“Our pursuit of holiness of heart and life is something we are expected to do together. For John Wesley there was such thing as ‘solitary religion.’ He wrote, ‘The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness.’ In other words, our faith is not private. It is to be lived and shared.
Early Methodists lived into this understanding of faith by opening schools, feeding the hungry, healing those who could not afford to see a doctor, speaking out against slavery, and so much more. Today, United Methodist remain connected not only to the people in their small groups and congregations, but also to a church of millions around the world. Together we tell people about Jesus, protect people’s health, assist victims of disaster, stand up for those living on life’s margins, and watch over one another in love.” Our Wesleyan Heritage
Yesterday a United Methodist pastor from North Carolina called the church office about performing a wedding in Napa. He then asked Dianne Mahler, “Why doesn’t your website identify you as United Methodist?” He said that where he lives, “Methodist” churches have untied themselves from the progressive, inclusive, United Methodist Church.
I’m grateful and blessed to be a United Methodist Christian. Through the years, I’ve outgrown some of the certainty about God that I used to cling to. What I long for now is more connection… to God, to others, to the earth, and to myself as God’s beloved. I think connection is something that identifies us as United Methodists. And I think it’s time to reclaim the name.
In faith, Marylee