Conservative Methodists?

[ChristianMama84]

Hi!! I'm new around here and I have a quick question, I hope no one is offended. My hubby wanted me to ask if there are any conservatives left in the UMC? We're visiting a UMC this Sunday and I think he's concerned he'll be the only conservative there. Based on what I've read, y'all are a pretty diverse group, but he still wanted me to ask. Thanks!!

 

[Redheadedstepchild]

From what I can gather, nationally the UMC is pretty much split right down the middle. So yes, there are conservatives. You and I are both in the South where people and churches tend to be more conservative. That said, I believe you could probably find both liberal and conservative congregations in the same city. It may be a matter of doing some church shopping.

 

[Zoness]

Yeah I think your in better luck geographically if you searching for more conservative UMC churches. Up here in the the north the churches tend to be more moderate or left-leaning but it has never really bothered me the UMC I attend on and off is a very loving, Christ-centered congregation. It's almost hit-and-miss finding the best congregation for you but randomly attending some has always worked for me, best of luck to you!

 

[ChristianMama84]

Cool!! That's what I thought. We actually have two in a town of 1900, so I think we're gonna check out the one in town first.

 

[AdamClarke]

If you are not successful you may want to check out the Free Methodists

 

[Texas Lynn]

Depends how you define "conservative" I guess. I haven't found that when it's articulated to be really anything to be proud of.

Episcopals are more "conservative" than Methodists in their ritual but more progressive in their advocacy of human rights. we want a church that's more freeform in its ritual and more progressive in its politics and found it in a racially and sexually diverse UMC church.

 

[ChristianMama84]

We prefer churches that teach the Word of God - as in marriage between one man and one woman and are generally pro-life. I already found my answer, but thank you for your reply.

 

[Good King Edward VI]

Depends how you define "conservative" I guess. I haven't found that when it's articulated to be really anything to be proud of.

I certainly hope that wasn't meant to be taken as anything resembling a thought or an argument. It's rather more reminiscent of words tumbling out of one's mouth.


And before you accuse me of an ad hominem attack in the above paragraph, reflect on what you had written. Compassionate Christianity, indeed.


Always truly yours,
Jeff

 

[Texas Lynn]

I certainly hope that wasn't meant to be taken as anything resembling a thought or an argument. It's rather more reminiscent of words tumbling out of one's mouth.


And before you accuse me of an ad hominem attack in the above paragraph, reflect on what you had written. Compassionate Christianity, indeed.


Always truly yours,
Jeff

Perhaps not ad hominiem but not effective either.

 

[IthirstforGod]

We prefer churches that teach the Word of God - as in marriage between one man and one woman and are generally pro-life. I already found my answer, but thank you for your reply.

The Lord will lead you to where He wants you to go.

 

[elliotps932]

The Lord will lead you to where He wants you to go.

amen!

 

[Speculative]

Depends how you define "conservative" I guess.

I agree. Back when I was a Calvinist, I would've most likely considered any UMC too liberal for me. Certainly the published demoninational beliefs were.

Now that I've become more liberal, I know a lot of people that consider our church (which is very liberal) too conservative--at least theologically.

I think with the UMC--perhaps more than a lot of other denominations--you have to check it out or talk to the pastor to see if it is right for you.

 

[Zoness]

I've gotten slightly more conservative to where the Episcopal church is too liberal for me but the Wesleyan church is too conservative for me so the UMC is a nice middle ground. But really it does vary rather widely.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Hi!! I'm new around here and I have a quick question, I hope no one is offended. My hubby wanted me to ask if there are any conservatives left in the UMC? We're visiting a UMC this Sunday and I think he's concerned he'll be the only conservative there. Based on what I've read, y'all are a pretty diverse group, but he still wanted me to ask. Thanks!!

Rather than enter the fray above, I'll just say uniequivocably, YES. There are indeed conservatives left in the UMC. In fact, many. Asbury Seminary, considered conservative by most standards and not an official UM school, still graduates about 200 United Methodists who go into pastoral ministry in United Methodist Churches annually. Other United Methodist attend other similarly conservative seminaries and are spread across the country.

Then there is the Good News movement, which is the largest, but not only conservative voice in the United Methodist Church. Now certainly there are plenty of liberal voices in the UMC, but they by no means represent all of the UMC. You may have to look at more than one church, but I would say that if you can't find a conservative voice in the United Methodist Church its only because you aren't looking.

 

[utilityplayer]

Conservative Methodist here..perhaps a little too conservative for the Methodist Church.

 

[Zoness]

Conservative Methodist here..perhaps a little too conservative for the Methodist Church.

For which Methodist church the UMC? There are many Methodist churches to choose from.

 

[utilityplayer]

The UMC as a whole I guess. The "Open Minds. Open Hearts" thing almost pushes the boundaries for me. The recent events at the General Conference is really disturbing and in my opinion it's only a matter of time before gay marriage is sanctioned in the Methodist church. When that day comes I will have to leave.

My local church is still conservative as Methodist churches go I guess. But my tithe also goes to the UMC also does it not? I will not allow my money to finance policies I don't believe in.

 

[GraceSeeker]

I will not allow my money to finance policies I don't believe in.

Does not such a philosophy lead an individual ultimately to a church of just one?

 

[Zoness]

The UMC as a whole I guess. The "Open Minds. Open Hearts" thing almost pushes the boundaries for me. The recent events at the General Conference is really disturbing and in my opinion it's only a matter of time before gay marriage is sanctioned in the Methodist church. When that day comes I will have to leave.

My local church is still conservative as Methodist churches go I guess. But my tithe also goes to the UMC also does it not? I will not allow my money to finance policies I don't believe in.

While I would probably be more liberal than you, I don't have a problem with "Open Hearts, Open Minds" and I probably wouldn't leave the church if they sanctioned gay marriage. Although I personally do not condone it, It's not an issue that directly affects me and if I have a good local church it would not be a reason for me to leave the organization.

That's just my thought, a lot of people don't think along those lines.

 

[WiredSpirit]

Before I moved this summer I was a member of a UCC church but normally I just attended a young non-denominational church. I moved out to the country and the only UCC church around here is a member of the "Faithful and welcoming" group and vocally opposes most of what the wider church does, so I started going to a UMC down the road. It is middle of the road, like I always thought Methodists were. On my first visit I remember seeing both John McCain and Barack Obama bumper stickers on cars and thought at least my politics won't become an issue. At the church I grew up in you'd get a lecture if you even hinted that you might not vote for a Republican. They're not big activists when it comes to gay marriage and abortion, but they are very effective at the ministry we can all agree on. This is a church that was destroyed by a tornado in 2005 and rebuilt, it is in a unincorporated town--more like a spot on the highway with about 15 houses--and they have about 100 regular people. They're currently building a church in the Congo, every year they commemorate the anniversary of the tornado by doing a mission project to rebuild/improve another church or organization destroyed by a natural disaster, and for such a tiny church in a tiny town they have a huge impact on the entire county.

I've really been inspired by going to this church more than any other. I give more than I ever have because I see how effective this little church is and I can really get behind the projects they support. It may be time to change my faith icon!