Posted on 02/12/2010 7:55:56 PM PST by ComeUpHigher
Leaders of the Methodist Church yesterday offered to surrender more than 200 years of independence from the Church of England.
They said they were ready to 'cease having a separate existence' and merge with Anglicans to help the cause of Christianity.
The promise, made to the Church of England's parliament, the General Synod, follows two decades of growing anxiety among Methodists over falling membership and its receding influence in society.
Once seen as a pillar of working class culture and a major contributor to the thinking of the Labour Party, the church has seen its membership shrink to just 265,000.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I have an idea - preach the Word of God!
Amen and again I say Amen!
That seems about right from what I have learned about the integrity of this sect.
Methodism and other Low Church movements did provide a lot of impetus of the reforms we take for granted in the modern world for example, end of slavery. Like most of the Evangelical churches created at this time it was taken over by leftists.
The Methodist Church of England might as well merge with Islam. More honest, and they may even find a wider acceptance.
That is really the sadness about this because the Wesley brothers were famous for their open air sermons and revivals.
Making way for minarets and domes, no doubt.
Despicable.
The United Methodist Church over in the USA doesn’t seem very “evangelical” to me. They aren’t eager to bring guests to the covered dish dinners. It has its share of libs and Dems and seems to be the denomination with the most school teachers. Southern Baptists would fit the “evangelical” description better IMHO; however, there aren’t many liberals I know of who are Baptists.
I had not thought of that aspect but you are correct. Very sad that their blessing has degraded to what is happening today. But when you take your eye off the Word of God that’s what happens.
I wouldn’t assume that Islam is winning over Nth generation Brits away from Christianity.
You are right but when these denominations came into existence in the 18th century they were the Evangelical movement of the time. Somehow churches like the Methodists lost their way and stopped preaching and instead became too enamored with taking up the latest lefist cause.
This is not the Methodist church I know...but Methodist is a branch from The Church of England......I don’t think this story refers to the United Methodist Church outside of England....... so - maybe I’ll read the article and other responses after I hit the post button ....like I usually do.
Perverse post-modern culture has a way of driving some people to Islam. Case and point, Cat Stevens.
Or this guy:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9184353144432289069#
The churches in England need to get out of the ‘class thing’. It’s a big part of the churches there. I know....lived there for almost a decade. Belonged to the Methodist church in my area and was turned off after a few months. “Oh, no, dear. You can’t sit there. Beatrice has ALWAYS sat there for 80 years on THIS pew.” (I was raised a Methodist, chortle.). Then I attempted to join C of E (even had our first born Christened at the local cathedral in our parish). I was quickly told that I could not offer my ‘musical contributions’ until I’d ‘proven myself in church first’.......WHATEVER IN THE HECK that meant. They need to be more welcoming.
Both of ther founders would disown them.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them
Eph 5:11 Reprove them - To avoid them is not enough.
2Th 3:14 Have no company with him - No intimacy, no familiarity, no needless correspondence. - John Wesley
methodist ping, thought you might have some input on this.
Didn’t know that, but I do know that the Methodists are very liberal.
An old buddy of mine always said he was an Outdoor Methodist. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, etc on Sunday mornings...he got plenty of converts, too.
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