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I have no objection. I think one's background is significant in understanding their posts. So...

You ***I was just about to ask the same question as narses.***

Narses***I am impressed. What denomination does your degree reflect, or does it? Said differently, among the protestant Churches, is their one denomination you find yourself most at home in? What are the dogmatic issues that seperate you from the Catholic faith?
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Adacemically I have degrees from Georgia Tech (Industrial Engineering); Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) and Westmister Theological Seminary (PhD). Dallas seminary [www.dts.edu] is non-denominational; Westminster [www.wts.edu] is Presbyterian.

Spiritually I was born into a Methodist family. I became a Christian in college and attended a Southern Baptist Church [First Baptist of Atlanta, Dr. Charles Stanley as pastor]. I was discipled by Campus Crusade for Christ and entered Dallas Seminary based upon their commitment to the Scriptures and their doctrinal stance which matched my own. I attended Westminster to study the Reformation at a school that was steeped in the Reformation and also had a high view of scripture.

In 25 plus years of ministry I have been involved with church and teaching ministries. The churches have all been non-denominational with a doctrinal stance akin to Dallas Seminary. Interstingly, as a non-denominational church we attract many Catholics who want Bible teaching. We do not attack Catholicism, rather we teach them the Scriptures and many of them come to faith. This is not to say that all Catholics are not believers, but most of them around here don't have a clue one way or the other.

The dogmatic issues that separate me from the Catholic Church are generally those of the Reformation minus the hostility. I post this to you off line because my purpose is not to bash Catholics or to be embroiled into talking past each other debates.

Narses***How would a conservative Lutheran worldview differ from yours?***

I was a pastor in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The Missouri Synod Lutherans are probably the most evangelical of Lutheran denominations.

Conservative Lutherans are consubstantiationists and I am not. Conservative Lutherans are pedo-baptists and view it as a regenerating ordinance and I hold to believer's baptism (I prefer immersion but mode is of lesser importance to me than the subjects). Lutherans are hierarchial in ecclesiology and I believe that pastor-elder and bishop are the same office.

Lutheran worship is more high church liturgical whereas I see New Testament worship as less structured (this is a preference not an absolute for me).

My theology is closer to Dallas Seminary than Wetminster yet both school have students from many denominations. I found this a wonderful environment. The churches I have served have attracted people from many spiritual backgrounds who in studying the Bible came to sahre our spiritual convictions.

My own conviction is that the unity of the Church is in truth rather than in structure and hierarchy. I am well aware why Catholics differ on this issue, but that still is my firm conviction.

Modern Methodism has lost its way. I attended Candler School of Theology (Emory University) and it was riddled with liberal theology. The seminaries are the future of a church in many ways.

BTW, I am strongly pro-life with the exception of a pregnancy that clearly threatens the life of the mother. I counsel against abortive measures of birth control. Of the marriages I have performed over 90% are still married in part because I require extensive pre-marital counseling and refuse to do a wedding where biblical principles are violated OR I feel the couple has not got the proper foundation spiritually or emotionally to keep their covenant of marriage. (BTW, I was a singles pastor for 10 years in a church where 1/3 were singles).

Thank you for posting a very informative response. It all sounds so much more complex than the catholic church. It is not surprising to me that some catholics don't read the bible. They probably use the same excuses for not reading as for not praying ... lack of time, family activities, etc. Only last night, I happened to watch a roundtable discussion on EWTN that included two converts to catholicism. The topic of the discussion was on bringing lax catholics back into full communion with the church.

Each of the protestant converts singled out the lack of zeal or enthusiasm they met when talking with other catholics. They talked of their enthusiasm about Confession and receiving the Eucharist but could not understand why fellow parishioners were "flat" (best word I could come up with). It has been my own experience that cradle catholics just take so much of their religion for granted, never questioning or pondering it. My love for the bible began with a short class I attended several years ago at my parish. It was so interesting and informative.

How do evangelical ministers conduct their Sunday services? Do you use the bible throughout the service? In the catholic church, Sunday's service is focused on the Eucharist. It includes 3 bible readings - one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament and the Gospel (from one of the 4 books written by the apostles). Catholics are encouraged to read the bible but I don't know of anyone personally who invests much time in it. Then again, many of our prayers are centered around the major events in the life of Christ and these require meditation on scripture.

Spiritually I was born into a Methodist family. I became a Christian in college

Not sure I understand this statement ... aren't Methodist's christians?