I’ve been a Methodist for many years. I keep hearing more and more bad things about the church. I’ve never seen or heard of anything by the churchs I’ve gone to like I keep hearing about on this site. Maybe its because I have always gone to smaller churches in a small town. I don’t know if this is a widespread problem or just everytime a few idiots do something stupid they make a big deal about it.
I used to live down the road from a Caterpillar factory. Its a pretty good company and everyone I know who works there love working there.
Church politics are very similar to national politics. Not enough people pay attention to what is actually going on day-to-day. If they did, they would throw out most of the bureaucrats.
“I’ve been a Methodist for many years. I keep hearing more and more bad things about the church. I’ve never seen or heard of anything by the churchs I’ve gone to like I keep hearing about on this site. Maybe its because I have always gone to smaller churches in a small town. I don’t know if this is a widespread problem or just everytime a few idiots do something stupid they make a big deal about it.”
Like the Episcopals, Presbyterians, and apparently the Lutherans now the Methodists have allowed certain radicals to obtain positions of leadership at the national level. Usually these people work their way in from an extremely liberal congregation in San Fran, Boulder, or parts of Wisconsin. Once in position they manipulate the system to push their liberal agenda.
Most Congregations have limited access to the information which IMO is intentional. Each church provides some monetary support and in many cases their property is actually owned by the national organization. They also exercise economic control over the clergy. For example Presbyterian ministers will lose their retirement if they move to another denomination.
It is typical of mainline churches. The Libs have a lust for power and they take over the national HQ and start mouthing the liberal party line. Of course, the grassroots congregations don’t know their church was taken over by nutcases.
If it’s anything like Australia the smaller more towny sort of Methodist churches have stayed very conservative while the City churches are very left leaning. The left has gained control of most Synods and they have become a dogs breakfast of anti - biblical ideas and actions. Most don’t beleive or don’t treat the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Most are Israel hating socialists, pro-homo. antiwar; some are pro-abortion.
I hope this is not the case for you but the small town church I attended seemed quite conservative until pushed on issues such as homosexuality. Many are just biblically illiterate- the only time they pick up the scriptures is on a Sunday so it is tough for them to righfully divide the Word. Check out your Elders and Synod reps They may be lovely people but what do they beleive in regards to Salvation etc. You might be surprised.
Mel
Remember: each Methodist Church sends money to their synod to support nonsense like this.
“I don’t know if this is a widespread problem or just everytime a few idiots do something stupid they make a big deal about it.”
at the UMC national agencies and denomination run schools and seminaries it is worse than an epidemic (i personally have known many people at those institutions for years)