The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies
Product Description
With the decision to provide of a scholarly edition of the Works of John Wesley in the 1950s, Methodist Studies emerged as a fresh academic venture. Building on the foundation laid by Frank Baker, Albert Outler, and other pioneers of the discipline, this handbook provides an overview of the best current scholarship in the field. The forty-two included essays are representative of the voices of a new generation of international scholars, summarising and expanding on … More >>
Youth Participation in the Methodist Church in Britain
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Youth Participation in the Methodist Church in Britain – Get involved!
United Methodist Haiti Response
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When millions of people are affected by a natural disaster, as in Haiti, United Methodist mobilize in diverse ways to prove what we believe with our lives. You can help too at 10thousanddoors.org.
What is the difference between Lutheran & Methodist?
A question from a reader: I go to a Lutheran church, but am thinking about switching to the Methodist church in town. What is the difference between Lutheran & Methodist?
United Methodist Cross 159
- 1 1/4″ Pewter Cross
- 18″ Rhodium chain
- Gift Boxed
- Great United Methodist Gift
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United Methodist Cross in solid polished pewter on 24″ chain. Plain back, 1 1/2″ in gift box…. More >>
what is a religion between catholics and methodist?
A question from a reader: My co-worker is from the Ukraine and she said that she neither catholic nor methodist but in between. What religion is that?
PROTECTED BY A METHODIST Youth Zippered Hooded Sweatshirt Fleece Jacket ASH GREY SMALL
- This is an item for a CHILD. We do offer it in adult sizes in other listings on amazon. Please be sure to know the size of the child you are buying for.
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- If you order a colored garment, the design might have a slightly different color (ex: white lettering will be grey on a grey shirt or pink on a pink shirt, etc.)
- This is an excellent quality jacket with a garment weight of 7.75 oz., 50% cotton/50% polyester fleece full zip hooded sweatshirt. It is a Pill resistant Air Jet spun yarn. Unlined hood without drawstring. Coverseam stitching along neckline, shoulders, armholes, cuffs and banded bottom. YKK nylon zipper. Front pouch pockets. 1×1 athletic rib knit cuffs and waistband with Lycra®. Set-in sleeves.
- This is a uni-sex item. So if you are unsure of the size, please view the size chart.
Product Description
The Design/Saying is printed on the back of the jacket, we use the newest & best technology to print the design with great inks that are cured into the product. This new high tech way of producing garments is very fade resistant. WE DO NOT USE TRANSFERS. It is great, since you dont have that thick transfer feeling. The feel is very smooth and comfortable. T-ShirtFrenzy offers over 30,000 designs on tons of products to offer millions of variations. You can sear… More >>
PROTECTED BY A METHODIST Youth Zippered Hooded Sweatshirt Fleece Jacket ASH GREY SMALL
Methodists tell us about the Ethics of saying ‘I’m Sorry’–the apology both public and private… by Peter Menkin
by Peter Menkin
In a report on ethics of apology, United Methodist News Service (UMNS) Linda Green examines sincerity and authenticity, two ingredients lacking in our American sense of public apology. Public apology consists of thin, self-serving, and manipulative purposes according to three noted Methodist ethicists.
“I fear that apologies have become techniques for diminishing the consequences of behaviors that are destructive and damaging,” said Bishop Kenneth Carder, professor of the practice of Christian ministry at United Methodist-related Duke Divinity School.
Methodist writer Linda Green notes:
Recent apologies in the news came from Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez, who apologized for using steroids; Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Michael Phelps, who apologized for smoking marijuana; The New York Post, which apologized for but defended a cartoon with racist images; and former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle, who apologized for not paying taxes that he owed.
“When apologies are deeply rooted in confession, contrition, a recognition of the damage that one has done and one’s implication in the hurt of others– in the context of genuine repentance and confession with a goal of restoration of integrity, restoration of relationships and restitution for damage done, then apologies have depth,” Carder declared.
Clearly, Methodists do not find apology of the kind prevalent today by public official’s confessional in any manner, offering remorse or contrition, and essentially a means of manipulating opinion or engaging in media spin. People in the United States and especially public figures have either forgotten, given up, or willingly ignored what is known as repentance in their apology. They make no statement of making restitution or of change in their ways, Methodist ethicists proclaim.
“The apologies we hear today are mea culpa,” said the Rev. Katie Cannon. “Repentance means being willing to make restitution or reparation and a sacrifice has to be offered and some good faith act needs to follow so that it is not cheap or an action that has no substance behind it.” Cannon is professor of Christian social ethics at Union Theological Seminary-Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, Va.
Writer green says in her UMNS article:
The rash of recent apologies has resulted in cynicism and skepticism, leaving the public to wonder if they are apologizing for their conduct or because they were caught.
