United Methodist Beliefs

[KagomeShuko]

With the possibility of having a position as a youth minister at a UMC church, I looked at the UMC websites about the beliefs. . .and, I can't really find anything that doesn't match the Lutheran (ELCA) beliefs, so that's a GREAT thing! Just, correct me if I'm wrong.

It's ALL about God's grace, really.
Works have NO bearing on our salvation, but, by letting Christ come into our lives, we will WANT to do good works because of the spirit.
Two sacraments - Baptism and Holy communion
You baptize infants - it's a means of grace.
All Christians are welcome to take communion - "open communion"
communion is MORE than just a symbol, but the bread and wine do NOT "turn into" the body and blood like the Catholics say they do. . .(so, kind of like saying Christ's presence is there - as the bread is the body/blood is the wine)
Women are allowed to be pastors.

(it sounds like I've just summarized the ELCA's beliefs)

Seems like the only difference is ELCA is based on Luther; UMC on Wesley - beliefs are the same.

Do let me know if I'm wrong.

Thanks.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[Onesimus85]

For the most part I think you are right. I am not as knowledgable of the Lutheran Church as I am of the UM. I have a close friend who is Lutheran and we rarely disagree. If you get the chance look up The United Methodist Book of Disipline. That will have a ton of info about what the UM believe as a whole.

[Origen]

With the possibility of having a position as a youth minister at a UMC church, I looked at the UMC websites about the beliefs. . .and, I can't really find anything that doesn't match the Lutheran (ELCA) beliefs, so that's a GREAT thing! Just, correct me if I'm wrong.

This story was provided by the news service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America just this week and reprinted by the United Methodist News Service:

CHICAGO (ELCA)—The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recommended that its 2005 Churchwide Assembly approve a relationship of Interim Sharing of the Eucharist between the ELCA and the United Methodist Church. (Story continues here: http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=2&mid=7303.)

I would also share your assessment the ELCA and the UMC share a common heritage with Christians of every age and nation (http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1806) and share basic Christian affirmations (http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1808). As a Lutheran considering employment in the UMC, you may want to learn more about what is unique about the United Methodist Church by looking at Our Distinctive Heritage as United Methodists (http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1811) and our Distinctive Wesleyan Emphases (http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1812).

Welcome!

[KagomeShuko]

Thanks! Any main differences I see are really only in terms of how we define things (there was little bit on the grace thing that seemed a bit odd, but I kept reading, and then it seemed fine) and are truly basically the same. I'm very excited about the sharing of communion with the UMC! I've known about the dialogues for awhile and read that a decision should be made in Septmeber 2005.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[constance]

I have attended both ELCA and UM churches and you'll see some liturgical differences (which, if you are not personally tied to liturgy, will not bother you), and they hymns will be different.

The only "big" thing that I can think of that you might want to investigate is the difference between predestination/salvation theories. I believe most UMs believe that God's Elect are those who He knew would freely choose Him (I can't remember what ELCA's believe but I know more conservative Lutherans believe differently). Additionally, it is also a commonly held Armenian theory that a person can lose their salvation through their actions/beliefs.

Constance
("Denomination": Disciples of Christ - Christian Church)

[KagomeShuko]

I have attended both ELCA and UM churches and you'll see some liturgical differences (which, if you are not personally tied to liturgy, will not bother you), and they hymns will be different.

The only "big" thing that I can think of that you might want to investigate is the difference between predestination/salvation theories. I believe most UMs believe that God's Elect are those who He knew would freely choose Him (I can't remember what ELCA's believe but I know more conservative Lutherans believe differently). Additionally, it is also a commonly held Armenian theory that a person can lose their salvation through their actions/beliefs.

Constance
("Denomination": Disciples of Christ - Christian Church)
Liturgical differences and differences in the hymns wouldn't be a surprise to me at all.

(I went from Lutheranism to considering Seventh-Day Adventism and back to Lutheranism, so. . .)

Yeah, ELCA doesn't believe in "predestination," but we do not teach "once saved always saved." A person can fall away.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[constance]

Yeah, ELCA doesn't believe in "predestination," but we do not teach "once saved always saved." A person can fall away.

OH!

I have been talking to a Confessional Lutheran (ELS) who believes both in Predestination and (obviously) Once Saved Always Saved.

You will be fine, then. I believe the UM's have a pretty tame "OSAS with optional escape clauses" policy.

Now if only *I* can find a nice Puritan church.

Constance

[KagomeShuko]

OH!

I have been talking to a Confessional Lutheran (ELS) who believes both in Predestination and (obviously) Once Saved Always Saved.

You will be fine, then. I believe the UM's have a pretty tame "OSAS with optional escape clauses" policy.

Now if only *I* can find a nice Puritan church.

Constance
Ah, I forgot how we put it when I wrote that: here's what Lutherans say about predestiation (we teach predestination and not double predestination):

We, cannot, of ourselves, choose to "accept" Jesus as our Lord and Savior. However, through Jesus Christ we can confess that Jesus died for our sins.

Lutherans teach predestination, but not double predestination.

In [single] predestination, it is said that God's want and will is for everybody to be saved. However, God foreknew that people would reject salvation. It is not God's will to condemn any person to hell. This is not found in [single] predestination.

Double predestination says that all persons created by God were either created with the destiny to be saved or the destiny to be condemned to hell. This is not in line with Lutheran theology.

All people are able to "come to Christ" through the Holy Spirit working through them. Thus, through Christ, they will also confess Christ.

The work is not ours, but God's.

Then, we do NOT teach OSAS. (wow, and ELS that believes in OSAS??? That's rather odd).

Stein Auf!
Bridget