My wife and I have been members of our local UMC church for about 2 years.  Our daughter was christened there after she was born and we've been involved in several study groups and activities.

Recently, I was surfing through the UMC.org website to see if I could find an answer on a topic unrelated to politics.  I was completely blown away by how completely left-wing they are.  I didn't think churches could get into politics because of their tax status?

One thing led to another and through countless hours of research, I found out they are a member of and heavily fund the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.  You don't have to look far to figure out that the NCC/WCC are both communist front groups, literally.

Apparently, they have started several special interest groups such as Faithful America, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Faith in Public Life, and the Coalition to Stop Handgun Violence.  Some of these groups are heavily funded by George Soros and Ted Turner, who are both atheist.

After doing further research, it looks like the NCC/WCC sets the agenda because a lot of the content for the Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and Episcopal churches websites are very similar, all of whom are members of the NCC.

What make me angry is they use church offerings and tithe money to start communist/left-wing activist groups without people knowing about it.  It's a complete scam.  I've asked two of our local preachers and they say they are forbidden to talk about the issues listed on their website from the pulpit.

I'm going to have to find a different church and I can assure you the UMC won't get another dime from me.

I'm putting links up for informational purposes only.  Hopefully, this will enlighten people and maybe start a good conversation.


Weapon-Free Zone

"Gun Violence" - "call upon all governments of the world in which there is a United Methodist presence to establish national bans on ownership by the general public of handguns, assault weapons, automatic weapon conversion kits, and weapons that cannot be detected by traditionally used metal-detection devices;"

Government Run Healthcare

Immigration Reform

Eco-Justice

"The Economic Community" - "We believe private ownership of property is a trusteeship under God, both in those societies where it is encouraged and where it is discouraged, but is limited by the overriding needs of society."

"The Social Community"

Just a hint..if united is in the name you may end up seeing the same thing.  I moved last year and did a LOT of reading and research on denominations.  I probably k ow more about their beliefs than 90% of the members.  That's not bragging.  I honestly think people in general go to where they feel good.  They don't look.  I'm glad you did.  Lots of churches today are not teaching the word of God.  They are gonna be judged for it too.  Uspca is losing members in droves after their latest move.  Sad it took some people so long.  Good luck.

Looking back on it, they definitely promote 'moral relativism' and the 'graying' of morality.  There also seems to be a push toward pluralism, which means that basically, there is no need for salvation because God would never send someone to hell.

I know for a fact, in my rural southern community, that 95% of the congregation would leave the church if they found out the things I've researched.

Even if they aren't gun people and they were moderates, for example, if they knew the UMC supposedly donated $455k to Planned Parenthood in 2010 or that the UMC funds Claremont University which is a seminary that teaches Islam and is an official seminary for Islamic Imams.

Tell that to the churches in the middle east.

Txl

My father's side of the family had a falling out with their Methodist church 25 years ago over guns IRRC.  Not sure if it was just the pastor, or what.  I was too young to understand it.

hint our local southern baptist church has armed security including a swat team.



God i love Florida

These are the churches that will continue on for some time without persecution or suppression.  As in China, so long as you don't actually really believe or speak about that stuff in the bible that might contradict political orthodoxy, you can be as religious and notionally "Christian" as you want.  All the trappings without the actual spirit or life, and many will think they are "ok" without ever realizing they have nothing.

That's not to say there aren't those who will overcome whatever environment they find themselves in, but the rest are as  whitewashed sepulchers.

I agree.  I was raised in the Deep South as a Methodist.  After 30 years bouncing around the world in the Army and jobs, I returned and did not recognize the service.

Old Methodist:  love the sinner hate the sin, we are all sinners and must repent in Jesus, do not kill game just to kill it - kill it for food and thank God, have a gun to protect your loved ones and pray you never have to use it, Sing; Onward Christian Soldiers, Holy-Holy-Holy.

New Methodist: nothing about sin, Kumbaya, love everyone, guns are evil, Sing: some new pop songs.

I’m converting to Orthodox.

according to the US  2010 census just over 50% of the people in GA are unaffiliated.

That only matters if your politics isn't socialism.

They can't endorse candidates and such.

You can thank LBJ and him trying to fix a Congressional election for that.

Exactly. If you spout the communist/progressive party line you are Ok.

Free Methodist church is good, United Methodist is liberal, watered church you want to avoid.

Which part of TN?

I was part of the UMC for 5-6 years, and only left that church because I moved and ended up in other churches after the fact. Crazy to hear the donation stuff if true. That wouldn't have flown in the congregation I was part of.

(this image isn't over used.  It's not used enough)

Screw them. What they don't know won't hurt them and just may save their life. It's between me and God. If he has a problem with me protecting my family against walk in crazies in this morally bankrupt world then he will set me straight when I see him.

"If the good Lord sees me protecting my family against walk in crazies in this morally bankrupt world as problematic, then He will set me straight when I see Him"


Sorry. I found it amusing.

Paul addressed several churches which were departing from true values, so if it was a problem then it's no surprise it's a problem now.  It's perhaps more frustrating now because you'd think that people would actually read the Bible and see it, but apparently few do.

I made the move from UMC to RCC 18 years ago while in college. Best decision I ever made.

They were also big supporters of Obamacare. I used to go to a UMC, and never realized how liberal they are.

I guess my church doesn't recognize the party line.  At least four guys I know of were conceal carry Sunday.  I suspect there a quite a few more.  My old sunday school teacher has a j frame in a leg holster which I visible to the entire class.  No one has ever said a word about it.

Sad to say it but these very same problems I've seen in the Catholic church too, particularly in the northeast.

