Why should I stay Methodist?

[Destiny2015]

I need help figuring this out, because I've been mulling it over for....years.

I grew up in a very conservative, very liturgical UMC. Over the years, I've noticed a trend away from anything that could be considered traditional and towards anything that a church could label contemporary. Worship style, music, names of churches, everything. I miss the readings of scripture every week. Don't get me wrong - I'm not talking about things like sitting down for the reading of the gospel, but churches acting not reading the gospel anymore. The sermon at the last UMC I attended was how to reduce your stress level. Why muddy things with the actual Bible? Why even acknowledge that it was the second Sunday of Advent?

Lest anyone think it's it locale issue, I don't believe it is. I've moved a lot as an adult, and this has happened at each and every UMC I've been to. I'm willing to admit that I've possibly been very unlucky, however.

So now what do I do? I have no problems with Methodist theology, as watered down as it seems to be on Sunday mornings now, in fact, it's probably the only denomination that I don't have any problems with. But I'm not learning and I'm not hearing the word as I need to.

I know, it's all about I, I, I in my post, but that's where I am in my life right now, and I'm not sure inertia is a good enough reason to stay. So what is?

 

[Celticflower]

Maybe you could find a more traditional church nearby? Or you could try other denominations to see if one is a better fit for what you need as far as growth and learning.

 

[Destiny2015]

Maybe you could find a more traditional church nearby? Or you could try other denominations to see if one is a better fit for what you need as far as growth and learning.

I have. But for some reason I can't permanently let go of the UMC, even though it's not what I need now.

 

[jacks]

There really is no reason you should "stay Methodist". If it isn't feeding you spiritually then you should find another church, like CelticFlower suggested. Leaving a church can be a gradual process as you grow closer to another church the grip from your current church will lessen. God is with you and loves you no matter what church you attend, pick one that helps you grow closer to our Lord.

Note I'm not advocating jumping around from church to church, but you don't seem like the type to do that anyway.

 

[St Antony]

If liturgy is an important part of worship for you, and you believe in a free-will theology, then I highly recommend a Roman Catholic or Orthodox congregation. Good luck

 

[Destiny2015]

There really is no reason you should "stay Methodist". If it isn't feeding you spiritually then you should find another church, like CelticFlower suggested. Leaving a church can be a gradual process as you grow closer to another church the grip from your current church will lessen. God is with you and loves you no matter what church you attend, pick one that helps you grow closer to our Lord.

Note I'm not advocating jumping around from church to church, but you don't seem like the type to do that anyway.

I'm not, minus that dabbling in non-denominational churches that it seems everyone does in college. Officially leaving fills me with sadness, though. I love the UMC and keep hoping each move I make will provide me with the kind of church I'm looking for, but that hasn't happened in years. I'm sick of praise bands. I miss the 2-3 readings each Sunday that I grew up with.

 

[Qyöt27]

The Order of St. Luke might be worth looking into.

Our local parish still has a Traditional service (the Contemporary service with the praise band isn't held in the Sanctuary), and as I've gotten older I've realized we were more high church than I initially thought - when we attended my cousin's Christening at an Episcopal parish, the only real difference I noted to what I was used to was the use of incense and the procession.

 

[circuitrider]

I'm not, minus that dabbling in non-denominational churches that it seems everyone does in college. Officially leaving fills me with sadness, though. I love the UMC and keep hoping each move I make will provide me with the kind of church I'm looking for, but that hasn't happened in years. I'm sick of praise bands. I miss the 2-3 readings each Sunday that I grew up with.

It sounds to me like you are in the wrong UMC church. Not all of our churches have praise bands etc.

 

[Destiny2015]

It sounds to me like you are in the wrong UMC church. Not all of our churches have praise bands etc.

I realize that. But as a military family, we move quite a bit - every two years - and still haven't run into a traditional UMC church. The only one in town in our current location doesn't even have a traditional service, something I didn't think was possible.

 

[circuitrider]

I realize that. But as a military family, we move quite a bit - every two years - and still haven't run into a traditional UMC church. The only one in town in our current location doesn't even have a traditional service, something I didn't think was possible.

It may have been said above then. But if I wanted traditional worship and couldn't find a UMC church that did that I would try an Episcopal Church or a Presbyterian Church (if a little Calvin doesn't bother you.) Or an Evangelical Lutheran Church is one is in your area.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Unfortunately what you are experiencing is a common concern for a lot of Methodists. My town has an issue with that, too - most of the Methodist churches don't have a high liturgy or are too contemporary for my tastes. I still miss my old church that was closed by the conference - it had a blend of contemporary/traditional. My pastor was there for a little over a year before it was shut down, but he is more of a contemporary pastor. When he moved to the next church, where the pastor who opened it had left and passed away, it was contemporary and relaxed, and stayed so. My mother and I tried it out because we like the pastor a lot, but it's not for us at all.No shame in that, it's not about making it too much an "I" thing. We tried another church that is fully traditional - basically - and like it much better, but haven't been back. We need to get in the church routine again, it was disheartening about the old church closing.