I agree with your post, and my church is similar to yours regarding adherence to some of the social principles contained in the Discipline. I was a Baptist until I met and married my wife. We attended and were active in the Presbyterian Church (USA) that my wife and in-laws had attended all their lives. We moved to Winston-Salem and joined a Presbyterian church here, but left when a new minister came in and demanded all of the staff’s resignations for him to hold “until needed.” (We are neighbors and good friends with the former choir director/organist.) We joined the Methodist Church in our small town (Lewisville, NC) and have been very happy for the last 14+ years. There are liberals and conservatives in our church, but I don’t know of anyone who espouses everything in the Discipline.
For many, I believe, denominational labels are ignored these days. People have differences in their faiths, even within denominations. We, as many, chose our church because of the people and programs there. “Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God” is the byword for most people. How that humble walk is performed varies among people, but we all believe in the same God.
Thanks for sharing!
I too was Baptist pre-marriage, though not the most regular attender. Wife was Catholic, but did not want to remain so, so we wound up in a Methodist church. As you said, it was the local programs and people that I was in ministry with that convinced me that I had found the place that God wanted me.
I don’t think many in our church are aware of even half of what is contained in the Discipline, especially the Social Principles. We talk about it from time to time in one of my Bible Study groups, but that’s all I hear of it, and I’m usually the one doing the talking!
Many of the church’s activities run directly counter to decisions made by UMC leadership. Like the decision to not support Boy Scouts, my local church has the most active and vibrant Boy Scout troop I’ve ever seen or heard of in Kansas City. I’m amazed at some of the trips and projects they undertake.