I was a "devout" Methodist for about 10 years, active in the church and held a few leadership positions within the church.



The teaching of the Wesleys was always a little left wing I suppose, they were not afraid of rolling in the mud if it meant pulling someone out of the mud.  Unfortunately that has morphed into being muddy all the time is okay.  



There are a lot of people inside the church mad.  Some of the things being taught are just insane.  The UMC had always rotated pastors every 3 or so years to insure no one gets too far off the reservation.  That has stopped in a lot of the bigger churches.  



There is a lot of internal talks among Methodists that it is time for a split, but it would be mess.  

I'm about 99% sure that my parish priest carries, but then again, he's a convert from Oklahoma.

One my buddies who carries asked the priest if it was ok for him (my buddy) to carry.  The VA law says no weapons in a church "without good and sufficient reason", but our former AG issued a letter that self defense met that criteria.  Priest's answer to buddy was "Good.  Please do carry."

http://www.nyhistory.org/sites/default/files/S_117_PilgrimsGoingToChurch_Boughton.jpg


I'm a Calvinist.  We have been known to carry at church.

The Wesleys would renounce the modern American UMC and have nothing to do with it.  In fact, they would be horrified to see what the libsters have done with their church!!

If you really believe the Following:
that there really is a God, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, and that He is the 2nd Person of the Trinity--God Incarnate, that He died on the cross and was bodily resurrected to atone for His people’s sins, that the Bible really is the infallible Word of God, that Jesus Christ will return some day to judge the living and the dead, that there is eternal retribution for sin, and so forth and so on, and yet you are a member of:

United Church of Christ [the old-line Congregationalists going back to Pilgrim days]
Presbyterian Church  USA, [ditto]
American Baptist
Protestant Episcopal
Evangelical Lutheran Church of American [nothing ‘evangelical’ in the American sense of the term]

The United Methodists
Disciples of Christ
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
And others, which might be too controversial to list.

And THEN, you sit out there in the Pew while the clergy-person-humankind-one f***s your brain as s/he turns you around to ream your arse while lifting your wallet and taking your hard earned money—then you deserve it!!!

What are your alternatives?
Well, if you do not take time to look carefully, you might stumble into any of several brain dead options along the line of the fake healing Prosperity Gospellers [e.g., ‘Name It and Claim It!’], NUMEROUS cults of various options, acrimonious independent ubber-fundamentalist ministries and/or congregations which excel all expectations of obnoxiousness.

You may even be able to park your family in a nice sleepy in-grown ‘micro-evangelical’ denominational church [E. V. Free Church, or C.M.A., and so forth.].   I grant that it is hard when one surveys the current American Religious situation.  

With regard to the rapidly apostatizing Liberal Mainline churches:

However, take heart, there ARE smaller traditional [in theology] associations which have broken off and/or been semi-violently expelled by the “tolerant, loving, inclusive, open-minded, committed to diversity, liberal and caring” mainline churches during the 20th century.  Actually, the Bible believing remnant groups have at times been VICIOUSLY forced out by the “tolerant, loving, inclusive, open-minded, committed to diversity, liberal and caring” mainline churches.  

If you look hard you may find a historically faithful break-away group or congregation which aligns with your preferred theological tradition.  Most of the "Renewal Groups" that I know of in the old dying Mainline Liberal Churches are a waste of your time and or money.  They could see signs of 'renewal' in hell!  They, or your preacher person, is/are committed to the denominational pension funds, and the local preacher doesn't want to loses his /her retirement.  The local rural churches in those denominations are also slated for spiritual death [extinction] and apostasy because they have already made a totemistic idol of their stupid church building.  The "church house" where 'mamaw' sat is more important than following and suffering for Jesus Christ outside the camp through persecution and vicious rejection by those loving liberal modernists [see Heb. 13:13 en loc]

So down here in GA, the area Catholic dioceses have policies against concealed carry in our parishes.

But..... this being GA, the policy comes with between 6 and 17 exceptions.

For example..... many of our clergy (priests and deacons) have guns - shotguns and rifles mainly and keep them in their rectories.
Police and other agents may carry in Church and school and on the grounds (and do).

And then there's the good ol boys (and girls) who pack heat and don't care what the policy may be....

I would be shocked if in any given Sunday there's not half a dozen folk in the pews within reach of a pistol.

I must add that we have an old feisty Irish missionary priest here locally who was rector of our Cathedral in Savannah - one of the top 10 tourist attractions in the country btw , and he faced down a guy holding a revolver and a pail of gasoline one day....the guy came in to burn the place to the ground and met the old priest by the altar.

Guy was going to empty the gas can and let'er rip...when the priest came out, asked what's up and got the revolver pushed into his face. Old father wasn't impressed and told him - as only an old feisty irishman can that one does not point a gun at a man like that and expect things to go peacefully...

Guy fled but not before lighting some of the gas - which burned up the pulpit.... http://savannahnow.com/news/2013-03-09/monsignor-william-oneill-step-down-savannah-parish.

To this day I wonder how many folk might be packing - I guess we'll never know for sure. But an awful lot of police, federal agents, Marines, and Rangers and retirees of the same just so happen to be Catholics.

First and last chaplains to die in WW2 were Catholic priests in harms way. They run towards the sound of danger...not away.  

Preach on!  I agree 100%

For those in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition, there's the "continuing Anglican" Anglican Church in North America. They have a large presence, and parishes and a few whole diocese of ECUSA switched over to them. From what I can tell from parish websites and friend's comments at the parishes they've attended, some have more contemporary services with praise bands and the like, and others are more traditional (hymns on organ/piano and no praise band).