Anonymous wrote:^ my church is Methodist and traditional in service style although very progressive in temperment. Oldish building.
Liked that combo although I grew up Presbyterian.

SS united Methodist.

Same here at Mt Olivet Methodist in Arlington. We have a contemporary service available but the primary style is traditional (which I like as a Catholic refugee)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

The United Methodists are a big tent church, which means there is a diversity of opinion. There are many congregations in this area which are known as "Reconciling Congregations", which welcome gay people. They do not agree with the larger church policy but are working within the church organization to change it. I attend a reconciling congregation. I would not go unless it was reconciling or heading that way.

I have found the Episcopal service was similar to Catholic. I have been to some Presbyterian Churches which I have liked, but also some which did not seem very welcoming.

If you look up "reconciling congregation" you can find UMC that are reconciling, but I know they do not have all of them, since some I know are not listed on that page, but clearly say they are reconciling.

My Methodist church explicitly states that they welcome all persons, of all sexual orientation, gender identity, etc. It's in the mission statement on the program every Sunday so they are very up front about it.

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

The United Methodists are a big tent church, which means there is a diversity of opinion. There are many congregations in this area which are known as "Reconciling Congregations", which welcome gay people. They do not agree with the larger church policy but are working within the church organization to change it. I attend a reconciling congregation. I would not go unless it was reconciling or heading that way.

I have found the Episcopal service was similar to Catholic. I have been to some Presbyterian Churches which I have liked, but also some which did not seem very welcoming.

If you look up "reconciling congregation" you can find UMC that are reconciling, but I know they do not have all of them, since some I know are not listed on that page, but clearly say they are reconciling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

some do, some don't. Be sure to ask before attending. People will be happy to tell you their policy on gays.

No, the official church position on this is pretty clear. I mean, they defrocked a Methodist minister for performing a gay marriage. They're pretty much the worst of the worst on gays. Extremely intolerant.

This is the way j feel about the scouts. Local chapters are like - totally fine! But it doesn't matter if my kid has to commit to the existence of a God and your official policy says gays can't be in charge. I'm signing my kid up to be a hypocrite.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

Right. Because not ordaining a homosexual means you hate them. People like you are what makes me want to leave the Episcopal Church and go back to being Methodist.

Right, because your God, who last showed himself to illiterate peasants 1,000's of years ago, really hates the idea of gays being ordained. It says so, right? in that book he wrote 1,000's of years ago.

Sorry some Methodist was rude to you once.

Nice way to deflect that what pp said is factual

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

Right. Because not ordaining a homosexual means you hate them. People like you are what makes me want to leave the Episcopal Church and go back to being Methodist.

Right, because your God, who last showed himself to illiterate peasants 1,000's of years ago, really hates the idea of gays being ordained. It says so, right? in that book he wrote 1,000's of years ago.

Sorry some Methodist was rude to you once.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

Right. Because not ordaining a homosexual means you hate them. People like you are what makes me want to leave the Episcopal Church and go back to being Methodist.

Right, because your God, who last showed himself to illiterate peasants 1,000's of years ago, really hates the idea of gays being ordained. It says so, right? in that book he wrote 1,000's of years ago.

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

Right. Because not ordaining a homosexual means you hate them. People like you are what makes me want to leave the Episcopal Church and go back to being Methodist.

Anonymous wrote:Presbyterians are Calvinists, which I think is a more important distinctions between the denominations you list than anything else.

I agree, this is an important distinction. OP can you narrow down your question?

Anonymous wrote:P.S. I haven't seen anything to back up the "Methodists are Baptists who can read" stereotype. Note that HRC is Methodist.

It really depends where you are. In some town, Methodists are Episcopalians without degrees, and in others they're Baptists
who can read. UMC churches are really on a spectrum.

P.S. I haven't seen anything to back up the "Methodists are Baptists who can read" stereotype. Note that HRC is Methodist.

Used to be Episcopalian, was married in the Episcopal Church, now attend a Methodist Church (initially because of proximity, now out of preference). The liturgy is very, very similar -- the Methodist traditional service (which is the main service at our church) is like a low church Episcopal service. The Methodist Church originated as a movement within the Anglican Church focusing on service to the poor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism). No "smells and bells," but we say the Nicene or Apostles creed in every service and have Communion once a month. I am not sure exactly what the theological distinctions are, but the Methodist Church where we belong seems to have a greater focus on God's love and emphasizes service to the "least, the lost, and the lonely" as a manifestation of God's grace on Earth. At least in my experience, the preaching has been very thoughtful and has deepened my faith.

The treatment of LGBTs is a concern: I am not thrilled that the Methodist Church opposes the ordination of gays and lesbians and gay marriage, but I do believe this will change. I have heard that the solution will be for congregations to decide for themselves rather than implement a one-size-fits-all solution. They are mindful of avoiding a schism like the Episcopal/Anglican one. There seems to be a diversity of liberal and conservative views in our congregation, but people are very respectful of others' views.

As for the Presbyterian Church, we tried attending when we moved to our current location, but it wasn't for us. The people were wonderful and lovely, but I just can't say "debts" in the Lord's Prayer, and I have issues with the Calvinist origin of the faith (my family has a strong thread of Calvinism running through it). In practice, though, they have moved away from Calvinism, and I doubt it makes much of a difference. Go where you like it and feel comfortable and are likely to go back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

some do, some don't. Be sure to ask before attending. People will be happy to tell you their policy on gays.

No, the official church position on this is pretty clear. I mean, they defrocked a Methodist minister for performing a gay marriage. They're pretty much the worst of the worst on gays. Extremely intolerant.

They reinstated him. http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/10/27/3584767/top-church-court-reinstates-pastor/

Yeah, they reacted to the bad publicity. But they still hate gays. Viciously.

Stop. They're one of the more tolerant denominations, and they're moving forward.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

some do, some don't. Be sure to ask before attending. People will be happy to tell you their policy on gays.

No, the official church position on this is pretty clear. I mean, they defrocked a Methodist minister for performing a gay marriage. They're pretty much the worst of the worst on gays. Extremely intolerant.

They reinstated him. http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/10/27/3584767/top-church-court-reinstates-pastor/

Yeah, they reacted to the bad publicity. But they still hate gays. Viciously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Methodists hate gays.

some do, some don't. Be sure to ask before attending. People will be happy to tell you their policy on gays.

No, the official church position on this is pretty clear. I mean, they defrocked a Methodist minister for performing a gay marriage. They're pretty much the worst of the worst on gays. Extremely intolerant.

They reinstated him. http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/10/27/3584767/top-church-court-reinstates-pastor/