Joining the methodists

[starrycc]

Hi Methodists and friends,

I'm thinking of joining the Methodists officially, after going to the church for about 12 years...

What do you think are the essentials of being a Methodist?


PS do you know about the year of prayer in the UK Methodist church?

I think that's great, really hope our church gets some serious praying done.

PPS pray for the UK - join intercessors for the UK on intercessuk. com - a new prayer website

[Strong in Him]

Hi Starrycc, :wave:


I joined a Methodist church about 6 years ago, having been an anglican all my life until then. I started attending because, with my health problems, the services were more convenient. But I found everyone so welcoming and encouraging that I stayed and became a member. I am now training as a local preacher, and am so thankful for the oppurtunities I've been given to do this.

I don't really know about the essentials of being a Methodist. I've heard the saying "Methodism was born in song", and we certainly like singing. We normally have 5 hymns on a Sunday. I like having local preachers, and the chance to move round different churches in the circuit. I also like the fact that a new mininster is appointed before the old one has left. I think the process is a bit tricky, and hard work. But we have known for a while who our new minister will be, and where our current one is moving to, so we are already praying for them. It means also we don't have an interregnum, which is what my husband's church is going through.

God bless

Gill

PS I hadn't heard about the year of prayer - sounds good.

[herev]

I think the answer is somewhat different in the UK than in the USA, so I'll let those from your area answer for now

[Strong in Him]

Hi again Starry, :wave:

Any more thoughts about going into membership? Where abouts in the UK are you, by the way? (Not that it makes a difference, just wondering.) I'm from Surrey. Our church is very small - membership 45, with a couple more becoming memmbers on Easter Sunday - but it's growing. :cool: We will shortly be having a new minister and superintendant.

I'm still not sure what you mean about the essentials of being a Methodist. :confused: If you mean things that distinguish us from, say, the anglicans, I would think that offering communion to children is one of them. My mother's church (where I was brought up) have been having debates about this. But one of the children in our church (there are only 3!) has been attending Junior church since he was 4, and receiving communion since he was 5 or 6. Also, we've had women in ministry a lot longer than some churches, and at a higher level. I would say that "our calling" is a fairly big thing in the Methodist church.

By the way, I've just looked up the year of prayer on the Methodist church website. It's certainly there, but I don't remember hearing anything about it. :scratch: Our next Local Preacher's meeting is in June, but it may have started by then.

Anyway, all the best. You no doubt know more about the Methodists than I do, but anything I can do to help, I'll do my best.

Gill