The United Methodist Church - Most Asked Questions

In this video, we find out what are the most commonly searched questions about the United Methodist Church on google, and provide sourced, unbiased answers.

SOURCES:
McConkey, Dale “United Methodists Divided”,2018, Global Parish Press, p.22
Hadde, Jeffrey K. “Religion in Radical Transition, p.51
ibid
Ibid, 341.6
ibid

[mlester]

I was raised in the UMC and am now almost seventy years old.Your videos are educating me about my denomination like never before.

[laurenlaugh]

I’m Episcopalian and my long term boyfriend is Southern Baptist- we’ve discussed once we are married that we feel it’s very important we attend church together. The UMC seems to have a good balance of things we each believe and styles of worship we are used to.

[KatherineGHobbs]

Your videos are informative and fairly presented. I'd love to see a video in this same style on the Episcopal Church.

[bluelink]

These videos are very well made and professional. Thank you

[francanarsie]

My siblings and I were raised Methodist and we learned about the Bible and good manners but never once was anything said about prayer or spending time each day in prayer and there was absolutely nothing about belief in anything supernatural. I loved growing up Methodist: Sunday school and good manners and covered dishes but I am so happy that I discovered that what they always just talked about was real.

[qsfoxx]

Regardless of which side of the street you prefer to walk, you'd better
possess a solid understanding of Scripture that you can read and
understand for yourself and not rely on others to tell you what it all
means. Your salvation depends on it!

[jhmejia]

Holy cow, I’ve only been to Methodist churches as a visitor and not a regular attendee, but learning more about the UMC makes me want to be part of it !

[freeasabutterfly]

I believe the word of God is perfect and without error flawless perfect and inspired by God that is surprising to me thanks for letting me know more about the beliefs of Methodist church

[johnewald]

I'm going to be a methodist now, I grew up in churches that were charismatic and they all seem to end up looking more and more like joel osteen's church or like night clubs.

[RichardDCook]

At 1:05 it's sad to see the usual falsehoods about Catholics trotted out. The body of Christ, consisting of the members of the church, is a sainthood, we don't pray to saints, and we don't require saints to be mediators. We do ask others to pray for us, just as all Christians do. As it's worded in Catholic liturgy "we ask blessed Mary ever-virgin, all the angels and saints, and you my brothers and sisters to pray for me to the Lord our God." Only God is being prayed to. We're not praying to our brothers and sisters standing beside us in the pews, nor to the angels and saints, nor to Mary.

[revjohnlee]

Speaking as an ordained elder of the UMC, I again commend you for the fair and mostly accurate portrayal you have given. The differences I noticed would be called trivial by most and are more a matter of nuance or a matter of the difference between stated positions and actuality withing the denomination. I do draw everyone's attention to some important points though. The Discipline is the official statement of positions (even though it is ignored by many of our leadership). Only the General Conference, speaking as a body, is authorized to speak for the denomination. Often times (but not always), the Book of Resolutions you mentioned, contains matters that the General Conference failed to stuff down our throats by force and is sometimes even in opposition to the Discipline.

In truth, at present, the UMC is all too riven by disagreements. Many put social goals ahead of any theology. The Discipline is ignored where inconvenient and ruthlessly enforced when convenient. I have colleagues who are extremely theologically liberal and others who who are just as extremely fundamentalist. Often times, on a one on one basis, they are wonderful people but, collectively, cannot abide the positions of the opposition. It seems that popularity and not theology is the driving force behind everything today.

I am trying to fight the despair that attempts to consume me for that comes from the adversary. I am doing my best to be true to my vows to "make disciples for Christ". At present, that is in hospital chaplaincy.

[jgrillo]

Interesting, I'm a Roman Catholic and I recently got into learning the differences between the Christian denominations

[FriarJoe]

This video made me feel very happy and secure with my local church being UMC

[catl.]

I am roman catholic. Thank you for the information, i am learning about methodist church to understand where my bf and his family comes from. I didn't know what methodist was but i am glad that we both believe in Jesus Christ ☺ i was worried it would be too different.

[brackguthrie]

Just for clarity, the Roman Catholic Church also believes that all believers can be saints. Also, Roman Catholics DO NOT WORSHIP saints.

[orchidquest]

UM members also recognize all forms of baptism at any age, not just infant baptism.

[orchidquest]

UM members believe in prevenient, sanctifying, and justifying grace. This is how the canon describes salvation.

[milagroscayabyab]

I'm Volunteer worker here in Paquillaio Bethel UMC Philippines, I'm Milagros Santos Cayabyab 59, years old, Thank you To God be the glory Amen 🙏🙏🙏

[DiamondKingStudios]

Very interesting. I am Catholic but my Scout troop growing up was based out of a UMC. Given that I grew up in non-Atlantan GA and the political convictions of most of the troop, I would guess that the church was a little more theologically conservative on things, including the last topic mentioned. Down here Methodist churches are almost as common as Baptist churches, and are held in a much similar reputation. I wonder how different a UMC congregation is in, say, Boston than down here.

[studogable]

My father's youth leader, Glenn Riley, has a chapel named after him at the nearby Camp Comeca (which stand for Cozad Methodist Camp). That's the closest thing the Methodists come to declaring someone a saint - and, as much as I have heard about Riley's life, he earned that designation.