issues currently present in our culture should be approached by the church. One of the most delicate questions is how to deal with the awareness of the church and its followers of the complex biological and psychological nature of human sexuality. It is stated in The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2012 that “God’s grace is available to all, that nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Besides, Methodists claim to be “in respectful dialogue with those with whom we disagree
The United Methodist Church is growing and it is happening in nontraditional areas. Between 2005 and 2013 outreach ministries connected the UMC with diverse communities and created over 130,000 new disciples in His image. Outreach ministries believe in providing sustenance to who are without basic needs and envision a day without want. On this foundation, missionaries built programs and create an opportunity for growth. Through ministry, the UMC continues to provide support and generosity to those
The United Methodist Church is growing and it is happening in nontraditional areas. Between 2005 and 2013 outreach ministries connected the UMC with diverse communities and created over 130,000 new disciples in His image. Outreach ministries believe in providing sustenance to who are without basic needs and envision a day without want. On this foundation, missionaries built programs and created an opportunity for growth. Through ministry, the UMC continues to provide support and generosity to those
this time, and the Methodist church is no exception. In addition to drops in attendance over the last half century, Religion News reports “The percentage of a church member’s income given to the church dropped to 2.3 percent in 2011 (the latest year for which numbers are available), down from 2.4 percent in 2010, according to the Empty Tomb study.” (Burgess) Because of this, many churches are feeling the strains of limited funds. But, there are ways that I believe that the church could possibly improve
We draw from that depth of tradition reaching back to the church of Pentecost, including early creeds (e.g., Apostles’ and Nicene-Constantinopolitan), various church councils, journeys of Christian pilgrims, and writings of Christian thinkers (Heb 12:1-2). This diverse witness has been shaped and preserved over the centuries of Christian teaching and reflection
The General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted in 1968 to abolish the African-American Central Jurisdiction and to merge all churches regardless of race under the new United Methodist Church. It set a goal for each Annual Conference area to merge together by 1972. South Carolina began discussions on merger as early as 1966, but it took until 1972 to accomplish the goal. The two conferences, the all-white 1785 Conference, and the African-American 1866 Conference merged at the 1972
Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church has two different youth groups, one for the Senior High and one for the Junior High. The Edge program, which is the youth group as a whole, consists of dividing the students into young teen and senior teen. Every Sunday night the youth group meets from 6pm to 7:45pm. Ryan Moline is the youth pastor of the young teens, he has split the youth group into the 7th and 8th graders which meet on Sunday nights and 5th and 6th graders that meet on Wednesday nights. I decided
Coalbush United Methodist Church is in Mishawaka, Indiana. The Indiana Conference church development team selected Coalbush as a strategic location for potential growth. The church is located right off of the US 20 bypass on the south side of Mishawaka. The city is slowly moving out toward the country, which is how this church views itself: a country church. Mishawaka is not predicted to experience great growth in the next ten years with the make up of a household having little change either. The
visit a Methodist Church. Once my group gathered, we decided on the First Free Methodist Church for the convenience of the location. I personally choose to go to a Methodist Church, because while I have never regularly attended church or been interested, my few experiences have been in a Roman Catholic church. Also, while I never attended, the Russian Orthodox Church was a prominent feature in my home town, with the town literally being built around it. Provided that, I wanted to choose a church that
Gary United Methodist Church is a small congregation of less than fifty members with an average worship attendance of ten or less. The congregational leaders, known as the administrative council, are looking for ways to increase attendance, which has been dwindling over the last few decades, and find new ways to engage in mission work in their small northern Minnesota community of less than 3,000. A decrease in employment opportunities over the last thirty years and the shutdown of two major employers