Transcript A Study of the Methodist Church

A Study of The
Methodist Church
History
1729
John and Charles Wesley form the “Holy Club” at Oxford
University due to dissatisfaction with the formalism of the church of
England. Members established regular habits of Bible Study,
prayer, worship, acts of piety. Practiced very methodically. Called
“Methodists” by others as a term of derision.
1744
After growth of Methodism, Wesley organizes First Conference of
Methodist Preachers.
1784
Methodist Episcopal Church formed in Baltimore, Maryland.
1830
Division over right of laity having power to make decisions.
Methodist Protestant Church splits off from Methodist Episcopal.
History
1844
Division over slavery leads to Methodist Episcopal and Methodist,
Episcopal, South.
1939
Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal South, and Methodist
Protestant merge to form the Methodist Church.
1968
Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren merge to form
the United Methodist Church
Other smaller Methodist and Wesleyan Groups exist. Most of the
Methodists in our area will probably be associated with the United
Methodist Church.
Foundational
Documents
The Articles of Religion of The Methodist Church
The Confessions of Faith of The Evangelical
United Brethren Church
John Wesley’s Sermons and Notes
Governing
Document
The Methodist Discipline: Contains the
constitution for the church, official church
positions, doctrine and law of the church.
Published every four years after the General
Conference is held. Updated with changes
resulting from decisions made during the
General Conference.
Methodist view of “church”
Church Universal (all saved)
Methodist
Church
Baptist
Churches
Roman Catholic
Church
Other
Churches
Various denominations are merely different branches and all make up the
Overall church.
United Methodist Church is a part of the one Catholic (used in the sense of whole
or complete) Church.
Methodist Church
Organization
Similar to the US Government Balance of
Power vested in three branches
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
General
Conference
Council of
Bishops
Judicial
Council
(Legislative)
(Executive)
(Judicial)
Organization
General Conference: Legislative
•Meets Every 4 Years
•Composed of 600 – 1000 delegates
•Half Clergy, Half Laity
•Elected by Annual Conferences and other UMC
Bodies
•Petitions to change church law or code brought
to the General Conference.
•They are assigned to a specific committee
(depending upon the nature of the petition),
subcommittee where it may be modified or
amended. Vote is held to determine if it should
be forwarded to the General Conference for
consideration.
Organization
Jurisdictional and Central
Conferences
Annual Conferences refer to both a Geographical Area as
well as their frequency of meeting. Divided into regions.
US Jurisdictional Conferences:
North Central, Northeastern, Southeastern, South Central,
Western
Non US Central Conferences:
Africa, Congo, West Africa, Central and Southern Europe,
Germany, Northern Europe, Philippines
Organization
Jurisdictions and Central
Conferences further subdivided
Southeastern Jurisdictional conference comprised of regional
conferences. Southeastern has 15 annual conferences,
including the North Alabama Annual conference.
Each conference is presided over by a Bishop. The North
Alabama Bishop is: William H. Willimon of Birmingham.
North Alabama conference subdivided into 8 Districts.
Limestone County UMC churches are either in the Northwest
or the Northeast districts
Organization
Jurisdictions and Central
Conferences further subdivided
Preachers (Clergy) are appointed by the Annual
Conference, not selected by congregations.
In our area, preachers for United Methodist Churches are
appointed by the North Alabama Annual Conference.
Individual churches in our area send a part of their
contribution to the North Alabama Conference.
Basis of Faith
“But how shall we go about our
theological task so that our beliefs are
true to the gospel and helpful in our
lives? In John Wesley’s balanced and
rigorous ways for thinking through
Christian doctrine, we find four major
sources or criteria, each interrelated.
These we often call our “theological
guidelines”: scripture, tradition,
experience, and reason.”
Scripture
•“In thinking about our faith, we put
primary reliance on the Bible.”
•“The authoritative measure of the truth
in our beliefs.”
•“We try to discern both the original
intention of the text and its meaning for
our own faith and life.”
Tradition
•“Between the New Testament age and
our own era stand countless witnesses
on whom we rely in our theological
journey.”
•“Through their words in creed, hymn,
discourse, and prayer, through their
music and art, through their courageous
deeds, we discover Christian insight by
which our study of the Bible is
illuminated.”
•“This living tradition comes from many
ages and many cultures.”
Experience
•“The broader experience of all the life
we live, its joys, its hurts, its yearnings.”
•“We interpret the Bible in light of our
cumulative experiences.”
•“We interpret our life’s experience in
light of the biblical message.”
Reason
•“Finally, our own careful use of reason,
though not exactly a direct source of
Christian belief, is a necessary tool.”
•“We use our reason in reading and
interpreting the Scripture.”
•“We use it in relating the Scripture and
tradition to our experience and in
organizing our theological witness in a
way that’s internally coherent.”
Distinguishing Methodist
positions that stand in stark
contrast with the Bible
Abortion
UMC generally regarded as “pro-choice”
Official position: “In continuity with past Christian
teaching, we recognize tragic conflicts of life with life
that may justify abortion, and in such cases we
support the legal option of abortion under proper
medical procedures. We cannot affirm abortion as an
acceptable means of birth control, and we
unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection.”
Member of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive
Choice for 35 Years. Very Pro-choice organization.
2/6/09 UMC Website Included a story lauding President
Obama’s decision to lift an abortion “gag-order” on
foreign clinics funded by the US Government
Homosexuality
“Therefore, be it resolved, that The United Methodist
Church dedicate itself to a ministry of Christ-like
hospitality and compassion to persons of all sexual
orientations, and to a vision of unity through openness
to the spiritual gifts of all those who have been baptized
into the Body of Jesus Christ. Such ministry and
openness may include: welcoming sexual minorities,
their friends, and families into our churches and
demonstrating our faith in a loving God; a willingness to
listen and open our hearts to their stories and struggles
in our churches, districts, annual conferences, and
General Conference; encouraging study and dialogue
around issues of sexuality; and praying for all those who
are in pain and discord over our Christian response to
this controversial issue.”
