these statements were false. I have no ill-will toward the Methodist denomination, but I was just sharing some observations that I had seen. But I do want to make one thing clear...Scripture and the Gospel are not completely synonymous. Whereas all of the Gospel is Scripture, not all Scripture is the Gospel. Many who I talked to did not understand the need for Christ's death on the Cross. I am by no means trivializing other Scripture, but I am simply saying that, by their own confessions, they said that there had not been an emphasis on the Gospel; that is, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the very essence of Christianity. I also don't want you to feel like I am attacking the Methodist denomination. We are all Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I just know that many have felt that they did not have a firm grasp on the Gospel.

As an aside, you use the term, "memorizing insane amounts of the Bible." I know it is pretty much humanly impossible to memorize the whole Bible, but we are told in Joshua 1:8, "Do not let this Book of Law depart from your lips. Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do what is written in it."

[This message has been edited by three and out (edited 3/23/2006 10:51p).]

Its been said but many Methodist churches have both Traditional and Contemporary servives. There tends to be a good ammount of mission work and stuff like that. There was recently a case where there was an openly homosexual preacher but it wasn't allowed and they were relieved or their duty(however you say it).

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But I do want to make one thing clear...Scripture and the Gospel are not completely synonymous. Whereas all of the Gospel is Scripture, not all Scripture is the Gospel. Many who I talked to did not understand the need for Christ's death on the Cross. I am by no means trivializing other Scripture, but I am simply saying that, by their own confessions, they said that there had not been an emphasis on the Gospel; that is, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the very essence of Christianity. I also don't want you to feel like I am attacking the Methodist denomination. We are all Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I just know that many have felt that they did not have a firm grasp on the Gospel.

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I went to a United Methodist church during my middle school and high school years, and I also felt like there was a lack of "the Gospel". To me, it felt like there wasn't really enough of an emphasis on salvation itself, and what it takes for that to occur... it almost seemed like it was assumed that everyone was already reconciled to God. Of course, I was kind of hardened to those sorts of things during those years, so it could be I just wasn't paying attention... Also, I have several Methodist friends who are really passionate about their faith, so by no means is this a knock on the Methodist denomination as a whole.

Rudyjax,
What do you want to know about it? The people of the Methodist church are a very accepting bunch of people and I think you will find that you and your family would be welcomed with open arms if you decide to visit one. In fact, there can be nothing lost by visiting. But really, if you have any questions, specific or general, I would be glad to help out anyway I can. I am employed by a methodist church as the youth director/mission coordinator near Dallas and have been attending methodist churches my entire life. Hope I can help.

What United Methodists believe...

http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.505357/k.98B7/About_Our_Church.htm

Unfortunately the vast majority of Methodist seminaries have been overrun by professors and leaders espousing a liberal theological doctrine which calls much of the the Bible's legitimacy into question. The only seminary I hold in high esteem within the Methodist church is Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky. I had a friend graduate from there recently, and in his interview with the board for the central Texas area he was asked who Jesus was. He gave an answer stating his divinity, resurection, and salvation through him that conforms with standard conservative Christian theology. The woman on the board looked at him sighing in disgust, obviously disagreeing, and stating, "Well yes I suppose that is what the book of discipline says he was..." but she obviously would have preferred to hear, "he was a good man and teacher but not God."

Here in Austin many of our pastors did not attend Asbury, and I would say that 25% of the head pastors of major Methodist churches in the area would be unwilling to say that Christ was in fact God at all, and 75% or more would state that Christ is not the only path to God, but one of many. This is the biggest problem with the Methodist denomination, in that one church can vary greatly in its teaching from another, thus you can't paint them all with the same brush. One will teach the gospel and the other will border upon Universalism. I feel the Methodist church is in danger of fracturing along these lines within the next 20 years.

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Methodism is very ritualistic. It's similar to Catholicism in that manner.

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That must depend on the UMC church that you attend. In most that I've been to, the traditional service would more resemble a Presbyterian service than the more liturgical Lutheran, Episcopal or RC services.