This practice of false apology does little to provide the true “I’m sorry.” Our World Wide Web is trying to help solve this problem…but…there is a proliferation of failure to apologize with honor and honesty that holds true. Re the web, Cannon agreed. “Some basic human social skills are gone,” she said, noting that today’s high-tech culture has lost the ability to learn from human interaction. “We need these sites for education of the high-tech generation or for those who live their whole lives on the computer.” The web is not helping us enough how to learn to apologize, according to Cannon.
“…[W]e have not made it a habit to say I’m sorry and we have not cultivated within ourselves the capacity, the grace or readiness to say I’m sorry.” The Rev. J. Philip Wogaman is a Christian ethicist and pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church, Omaha, Neb.
Linda Green reports:
Web sites that teach the science of apology show that society has lost some measure of civility, according to the Rev. Rosetta Ross, dean of academic affairs at Howard University in Washington. Today’s culture has invested a lot in saying biting and hurtful things to people and such sites indicate a loss of appreciation for being kind, compassionate and sensitive, she said.
Theodore Dalrymple calls the False Apology Syndrome ones that relate to historical sins and the crimes of ancestors.
“A false apology is usually accompanied by bogus or insincere guilt, which is often confused with appropriate shame,” said Dalrymple, a physician and author of “Our Culture, What’s Left of It: The Mandarins and the Masses.”
“False Apology Syndrome is a therefore rich but poisonous mixture of self-importance, libertinism, condescension, bad faith, loose thinking, and indifference to the effects it has on those who are apologized to.”
Modern Methodist Praise And Worship
Methodist churches are not often described as modern. We are a traditional church by both name and practice. We have a certain method of doing things here, and it has worked for us for a long time.
A group of students at Oxford in the early 1700s were referred to as “methodists” by the clergy of the Church of England because of their habit of gathering together for bible study, prayer, fasting, and mutual encouragement in the faith. The students agreed that it was a formula, and thought it was such a good one that they adopted the name “Methodist” for the societies they established across England.
Positive habits are a good thing. The best way to get rid of bad habits is to replace them with good ones. Smokers often replace cigarettes with sunflower seeds and those on diets trade cupcakes for celery sticks. Cultivating good habits is a good practice.
Methodism has come a long way since those early days. It began as a radical rebellion against the complacency of the Church of England, and has settled into something much more comfortable. The Methodist church has been a relatively conservative, predictable institution for a long time. The society around the church has changed a lot over the last few decades – certainly much more than Methodism. How much should we allow these changes to affect our praise and worship?
Traditionalists would say that change isn’t necessary – that any changes that must take place should be gradual, and occur over a long period of time. What’s wrong with the hymnals that we have? Why fix it if it isn’t broken? Our praise and worship traditions may be old, but they are a source of strength. If younger visitors don’t appreciate them, it’s their fault, not ours. Our way of doing things is tried and true.
This kind of thinking is dangerous. We are charged with reaching every generation with the message of Christ’s love for us, and the young are leaving the church, only to return for Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals. Whether we like it or not, they are losing interest in the way we do church. We have to reach them where they are, not where we wish they were. Many of them don’t connect with the form of worship that we have grown to know and love, and we can’t ignore that fact.
For many in our culture, the traditions that we find so comforting are completely foreign. For many of them, a visit to your church is no different from attending a mosque in Iran. They feel as if everyone is watching and judging them, and in truth, some are.
You have probably heard that some Methodist churches are starting new worship services to cater toward those uncomfortable with traditional worship. They are intentionally targeting younger members of their community, and trying different approaches to worship.
Additional services are being launched that trade the organ & piano for synthesizer and guitar. Drum sets are being used. Skits are being performed to introduce the sermon. Videos are being shown during worship, and announcements have been shifted to projected powerpoint presentations. It’s different, it’s sometimes strange to long-time members of the church, but it’s making a difference.
Methodists may resist change, but many have decided that it’s necessary. We are beginning to modernize for the sake of reaching the lost. It is ruffling feathers, dragging people out of comfort zones, and hurting feelings. It causes disagreements, inconveniences, and arguments. It isn’t easy. It is worthwhile.
The apostle Paul wrote that he wanted to be all things to all people in order to share the gospel with them. He would discuss philosophy with the philosophers, talk about Judaism with fellow Jews, and speak with Pantheists about Pantheism. In the same way, we have to speak the language of our culture to win their hearts for Jesus Christ. If this includes using different musical instruments, videos, and other creative techniques, then so be it.
The sacrifice Jesus performed for our salvation is a gift beyond measure. As Methodists, we are learning to understand that the way that gift is packaged is not nearly as important as the gift itself. If a change in the packaging will lead to a greater number of people being willing to receive that gift, we should change the packaging. Methodism started out as a rebellion against the norm, maybe it’s time that we rebelled against some norms of our own.
Rob Pearce
Does a Pastor of a United Methodist Church have limitations such as marrying a woman who has been divorced?
A question from a reader: I realize that all sins can be forgiven, but does a Pastor have limitations in the United Methodist Church?