I’m hearing lots of conversations about “becoming Global Methodist.” What new priorities and practices has your church adopted to “seed a new future”?
Those of us who came from the UMC brought some baggage with us (c’mon now – be honest!). We came from 55 years of “Big Tent” philosophy – in which people could believe anything—and often did. Methodists were known for nothing in particular, with minimal expectations for church membership. We were the “vanilla denomination.”
This mindset created a vacuum – for both good and bad theology and habits to take root. The reality? Whether good or bad, these things weren’t “Wesleyan/Methodist.”
We’d forgotten Wesleyan theology and forsaken Methodist practice.
Wesleyan theology says:
Justification = Initial salvation: What God does for us through his Son.
Sanctification = Ongoing salvation: What God does in us by his Spirit.
We believe we are fully justified and forgiven only through the merit of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is not, and never will be, based on any merit of our own. The price of sin has been cancelled. But the power of sin over us is also defeated; we can live a holy Christian life in which we do not continue to sin! This victorious life becomes our most powerful witness to a broken, lost, dying world! When your life is truly changed, people notice!
Methodist practice is: Our “walk” has structure—a method—practicing the “means of grace” particularly through small groups (Wesley called them “classes and bands”). They are the vehicles for delivering God’s grace into our lives, bringing sanctification. Without them—without a method for growth—we will not see much spiritual progress, missing out on God’s promised blessings.
None of this will happen without renewed commitment and intentional effort from pastors and church leaders. If the GMC is going to recover Wesleyan theology and Methodist practice, it will happen as we replace old habits with historic, identifiable Christian disciplines in the Methodist tradition.
Our denominational leaders are committed to this new (old!) mission. I and other “Jethros” (retired pastors) in the Upper Midwest Conference are committed to praying for and supporting pastors and churches as they recover these practices.
Your district’s Jethro would love an opportunity to speak with your church leaders and share resources that can equip you for transformational change and a fruitful Global Methodist future. Your district presiding elder can connect you with one of us.
