What's the Most 'Conservative' Mainline Church?

[seeking.IAM]

The thought probably also was that if the one branch retained the UMC name while the traditionalists adopted one that has no apparent connection to it, the traditionalists would look like the schismatic minority that broke from the UMC...

My entire family is UMC. I suppose I may be considered a UMC in exile since I was one of them until my mid-50s. My sister is an ardent traditional UMC. When the split was discussed a year or so ago, the most distressing thing to her was that the traditionalists appeared then not to be the inheritor of the "Methodist" name. I reckon "Global Methodist" satisfies her, but I agree it is a curious title. We'll see how it shakes out, it they ever get to doing the shakin' after kicking this can down the road for as many years as they have.

As for OP's question, I think if Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Anglicanism are ruled out, LCMS likely checks most of OP's boxes. Around here they have a larger footprint than WELS.

 

[9Rock9]

I don't if there are any near you, but perhaps take a look at the Unitas Fratun (a.k.a. the Moravian Church.) I don't know how conservative they are, though.

I think there's also the North American Lutheran Church, that's more traditional, and I think it's on the conservative side.

Among the mainline denominations, I think American Baptists are the most likely to be conservative, although the denomination does have its share of moderate and liberal churches. I don't think they are very traditional though, at least compared to Anglicans or Lutherans.

 

[Albion]

Among the mainline denominations, I think American Baptists are the most likely to be conservative

It usually considered to be the most liberal of the major Baptist bodies and definitely is as politically oriented and active as are the denominations our friend is seeking to avoid.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

As far as Lutheran goes, there is the LCMS and WELS, with WELS generally recognized as the more conservative of the two.

For differences between the two:

From the WELS webiste: Differences between WELS and LCMS – WELS
From the LCMS website: Denominations - Frequently Asked Questions - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

-CryptoLutheran

With their exception as to who may administer the Eucharist in WELS; they allow authorized laymen as well as Pastors to officiate.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I don't if there are any near you, but perhaps take a look at the Unitas Fratun (a.k.a. the Moravian Church.) I don't know how conservative they are, though.

I think there's also the North American Lutheran Church, that's more traditional, and I think it's on the conservative side.

Among the mainline denominations, I think American Baptists are the most likely to be conservative, although the denomination does have its share of moderate and liberal churches. I don't think they are very traditional though, at least compared to Anglicans or Lutherans.

Not conservative at all; in fellowship with the ELCA/ELCIC, and I believe, the Anglican Church of Canada and their american counterpart.

 

[1watchman]

Hi,

Relatively speaking, I'm a traditional Christian (I identify most closely with Anglican), but I'm moving soon far away, to a town with no traditional Anglican churches but many mainline churches (Episcopal Church, PC USA, Evangelical Lutheran, United Methodist, etc.)

Of the mainline churches, are any more traditional (meaning, theologically) than the rest? I know they all lean to the left theologically, but is it a spectrum, or are they all generally comparable?

Thanks for your time.

Let me share that what one needs is a Bible-only fellowship which follows closely "all the counsel of God" as told in Scripture. Be sure that is what you are associated with, I see. You can write me personally if you wish to talk about what our God wants us to do ---not that I know everything, but after over 60 years of Bible study, I think I have learned a few things about our relationship with our God.

 

[seeking.IAM]

In fairness to the OP's question, if we are to be technically correct the term "mainline" as correctly applied should not be confused with "mainstream." The historic mainline Protestant churches are United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran, American Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and Disciples of Christ. The term mainline Protestant was coined during debates between modernists and fundamentalists in the 1920s.The term is said to have referred to the wealthy suburbs along Philadelphia's Main Line (railroad) and the railroad that serves them.

Using the technical definition of the term, I would say all are at least moderate and now ranging to liberal. I think it's tough to say who among them is most conservative. Given variances within bodies, I venture to say it probably depends upon which particular congregation you are looking at more so than which denomination.

 

[1watchman]

Well, one can go forth as they choose, but for me it is Bible-only and not innovations of man to have a fellowship that pleases certain ones ---that is called sectarianism, and I don't think that is what God intended. He enjoins us to take "all the counsel of God" and be "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" as given ---note 1 Cor. 12:25 and such other calls to UNITY as Eph. 4:3; etc. Throughout the Epistles in the New Testament we can clearly see there where Church Truth is shown, that God intends for "unity of the faith" as He says. Denominated sects is ONLY to please the flesh. I have come to learn how that truth can be maintained and it is not by forming another sect. At the Biblecounsel web site that unity is shown how it can well be held and enjoyed, and it helps me for sound testimony.