One other thing. Regardless of what the national leadership of the UMC believes in, individual congregations can be middle of the road (in both a theological and political sense), or lean way to the right or the left. I've seen plenty of all.

aggiemundo - I don't really want to reply to your post because it is so filled with generalizations and speculation that there is no way to argue with it. You can't argue with someone making up stuff because they will make more stuff up. Nevertheless, I feel the need to come to the defense of the denomination that I am a member of and that I have knowledge of. I will agree that our seminaries have more "liberal" professors than yours do, but that is because we allow the students of our seminaries to be exposed to many different viewpoints and work out their own theology. I guarantee you that the woman on the board interviewing your friend did not want him to say that Christ was not the son of God. However, if he did just regurgitate what the book of discipline says, or for that matter what his professors at Asbury said, she might have been dissapointed with his ability to think as an individual Christian. Also Asbury is accepted by the Methodist church as a seminary that pastoral candidates may attend but it is not a Methodist seminary.

I was married in the A&M United Methodist Church as my ex-wife is Methodist. I was raised, and am still, Baptist. I can honestly say all the times I went to church with her that an invitation was never given. Not once did I ever hear the ministers tell the congregation how they can be saved through Jesus Christ. That has never sat well with me.

Asbury is not a Methodist seminary, in title. It is "non-demonitational." But as sat next to the statue of John Wesley in Wesley Square, I was pretty sure it was mostly Methodist. And the tour guides affirmed my belief in that over 90% of the school is Methodist.

As a comepletely unrelated aside...I am pretty tall and the life-size statue of John Wesley was not so much. I guess you hear about the forefathers of our denominations and think of them in larger than life terms. But, the picture of me next to the statue is pretty funny.

http://www.christumcmobile.com/templates/cla19or/details.asp?id=28293&PID=173654

Interesting comments. My wife and I attend the referenced Church, but are not members, since we are both non-denominational. The Preacher has been there 25 years and is an Evangelical, preaching the Gospel each and every week. Yes, he gives the invitation each and every service. To those who wonder where he is coming from, his idea of Christian belief and Salvation is Christ's way or the highway.

david

Methodists believe they have other inspired books than the Bible.

""Discipline Of The Methodist Church" 1956. Page 1.

"...the Discipline became a record of the successive stages of spiritual insight attained by Methodists under the grace of Christ. we have therefore expected that the DISCIPLINE would be administered, not as a legal document, but as a ***revelation of the Holy Spirit*** working in and through our people."

[This message has been edited by robbio (edited 3/24/2006 9:21p).]

I don't know what the differences are in Methodist churches but I had a friend of mine, who was a life long member of the Methodist church, tell me she left the Methodist church and became a Baptist over the issue of abortion. She felt the Methodist church left her.

Does the Methodist church have a so called Pro Choice agenda?

Asbury has a mostly Methodist student body. I have nothing against Asbury, I have considered attending actually. But it is not technically a Methodist seminary. Examples of Methodist seminaries are Perkins School of Theology at SMU and Duke Divinity School. The Methodist denomination isn't perfect, but no denomination is perfect because all denominations have people in them. It is easy to bash the Methodist church with individual examples. I can do the same for any Baptist denomination, the Church of Christ, and even Methodism, my own denomination.

As far as abortion goes, there is the official Methodist opinion that in no way supports or encourages abortion but also is against legislation that would outlaw abortion (it didn't work out so well last time we tried it). I think you will find Methodists' opinions on the subject vary from person to person. This is one reason I love being a Methodist, I can have my own opinions.

Moral relativism?

Hillary Rodham Clinton is a Methodist!

So is George Bush, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, John Edwards...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Affiliation_in_the_United_States_Senate

Found this interesting. It is a listing of the religious affiliations of all of the member of the US Senate. It doesn't really serve a purpose but just satisfied a curiousity I guess.

It also looks like Baptists need to get out and vote more .

Interesting, while Wikipedia lists Hilary as a Methodist, it lists Bill as a Baptist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Baptists

[This message has been edited by three and out (edited 3/26/2006 3:04a).]

As for George Bush, I found this interesting...

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A 1985 meeting with evangelist Billy Graham ultimately led Bush to give up alcohol and devote himself to a more serious practice of Christianity. During this period, he left the Bush family's Episcopalian faith to join his wife's United Methodist Church.

Bush attends services at St. John's Episcopal Church on a semi-regular basis. This is apparently a matter of convenience for chief executives, as the church is situated immediately across from the White House, off Lafayette square. Every president since Madison has attended services there.

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I understand the issues of security and even with the fact that a president's attendance would probably take attention away from the pulpit and God, but it seems odd that presidents who confess faith would merely attend a church because of its convenience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush#Religious_beliefs_and_practices