Notthemama1984
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
They are the strongest mainline denomination numerically (almost 8 million)
The SBC is much larger.
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They are the strongest mainline denomination numerically (almost 8 million)
The SBC is much larger
I've been dating a United Methodist.
Good evening, everybody!
Just to clarify the title of this thread - I do not have any plans on leaving my current church (PCA). I love the people, and I love Reformed Theology. So, why on Earth am I visiting a United Methodist Church tomorrow?
I've been dating a United Methodist. There. The cat's out of the bag. She's a genuine Christian, and she loves the Lord very much. She actually grew up in the EPC, and I get the feeling that she's more broadly evangelical then anything else. She's fine with where I go to church, but I cannot move forward with her until I make sure that her church is not apostate. From my initial research, it has all male Pastors. If there was even one female Pastor, I wouldn't even be visiting.
The purpose of posting this thread is: I was wondering if you guys could fill me in on any oddities that might be in a regular Methodist service? I do know that Methodists have a thing for waving flags. Other then that, I'm in the dark.
I'll be sure to post a follow up on Monday with what it was actually like, in case any are curious about what's going on in mainline denominations. I'll be sure to bring my trusted King James in case anybody pulls out a NRSV.
The SBC is much larger
The SBC is not considered mainline. That would be Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal.
It's not hearsay. BUT, you can attend a UMC for years and be unaware of the craziness if you are in a church with older members and a more traditional pastor.
If you get to reading some of the official websites (UMC Reconciling Ministries and UMC Board of Church and Society are 2 good ones) and check to see what kinds of causes they are spending UMC money on you will be enlightened. Unhappily so I might add.
The UMC Board of Church and Society had a study on their website about a year ago called "Sex and the Church" that had some of the most pagan writing you can imagine. You would think it had been put on the homepage of the cult of Isis.
Jesus opened up so much passionate power that the late first- and early second-century church, as seen in the writings of Paul and Timothy, had to wrap it all up again to shut women up, make sure they sat down and for God’s sake, kept their sensuous hair covered.
The SBC is much larger
The SBC is not considered mainline. That would be Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal.
Or more to the point, the American Baptist Churches USA is the mainline baptist denomination.
Is there another Methodist denom besides UMC, because what everyone is describing does not sound like the local Methodists around here. Also when I lived in Georgia, I went to a Methodist church for nearly two years. I chose that church because the pastor was the only guy in town who would bring from the pulpit.
I would strongly urge you to guide your Girlfriend in to the reformed faith and as a presbyterian I would seek to evangelize and convert her to Prebyterainism
I would strongly urge you to guide your Girlfriend in to the reformed faith and as a presbyterian I would seek to evangelize and convert her to Prebyterainism
I was viewing some of the websites mention before which I navigated to this page from: Homophobia and Heterosexism | The General Board of Church and Society I had no idea that the UMC was doing all of this. I knew it was liberal, but was blind to how much. Maybe its time I begin to seriously look into finding somewhere else to attend.
---------- Post added at 10:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 PM ----------
Introduction
Marriage is, essentially, a question of pastoral care. The church is called by God to support and bless the loving, lifelong commitment of two same-gender people as with any other family and loving commitment. Current United Methodist policy forbids marriages or Holy Unions in United Methodists buildings or by any United Methodist clergy person. Reconciling congregations have found a variety of responses to the question, how will we support and honor the loving commitment of same-gender couples? Congregations might:
* Invite gay and lesbian couples to reaffirm their vows in a church service;
* Hold no marriages in the church and ask the pastor to refrain from conducting marriages;
* Conduct marriages and Holy Unions accepting the risk of charges by the Annual Conference;
* Focus upon legislative and advocacy to change UMC policies
* Advocate for civil marriage and/or civil union equality
* Pass a marriage policy or statement of support for equality.
This list if from the Reconciling Ministries Network page. I had no idea it was this bad.
The SBC is much larger
The SBC is not considered mainline. That would be Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal.
Or more to the point, the American Baptist Churches USA is the mainline baptist denomination.
Just curious, what % of the SBC is truly mainline? I know the good guys have commandeered the majority of the votes, thankfully, for a good period of time.
I'm with you. I know more evangelical UMCs than I know evangelical Baptists. The ones I know are broadly Wesleyan, but then again, no moreso than the avg Baptist church.
Claremont does not receive apportionments from the denom for use in that program they started, btw, That was squelched last year in an uproar from conservative UMCs. From what I gather, there is a huge movement afoot similar to what happened in the SBC years ago (the 'Conservative Resurgence').
I join with Whitefield in that I'm stunned so many paint with a broad brush.
If you will do your homework, you will find out that The Reconciling Ministries Network is NOT an official organization within the UMC. It is an ultra-liberal caucus which has been repeatedly opposed by the General Conference. In fact, some were arrested at the last General Conference for disruption and trespassing. There is a fundamental battle going on in UMC, and stereotyping by any group is not helpful, especially to the conservative side. The Board on Church and Society is not taken very seriously by the mainstream in the UMC. That Board has been on the extreme left for many decades, and they have continually gone beyond their mandate given by the General Conference. That Board has gone through some radical budgetary cuts due to de-funding of much of what they advocate. At the past couple of General Conferences there has been a growing movement to disband the Board of Church and Society.
She really loves her church, though. Very deeply. She will not be leaving it.
All I'm saying, Friend, is that if she's resolved not to leave her church, are you going to go to separate churches after marriage? Are you going to compromise and go to UMC? Here's to hoping that neither would be the case.
Men, I thank you for the advise and words of wisdom. I did, however, determine that her church is not apostate. I was comfortable taking communion there. Though there is error in her church, there is also error in my church. I believe that she has placed herself under Godly authority. I will not see the full scope of this until I see how she reacts to my church, which is very much Reformed. As of what I know now, I will not be ending the courtship over this.