Homosexuality
“While persons set apart by the Church for ordained
ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human
condition and the pressures of society, they are required
to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the
world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with
Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing
homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates,
ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The
United Methodist Church.”
Big Point of Debate within the UMC. Many want to
remove this restriction.
Role of Women
• We affirm women and men to be equal in every aspect of
their common life. We therefore urge that every effort
be made to eliminate sex-role stereotypes in activity
and portrayal of family life and in all aspects of
voluntary and compensatory participation in the
Church and society.
• We affirm the right of women to equal treatment in
employment, responsibility, promotion, and
compensation. We affirm the importance of women in
decision-making positions at all levels of Church life
and urge such bodies to guarantee their presence
through policies of employment and recruitment.
Marriage, Divorce and
Remarriage
• When a married couple is estranged beyond
reconciliation, even after thoughtful consideration and
counsel, divorce is a regrettable alternative in the
midst of brokenness.
• Divorce does not preclude a new marriage.
Salvation
• From the Methodist Articles of Religion
• Article 9—Of the Justification of Man
• We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works
or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, is a
most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.
• Methodists teach we are saved by Faith Only
• Article 17—Of Baptism
• Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference
whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not
baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The
Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.
• Mode of Baptism is the chosen by the recipient. Immersion,
Sprinkling, Pouring, (usually sprinkling).
Things to keep in Mind
The need for “scriptural authority” in religion is
foreign to most Methodists.
Many Methodists will not have a thorough
understanding of the Bible.
Most will have very unfavorable views and
misconceptions of churches of Christ (e.g. don’t
believe Old Testament, don’t believe in playing
music anywhere)
Things to keep in Mind
Many Methodists will not agree with official
church positions on controversial subjects
such as abortion, homosexuality.
Methodists have no issue or problem with
having John Wesley as founder. In fact,
they are proud of their “Wesleyan
heritage”.
Things to keep in Mind
Methodists churches are very involved in
national or global social issues. A few
examples: Hurricane Katrina relief, Black
History, Helping the Homeless, Malaria
control, etc.
Most official church positions are worded
very pleasantly and thoughtfully (craftily)
so as not to offend either side.
Things to keep in Mind
Methodist take pride in allowing for
differing views within their own group.
Clergy/Laity distinctions are very strong.
Many Methodists lay members put much
trust in their clergy due to their religious
education, training and leadership.
Things to keep in Mind
Local Social activities very much a part of
Methodist religion. This can be difficult for
some to give up.
Some may make a distinction between the
teachings of Jesus and those of the
apostles.
Some may believe God as revealed in the
OT is different from the NT.
Teaching Methodists
• Have to prove to them they are lost, that their conversion
was not valid. This will likely be difficult. Many will have
experienced as much emotion and feeling relative to
their conversion as you. They will likely be confident of
their salvation.
• Have to show the relevancy of the scriptures to us today.
They will likely assume that customs of the day may
have affected what is in the Bible. You have to prove
that it is still applicable.
• Have to show why one church is not as good as another.
What is the problem with a church having a human
founder? What are the origins of various churches?
Have to show that what you are asking them to join is
not just another “man made” group that also has errors.
Teaching Methodists
• You may have to use their own Bible. They may
think you are using your own edited version (such
as Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons).
• You must prove the necessity for religious
authority but don’t quote “here’s the three ways
you establish authority” like a creed. Be ready to
show from the Bible why you do/don’t do a certain
thing. Even simple things may be a point of
discussion. e.g. Where is the authority for having
decorative plants in your church building?
• Your own level of commitment (and that other
Christians) will likely be sensed by the individual
you are teaching and will have an impact.
Teaching Methodists
• Need to show that God does not approve of
religious division.
• You may have to prove that God is not different
now from what He was like in Biblical times.
• You may have to overcome the idea that
Methodist preachers, due to training in
seminaries are assumed to have much more
knowledge and that regular lay people should
trust them.
• You may have to deal with the Bible in terms of
the generally accepted books and letters versus
other books that are not considered canon.
What Can We Do?
• Invite them to a Bible Study. Hold a study in your home
and invite them to study a book of the Bible (e.g. Acts).
God’s word is “quick and powerful” and has the ability to
convict people if we can get them to examine it.
• Emphasize the Whole Bible Approach. The Bible tells
one continuous story.
• Show examples of conversion from the Bible. Discuss
passages that show what a person must do to be saved.
• Point out how local churches were organized, what their
work consisted of, their practices and why it is important
that we follow that pattern.
• Prove that authority in religion is necessary to please
God. Show examples from the Bible where God
expected men to follow the instructions given them.
What Can We Do?
• Show from the Bible what constitutes faith. Show how
we cannot allow our own ideas to change what the Bible
teaches.
• Examine your own positions. Know why you believe and
practice what you do. Continue to study and grow.
• We are commanded to go into all the world and teach.
We are given examples of how NT Christians went out
spreading the word. We will give an answer in judgment
for our compliance to God’s commands.
• Remember, our goal is not to win an argument or get as
many people as possible believing the same way we do.
We are simply trying to convert people, and help make
more true disciples of Christ. “Let your speech be
seasoned with salt”.
Methodist Episcopal Church South, Discipline, 1930
A Methodist Church and its
Work, Tippy, Kern
1918
Statement concerning the work
Of the church.