 

[Mountainmike]

I’m curious.
I came in from anglican to Catholicism
I assume you Know the biblical arguments supporting the papacy?
You need to consider why you disagree with all that...

Thanks for the great response. I grew up in the Catholic church, and I am quite familiar with good and bad parishes. Although I have no problem attending services, I could never actually become a true member of the church again, because of my views on the papacy and various other issues (although, the papacy is the most important one).

I like the PCA and have attended services there before. Unfortunately, there aren't many, if any, options for the PCA where I'm moving. I think there might be one church plant. In any case, Presbyterianism is tough because I'm much more sacramental than your average Presbyterian church. That's the main reason I couldn't be a member of a Baptist church, btw.

Good thoughts, though.

 

[Dok Bantis]

For clarity, what I consider to be "Conservative" as regards a Christian church or denomination is that they affirm certain things such as the reliability of the Bible, the need of every human to accept Christ, and to deny both the possibility of same-sex marriage and to deny the ability of any human to change their gender and/or sex. There is more, of course, but these are the first things I look for in order to determine whether or not I wish to investigate that church/denomination any further.

It's been my experience that, of all the mainline Protestant denominations I've investigated, they almost all either refuse to affirm those points or they just plain fly gay pride flags outside their church. Most of them don't even mention the Bible or Christ on their "Beliefs" page.

A family member of mine works for a Methodist organization and I am disgusted by what I see behind the scenes, regarding their clergy, masquerading as Christianity there. My local Presbyterian churches are all "affirming" of transsexuality and same-sex unions. I had been Catholic for a time, but Bergoglio disabused me of that notion. The official Catholic hierarchy seems to be doing their best to stamp out all believing Catholics.

Now that I see half of the Southern Baptists embracing Critical Race Theory, I have only been looking for a church home amongst the smaller local non-denominational churches. They seem to be the only ones whose "About Us" website page lists things like actually believing in the Bible and in the need for repentance on the part of every human.

An alternative could be a good Reformed church. The Reformed teachers (Voddie Baucham, James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries, etc.) I've found on YouTube seem to be very faithful to Christ and to the Gospel. They have restored my hope in being able to find a church home.

 

[Albion]

For clarity, what I consider to be "Conservative" as regards a Christian church or denomination is that they affirm certain things such as the reliability of the Bible, the need of every human to accept Christ, and to deny both the possibility of same-sex marriage and to deny the ability of any human to change their gender and/or sex. There is more, of course, but these are the first things I look for in order to determine whether or not I wish to investigate that church/denomination any further.

It's been my experience that, of all the mainline Protestant denominations I've investigated, they almost all either refuse to affirm those points or they just plain fly gay pride flags outside their church. Most of them don't even mention the Bible or Christ on their "Beliefs" page.

The clear answer to this problem is that you need to research the churches further.

While what you describe is true, the opposite is not true (that there is nowhere left to which you can turn).

 

[atpollard]

Thanks for the great response. I grew up in the Catholic church, and I am quite familiar with good and bad parishes. Although I have no problem attending services, I could never actually become a true member of the church again, because of my views on the papacy and various other issues (although, the papacy is the most important one).

I like the PCA and have attended services there before. Unfortunately, there aren't many, if any, options for the PCA where I'm moving. I think there might be one church plant. In any case, Presbyterianism is tough because I'm much more sacramental than your average Presbyterian church. That's the main reason I couldn't be a member of a Baptist church, btw.

Good thoughts, though.

Eastern Orthodox (Greek Orthodox or Russian Orthodox)? Catholic without the Pope.

 

[Dok Bantis]

The clear answer to this problem is that you need to research the churches further.

While what you describe is true, the opposite is not true (that there is nowhere left to which you can turn).

I didn't mean to leave the impression that there was nowhere to turn. As I mentioned, I have found faithful teachers online to help me and I have narrowed my search for a church home to a few small local non-denominational churches.

