Conservative United Methodists Form 'Wesleyan Covenant Association'
A group of about 40 theologically conservative United Methodist Church clergy and theologians have formed an organization known as the Wesleyan Covenant Association.
The creation of the WCA was announced late last month and its first gathering is scheduled to be held in Chicago this October.
"In these times of great uncertainty about the future of The United Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Covenant Association stands together as an alliance to advance vibrant, scriptural Christianity within Methodism," stated an entry on the WCA's website....
Jim Lincoln wrote: John of UK, I will point out that Methodists in the Southern part of the U.S., are more conservative, and those in foreign countries can be a lot more conservative, though an example from the Philippines of a Methodist minister would make me think twice about that -- perhaps he was run out of the country? But like Catholics there has been a small group of Methodists through the years actually who think like some Catholics, http://tinyurl.com/zm2bfyg (Staying in Hope of Changing the Church) from which,
This is excellent advice for Methodists as well as Catholics -- it's something that I did.
That's unlike you Jim, posting a quote like that. McCarthy believes in "Born Again Catholics" that remain in the RCC.
John of UK, I will point out that Methodists in the Southern part of the U.S., are more conservative, and those in foreign countries can be a lot more conservative, though an example from the Philippines of a Methodist minister would make me think twice about that -- perhaps he was run out of the country?
James McCarthy wrote: Millions of Roman Catholics are finding Christ and leaving the Catholic Church. Some evangelicals, however, think leaving is a mistake. "Work within the system," they advise. "Share with others what you have found. If everyone leaves, how is the Catholic Church ever going to change?"
Such advice is both misinformed and unbiblical. Born-again Catholics staying within the Church are not going to change it. Rome’s history over the past 500 years shows that it is moving away from the truth, not toward it.
This is excellent advice for Methodists as well as Catholics -- it's something that I did.
John UK wrote: ".... vibrant, scriptural Christianity within Methodism." Could there be such a thing? By "vibrant" I expect they mean "worship bands" and CCM "music" and holographic images and lights. Reminds me of the old discotheques.
Well sure there are vibrant and scriptural Christianity Methodist Churches if they are conservative Methodist Churches that reject homosexuality and abortion.
"In a letter to his brother Charles in June 1766, the Arminian evangelist John Wesley, now in his sixties, confesses that he does not and never did love God, believe or have the direct witness of divine sonship or even of things invisible or eternal. Read for yourself.
"In one of my last [letters] I was saying that I do not feel the wrath of God abiding on me; nor can I believe it does. And yet (this is the mystery), I do not love God. I never did. Therefore I never believed, in the Christian sense of the word. Therefore I am only an honest heathen…
"And yet, to be so employed of God! And so hedged in that I can neither get forward nor backward! Surely there was never such an instance before, from the beginning of the world! If I ever have had that faith, it would not be so strange. But I never had any other evidence of the eternal or invisible world than I have now; and that is none at all, unless such as faintly shines from reason’s glimmering ray. I have no direct witness (I do not say, that I am a child of God, but) of anything invisible or eternal."" http://www.sermonaudio.com/new_details3.asp?ID=13559
It might be a good idea to dust off your big bible and read it. If your prone to a methodical book for church governance, then read it. But, watch out, church disciple hasn't been tried in 100 years.