Have a ? about Methodist...

[RunD87]

Hi, my appoligies I don't know much about them except they are the Church down the road.

I have these moments in my life since leaving 12 years of Catholic school a desire to the Church (RCC). However, attend Church maybe 2 months or went to become a Knights of Columbus at one point. Even considered Priesthood.

In addition, seeker Religion outside of the Church found Buddhism. I think Buddhism and Catholicism are a great companion together. They share teachings of love, compasssion, how to deal with Death, failure, and so forth.

Anyways I am going off on a tangent. That yearly calling in me wanting to join a Church grew strong. Actually feels stronger. Been doing best I can to read the Bible daily and pray daily. Normally do daily is I have a yearly reflection book I read out of. Been watching more Christian movies. Have to finish a great documentary on the Holy Spirit. I have been listening to the Christian radio and Christian music.

Been praying and asking the Trinity to give me guidance on where I should go to flourish this yearning for God.

2 months ago someone mentioned the Methodist Church. Then all the sudden past week or 2 like wildfire the Methodist symbol was seen in my every day to day life. Somehow in my travels I end up driving by Methodist Church's. Probably could see 3 different Church's in a drive.

Question to me is this what the Holy Spirit wants. Is this where he wants me to go to.

I been fighting this decision because RCC is so ingrained in my mind. Many blogs and excerpts on line express the new direction of the RCC is going forward while the Anglicans now slide back.

I appreciate any insight or guidance into the Methodist faith.

 

[Nik Onder]

The jump from RCC to UMC is not really as profound as you might think. If that is where you feel you are being called, just try it out and see what you think. God will not strike you down immediately as some kind of heretic, trust me! Honestly, the more I have studied mainline and other denominations, the more I have found that there is more in common than different. Historically, political and social events have done more to segment the body of Christ than anything that is actually written in scripture.

As far as Protestant denominations which have not gone through some form of schism, the UMC is probably the most similar to the RCC. The Methodist ideas of Sanctification, including good works as means of Holiness and Christian Perfection ring familiar to the Catholic sensibilities. They are both liturgical churches with an episcopal polity which includes Bishops, Elders and Deacons and has a pretty solidly argued claim to apostolic succession. Most UMC churches follow the revised common lectionary, baptize infants, confirm youth and have increasingly more frequent communion (in the USA communion was historically less frequent due to circumstantial issues, but is now more common on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule). The formal liturgy for Communion is very very similar to the RCC. That being said, you don't see the chasuble as often in the UMC. Some ministers will wear them for Communion, but it is still pretty rare. Also, incense is not something you will find used often in a Methodist church. Again, there is nothing doctrinally that says these things "can't" be used, it's just not something that there is a frothing demand for.

The only "problem" (for lack of a better word) is that the denomination is not terribly strict on methods of worship, so what can be confusing for people who grew up in more formal denominations such as the RCC or the Episcopal church is that there may be a Methodist church on one side of town that looks and acts more like a baptist or non-denominational church, with contemporary music, etc. while on the other side of town there can be a Methodist church, with stained-glass and pipe organs, that is as high-church as any Episcopalian cathedral. Just go check out what is available around you and see if you find a place that calls to you. In terms of doctrine, there's not a whole lot that separates Methodists from Catholics outside of the usual protestant vs catholic things, such as Papal authority, etc. Honestly, Methodists have more problems with OTHER protestant ideas, such as Calvinism and Predestination...

Here is a livestream of one of many "traditional" Methodist churches in my particular city...keep in mind Communion services will usually be on the first Sunday of a month, if you are interested in seeing the liturgy for that. Not a whole lot different from your standard Catholic church, is it?

http://p23.worshipstream.com/6/HayesBartonUMC

 

[circuitrider]

Rund87

I'm a United Methodist pastor. I'd be happy to ask any specific questions you have about the UMC.

 

[Qyöt27]

while on the other side of town there can be a Methodist church, with stained-glass and pipe organs, that is as high-church as any Episcopalian cathedral.

My cousin got married up in Virginia, but there was a reception held at our family church here in Florida for everyone that couldn't attend the wedding. Our parish has the stained glass windows showing scenes from the New Testament and pipe organ, etc. And we had a flare-up of opinions between Traditional and Contemporary that eventually ended with the Contemporary moving to the Fellowship Hall rather than being held in the Sanctuary.

Well, at the time there was a nun (Adrian Dominican, specifically) who lived next to my grandparents, and she was invited to the reception, where my grandmother gave her a tour of the church building. She actually came right out and said it looked like it could have been a Catholic parish (which my grandmother always had to follow up with, "well, without the statues", but that's kind of beside the point).

 

[circuitrider]

I performed a baptism a few months back where some of the family was Roman Catholic. Some of the relatives were relieved how much the baptism looked like a Roman Catholic baptism. I was wearing a white alb with stole, we shared in the Methodist baptismal liturgy which includes the Apostle's Creed, etc.

 

[joshua 1 9]

Hi, my appoligies I don't know much about them except they are the Church down the road.

I have these moments in my life since leaving 12 years of Catholic school a desire to the Church (RCC). However, attend Church maybe 2 months or went to become a Knights of Columbus at one point. Even considered Priesthood.

In addition, seeker Religion outside of the Church found Buddhism. I think Buddhism and Catholicism are a great companion together. They share teachings of love, compasssion, how to deal with Death, failure, and so forth.

Anyways I am going off on a tangent. That yearly calling in me wanting to join a Church grew strong. Actually feels stronger. Been doing best I can to read the Bible daily and pray daily. Normally do daily is I have a yearly reflection book I read out of. Been watching more Christian movies. Have to finish a great documentary on the Holy Spirit. I have been listening to the Christian radio and Christian music.

Been praying and asking the Trinity to give me guidance on where I should go to flourish this yearning for God.

2 months ago someone mentioned the Methodist Church. Then all the sudden past week or 2 like wildfire the Methodist symbol was seen in my every day to day life. Somehow in my travels I end up driving by Methodist Church's. Probably could see 3 different Church's in a drive.

Question to me is this what the Holy Spirit wants. Is this where he wants me to go to.

I been fighting this decision because RCC is so ingrained in my mind. Many blogs and excerpts on line express the new direction of the RCC is going forward while the Anglicans now slide back.

I appreciate any insight or guidance into the Methodist faith.

The Book of Common Prayer in the Methodist Church still follows a lot of what the Catholic Church believes. Some Methodist Churches have traditional services that are not as modern. Even back in Wesley's day they were getting away from the core teachings of the Church esp in regards to Holiness. I even talk to Methodist Pastors who see no problem with rejecting the Statement of faith and still being a pastor.