The future of The United Methodist Church is… well … uncertain. What’s going to happen? Will we have a new structure? Two or three new churches? More of the same? The Commission on a Way Forward has offered three sketches of what our future might look like. You can access the United Methodist News Service article describing these here, and my own analysis here. We spend much of our time in this podcast talking about these three sketches, and particularly what they mean in light of our church’s Wesleyan/Pietist heritage.
You can access the episode on iTunes by clicking here, and on player F.M. here. Let us know what you think! And if you like the podcast, please leave us a rating on iTunes. That helps other people find out about it.
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Thank you for entering the fray of the current discussion. You did provide some clarity especially with regard to ecclesiology, something that is missing from the conversation and much of what we read is just denominationalism “writ large” (I’m looking forward to Dr. Watson’s thoughts on “Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise”). I also appreciated Maggie’s counsel of patience and obedience in the meantime.
Part of the closing comments included how the church tends to follow the culture whether that is carried out by the traditionalist or progressive factions. This is perhaps the place where I find the greatest problem in “fitting in” among my friends in either camp. There’s a kind of package deal that goes with being on either end. For instance, my experience “in the trenches” has led to my more conservative friends assuming that because I am orthodox I have to be pro-American (i.e.: pro-military, pro-capitalist). They are disappointed when they discover otherwise. On the other hand, my liberal friends assume I buy into all their positions simply because I advocate for those who are poor. I disappoint my “Uniting” friends because I think there is a place for conviction. At issue is the triumph of ideology over theology in pulpits and pews.
Thanks again for letting us all listen in on the conversation.
Very informational. Thank you!
The most interesting part for me was hearing your perspective that the episcopal system of appointments is the feature which makes our church Wesleyan. Without that, we could not call ourselves Wesleyan. I think I am quoting you correctly. If not, let me know. I listened to the podcast yesterday.
I am going to meditate on this assertion that you both ascribe to because it does not ring true for me. I wonder what I would say is the most important feature/thing that makes us Wesleyan.
Hi, Diana. Thanks for weighing in. To be clear, we are not saying that the episcopal system in its current form is required of Wesleyans, but that there must be a system of oversight. Watching over one another in love is essential to Wesleyanism.