UMC and FCM Churches

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sandmountainsli

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A look at the two Methodist denoms which are found in my area.
I typically attend an FCM Church but today I attended worship at a UMC church. The two have some differences the biggest being the FCM is the more conservative socially of the two. I enjoy both and both are filled with good honest people but for some reason the UMC seems to be dying in my area while the FCM is going thru a growth spurt.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Methodist_Church
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Congregational_Methodist_Church
I suppose it is because this is a very conservative area and the FCM is in more agreement with the beliefs of the people.
WP
 
I live in the North (Cleveland, Ohio). I have family members and friends who belong to the United Methodist Church. We also have the Free Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Church here. I had never heard of the First Congregational Methodist Church, so it must be s denomination more common in the South. My yellow pages phone book does not list any First Congregational Methodist Churches in my city.
 
lak611 said:
I live in the North (Cleveland, Ohio). I have family members and friends who belong to the United Methodist Church. We also have the Free Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Church here. I had never heard of the First Congregational Methodist Church, so it must be s denomination more common in the South. My yellow pages phone book does not list any First Congregational Methodist Churches in my city.
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Yes,
From Georgia to Texas so it is southern based with HQ in Boaz, Alabama. I see it growing larger, however as many UMC members have been switching to it in this area.
WP
 
How are the Free Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Church? Are these liberal, conservative, or moderate?

I’m hoping that William or Zooey are able to help with this. I don’t know anybody from these two denominations, just people from the United Methodist Church; but William and Zooey on this board seem to be very knowledgable about the various Methodist denominations.
 
lak611 said:
How are the Free Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Church? Are these liberal, conservative, or moderate?

I’m hoping that William or Zooey are able to help with this. I don’t know anybody from these two denominations, just people from the United Methodist Church; but William and Zooey on this board seem to be very knowledgable about the various Methodist denominations.
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Free Methodists are more along the lines of Conservative, very similar to the FCM.
The Wesleyan Church is also conservative and part of the Holiness Movement. Both refuse to join the World Council of Churches, the FCM also is not part of this organization.
WP
 
sandmountainsli said:
Free Methodists are more along the lines of Conservative, very similar to the FCM.
The Wesleyan Church is also conservative and part of the Holiness Movement. Both refuse to join the World Council of Churches, the FCM also is not part of this organization.
WP
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Thank you William. By the way, I know that the NRSV is a WCC translation. In spite of the inclusive language, which I am not a fan of, I do like the translation. A Catholic nun, from the Sisters of Notre Dame, and Methodist Minister, from the United Methodist Church, both recommended the NRSV to me (they are both great friends of mine). Like I said, I don’t care for the inclusive language, but other than that, I like the translation. I also have the RSV, NAB, KJV, and NASB Bibles. I use all of these in my Bible studies in my Sunday school class at my parish. I am actually conservative in my beliefs as a Catholic: i.e. only males should be ordained, no inclusive language in the Bible or hymns (leave it as it was written originally–adelphi means “brother” but could also include sister), abortion is wrong. By the way, I think Charles Wesley’s hymns are probably the best that we have, Catholic or Protestant. I’m looking forward to Advent and Christmas to hear “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”:dancing: :love:
 
lak611 said:
Thank you William. By the way, I know that the NRSV is a WCC translation. In spite of the inclusive language, which I am not a fan of, I do like the translation. A Catholic nun, from the Sisters of Notre Dame, and Methodist Minister, from the United Methodist Church, both recommended the NRSV to me (they are both great friends of mine). Like I said, I don’t care for the inclusive language, but other than that, I like the translation. I also have the RSV, NAB, KJV, and NASB Bibles. I use all of these in my Bible studies in my Sunday school class at my parish. I am actually conservative in my beliefs as a Catholic: i.e. only males should be ordained, no inclusive language in the Bible or hymns (leave it as it was written originally–adelphi means “brother” but could also include sister), abortion is wrong. By the way, I think Charles Wesley’s hymns are probably the best that we have, Catholic or Protestant. I’m looking forward to Advent and Christmas to hear “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”:dancing: :love:
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You’re welcome.
That is another difference between UMC and FCM which I didn’t touch on, the UMC uses the Authorized 1611 Bible while the UMC uses the NRSV, and of course the FCM doesn’t ordain female clergy. I would say “Hark” is my favourite Christmas hymn:)
WP
 
As a former UMC member, I believe that the main difference is that churches like the FMC and the IMC (Independent Methodist Church) and the UMC is that most of the FMCs and IMCs used to be UMC. They disagreed with the conference of the UMC and broke away. Many originally broke away b/c they didn’t like the traditionalism of the UMC. Speaking for my father, who is a UMC minister, he is very traditional UMC minister and there are a lot of similarities between the way his Sunday services are and the way Mass is. Not the Eucharist of course, but as far as following a liturgical calendar, having responsive readings, and certain scripture passages read, he is very traditional. No modern music or charismatic prayer or homilies (sermons). In fact, I was talking to my priest just the other day and he even agreed that I probably was raised in a good “liturgical background” to be able to understand why certain things in Mass are the way they are and to be able to follow it. But sadly, many UMC churches are changing from being traditional to modern b/c they think that they will attract more members (youth especially) by doing this. Part of the reason that I was drawn to the Catholic church was the fact that it is so deeply rooted in tradition. I mean it was Jesus’s church after all! 😃
 