 

[Albion]

Good. I am not a fan of non-denominational churches, generally speaking, because they have no oversight from beyond the congregation and most of them operate on the premise that the fewer doctrines affirmed or stances taken, the better. But by the same token, we cannot say that is true of all of them. If you have a lead on an acceptable one, that's great.

But if you were interested in the usual denominations, it is also true that there are Lutheran church bodies, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist and other such ones which have not fallen to theological modernism.

They are smaller than the more liberal ones, but in the main they are not miniscule either. But because I did not want to suggest specific churches while not knowing better what your religious convictions are exactly, I thought it best not to start naming names.

Thanks for your update!

 

[PloverWing]

It's been my experience that, of all the mainline Protestant denominations I've investigated, they almost all either refuse to affirm those points or they just plain fly gay pride flags outside their church. Most of them don't even mention the Bible or Christ on their "Beliefs" page.

I agree that several of the mainline Protestant denominations are LGBT-affirming. But I'm surprised by the statement that 'Most of them don't even mention the Bible or Christ on their "Beliefs" page'. Here's what I found from a quick look at the web sites of a few of the liberal-leaning mainline denominations:

Statement of Faith of the United Church of Christ - La Declaración de Fe de la Iglesia Unida de Cristo - United Church of Christ
What We Believe – The Episcopal Church
Bible | Presbyterian Mission Agency
Jesus | Presbyterian Mission Agency
ELCA Teaching

Was your experience different from this?

 

[Dok Bantis]

@PloverWing yes, my experience was different. Perhaps because I was looking at the websites of the churches in my area, not the official governing bodies.

 

[9Rock9]

For clarity, what I consider to be "Conservative" as regards a Christian church or denomination is that they affirm certain things such as the reliability of the Bible, the need of every human to accept Christ, and to deny both the possibility of same-sex marriage and to deny the ability of any human to change their gender and/or sex. There is more, of course, but these are the first things I look for in order to determine whether or not I wish to investigate that church/denomination any further.

It's been my experience that, of all the mainline Protestant denominations I've investigated, they almost all either refuse to affirm those points or they just plain fly gay pride flags outside their church. Most of them don't even mention the Bible or Christ on their "Beliefs" page.

A family member of mine works for a Methodist organization and I am disgusted by what I see behind the scenes, regarding their clergy, masquerading as Christianity there. My local Presbyterian churches are all "affirming" of transsexuality and same-sex unions. I had been Catholic for a time, but Bergoglio disabused me of that notion. The official Catholic hierarchy seems to be doing their best to stamp out all believing Catholics.

Now that I see half of the Southern Baptists embracing Critical Race Theory, I have only been looking for a church home amongst the smaller local non-denominational churches. They seem to be the only ones whose "About Us" website page lists things like actually believing in the Bible and in the need for repentance on the part of every human.

An alternative could be a good Reformed church. The Reformed teachers (Voddie Baucham, James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries, etc.) I've found on YouTube seem to be very faithful to Christ and to the Gospel. They have restored my hope in being able to find a church home.

I don't know if there are any near you, but perhaps check out the Open Brethren?

They're similar enough to Southern Baptists doctrine-wise, as far as I can tell. They aren't liturgical in the slightest, though.

I'm kinda in the same boat, being Southern Baptist but also concerned about the acceptance of Critical Race Theory. Despite that, I really like the church I currently am a member of.

Credobaptism is one of the few issues (aside from the core Christian doctrines) I feel strongly about, but I am less interested in church polity. I can live with having episcopal bishops.

 

[Albion]

@PloverWing yes, my experience was different. Perhaps because I was looking at the websites of the churches in my area, not the official governing bodies.

There probably are two sides to this issue, but it's true that the great majority of church bodies present a doctrinal statement somewhere or other. The fact is that many of them don't actually adhere to them. This happens in several ways.

For one, the meaning of the words has been redefined so extensively that what an orthodox Christian thinks is the position of the church has in practice been so watered down or broadened as to make the written statement almost meaningless. There are many examples and I'm sure we all can identify some of them.

For another, the church body may still have a detailed doctrinal statement, but it doesn't choose to impose it upon its clergy or congregations because of some misguided idea of diversity or whatever. Hence, the church on paper "stands for" X, but when it comes to what its pastors, counselors, and etc. teach, it's quite another matter.