I grew up in and around the Indian Methodist Church wherein my grandfather was a minister. There wasn't any sillyness associated with these as far as I can remember even though they started as a mission of the UMC.
It's a shame. It appears that the UMC is quickly going the way of the Episcopal Church. Just take a gander at the UMC website and see what rates being on their front page...
http://www.umc.orgJust take a gander at the UMC website and see what rates being on their front page... Earth Day 2004: Discovering Harmony Between Spiritual and Earthly Issues
Mother pus bucket! And they've got the Christian peacemaker (read: appeaser) teams on their rotating photo dealie.
Woe to those who call good, evil, and evil, good.