I hate using political terms in discussions like this, but one characteristic of the United Methodist Church is that it is a “big tent” church. Within the general precepts of Methodism there, you can find theologically conservative, moderate and liberal believers. In my opinion, the general drift of the UMC has been towards mainstream liberal theology, which might explain the growth of non-UMC Methodist congregations. On the other hand, lately there has also seemed to be a backing away from some of the more liberal extremes by the UMC, so perhaps the liberal drift has been slowed.
 
rr1213 said:
I hate using political terms in discussions like this, but one characteristic of the United Methodist Church is that it is a “big tent” church. Within the general precepts of Methodism there, you can find theologically conservative, moderate and liberal believers. In my opinion, the general drift of the UMC has been towards mainstream liberal theology, which might explain the growth of non-UMC Methodist congregations. On the other hand, lately there has also seemed to be a backing away from some of the more liberal extremes by the UMC, so perhaps the liberal drift has been slowed.
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So which is better in conclusion? This is very confusing to me. And how long before there are more changes in either group?
I am trying to learn about this denomination, and am asking because I really dont know where to start or how long to go back checking.
How different are either of them in comparison to what they were originally?
Does anyone have any rescource info or links that are credible to find out the history of all this?
Not that I dont trust Wiki but are there links from an official methodist site?

Are both groups world wide?
 
From Georgia to Texas so it is southern based with HQ in Boaz, Alabama
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Hey thats fantastic. Boaz was the name of the left hand pillar of King Solomons temple. I thought that was one of the many pieces of useless information that we catholics only knew. How did the Protestant Yankees discover that? :confused:
 
Sixtus said:
Hey thats fantastic. Boaz was the name of the left hand pillar of King Solomons temple. I thought that was one of the many pieces of useless information that we catholics only knew. How did the Protestant Yankees discover that? :confused:
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Whoa now;)
I know foreigners will not understand this but to call Alabama folk “Yankees” is akin to calling an Irishman a “Limey”.
Inaccurate and eyecatching in the wrong way:D
WP
 
sandmountainsli said:
Whoa now;)
I know foreigners will not understand this but to call Alabama folk “Yankees” is akin to calling an Irishman a “Limey”.
Inaccurate and eyecatching in the wrong way:D
WP
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One exception: to an Amishman, everyone else is a “Yankee”, but I don’t think any Amish would be lurking about on this forum, given the need for modern devices like computers and ISP’s.:whacky:
 
AngelRose81 said:
As a former UMC member, I believe that the main difference is that churches like the FMC and the IMC (Independent Methodist Church) and the UMC is that most of the FMCs and IMCs used to be UMC.
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The FMC actually predates the UMC.
The UMC was founded in 1968 after a series of mergers.
The FMC was founded in 1855 after a split from the old Methodist Episcopal Church.
WP
 
sandmountainsli said:
The FMC actually predates the UMC.
The UMC was founded in 1968 after a series of mergers.
The FMC was founded in 1855 after a split from the old Methodist Episcopal Church.
WP
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Is there any site that gives the entire history of the Methodist Church from it’s founding to today, with dates also for Wesleyan Church, Free Methodist Church, AME Church, etc?
 
lak611 said:
Is there any site that gives the entire history of the Methodist Church from it’s founding to today, with dates also for Wesleyan Church, Free Methodist Church, AME Church, etc?
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Thats what I hinted at lak611- I mean i liked that link and it was nice but –

I guess I will have to wing it here with sources that I can not be sure will have an axe to grind…
 
lak611 said:
Is there any site that gives the entire history of the Methodist Church from it’s founding to today, with dates also for Wesleyan Church, Free Methodist Church, AME Church, etc?
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I don’t know of any one comprehensive place but I would suggest the following pages from Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Episcopal_Church
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Methodist_Church
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Congregational_Methodist_Church
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Methodist_Church
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_nazarene
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Methodist_Church

Alot of reading;) But you can pretty much get the gist of each branch of Methodism this way.
WP
 
lak611 said:
How are the Free Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Church? Are these liberal, conservative, or moderate?

I’m hoping that William or Zooey are able to help with this. I don’t know anybody from these two denominations, just people from the United Methodist Church; but William and Zooey on this board seem to be very knowledgable about the various Methodist denominations.
Click to expand...
Zooey just found this thread…http://bestsmileys.com/blushing/2.gif....and is attempting to catch up!!!
 
Damascus said:
So which is better in conclusion? This is very confusing to me. And how long before there are more changes in either group?
I am trying to learn about this denomination, and am asking because I really dont know where to start or how long to go back checking.
How different are either of them in comparison to what they were originally?
Does anyone have any rescource info or links that are credible to find out the history of all this?
Not that I dont trust Wiki but are there links from an official methodist site?

Are both groups world wide?
Click to expand...
Wiki is actually fairly accurate on the Free Methodist Church. Not perfect, but they surprised me, by knowing about the free pews being the reason for the name! I suspect that an actual Free Methodsit has had a hand in writing that entry!!
rr1213 said:
I guess, what do you mean by “better”? It depends on your perspective of course. The United Methodist Church is a union of various branches of the methodist movement. It is, by far, the largest of all methodist churches. Take a look at the history section of the website for more info there.
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The UMC (my church) has a broader variety of theological stances. Oddly, I–who grew up in the Free Methodist Church thought of as a wild-eyed radical, am considered to be quite conservative as UMC.
This breadth is both a strength & a weakness. On the one hand, we have a fair number of people who really are;) “wild-eyed radicals”, which is not a good thing…On the other, there is a good deal more tolerance socially. No one in the UMC is likely to fall over in a faint when they see my wine rack, for a very:) minor example.

By the way, I found this at wiki:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesleyan_Church
On Wesleyan Methodism…
 
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