What Is the Primary Characteristic of the Methodist Movement Today?

Here's an excerpt:

HISTORY of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH in the United States of America

By Abel Stevens

VOLUME 4, BOOK 6

CHAPTER XIII

AUXILIARY PLANS AND INSTITUTIONS: LITERARY, EDUCATIONAL, MISSIONARY, ETC.

"Coke, the first bishop of American Methodism, was to the end of his life the representative character of Methodist Missions. In his old age he offered himself, as we shall hereafter see, to the British Conference as a missionary to the East Indies. He died on the voyage, and was buried in the Indian Ocean. His death struck not only a knell through the Church, but a summons for it to rise universally and march around the world. He had long entertained the idea of universal evangelization as the exponent characteristic of the Methodist movement. The influence of the movement on English Protestantism had tended to such a result, for in both England and America nearly all denominations had felt the power of the great revival not only during the days of Whitefield and Wesley, but ever since. Anglo-Saxon Christianity, in both hemispheres, had been quickened into new life, and had experienced a change amounting to a moral revolution. The magnificent apostolic idea of evangelization in all the earth, and till all the earth should be Christianized, had not only been restored, as a practical conviction, but had become pervasive and dominant in the consciousness of the Churches, and was manifestly thenceforward to shape the religious history of the Protestant world."

"Though American Methodism was many years without a distinct missionary organization, it was owing to the fact that its whole Church organization was essentially a missionary scheme."

Being in Mission

This is what a church in mission looks like:

-Faith in action as expression of our love of God, following of Christ, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit is the movement. This is inward holiness seeking outward expression in some practical manner that transforms lives-- both for the one we serve and our own lives.

-We go outside the church walls, yet are seeking to be the church. This blurs the lines between secular and sacred. The location becomes an outpost for service, for prayer, for worship, for fellowship, for discipleship, and for encouragement. It's a place where old songs and stories are told, and where new stories are created.

-A few people make up a team geared to action and solutions. You won't find a thousand people here. You likely won't find 100. Instead, you'll most likely find a small group similar to the disciples Jesus led. 12 people can still be transformed and transform the world.

More thoughts later on mission. Now I've got to get ready to get into the game!

UMC Clergy Interviews

I'm waking up in Norcross this morning. It's because I serve on the North Georgia UMC Board of Ordained Ministry and we begin the 2 days of interviews of clergy candidates today. If you don't know how the UMC does this you might benefit from Rev. Jenkins' thoughts.

Monday Morning in Georgia
March 14, 2011

"Spring brings new changes"
By Dr. Jamie Jenkins, Executive Assistant to the Bishop

Signs of spring are everywhere.

The red (they are really pink) bud trees are ablaze. Daffodils have popped up. Bradford pear trees, the landscapers’ favorite, look like giant popcorn balls. Poena, a very bright green and irritating weed, is all over my lawn.

Spring is a great time for sports fans. Major league baseball spring training is in full swing. Florida and Arizona host this annual warm-up for the regular season every March. I can hardly wait to hear “Play Ball” on opening day of the regular season. It would be great to see the Braves new manager, Freddi Gonzales, lead the team to the World Series. (Hope springs eternal.). If baseball is not your thing, March Madness is underway as the NCAA basketball tournaments are everywhere.

Another sure sign of spring is the Lenten season which began last Wednesday. The next forty days, excluding Sundays, is a period of self-examination as Christians engage in spiritual disciplines, especially prayer and fasting, as they prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday.

There is an event that occurs every year about this time that impacts United Methodists but most people know little or nothing about it. The Board of Ordained Ministry examines candidates for ordained ministry. For persons who feel called into full time ministry as ordained clergy, this is similar to the bar exam for lawyers, the CPA exam for accountants, or the medical board for doctors.

38 men and women are being interviewed this week by the North Georgia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. The process for ordination in the United Methodist Church is long and arduous. The first step in this process is a recommendation by the candidate's local church staff (pastor)-parish relations committee and charge conference. Afterwards they have to complete a period of discernment, guided by an assigned mentor, to clarify their call. A district committee on ordained ministry must then confirm their direction.

If the district committee affirms their calling, the candidate must satisfy certain educational requirements that include an undergraduate degree from an accredited college and complete at least half (1/1/2 year) of their graduate studies in an approved theological seminary. Upon completion of these educational requirements, the candidate is eligible to submit extensive paperwork and letters of reference as well as undergo a psychological evaluation, present a current credit report and physical examination, and be interviewed by the 62-member Board of Ordained Ministry.

These persons must prove to be proficient in writing and articulating their call to ministry and show evidence that they are properly disciplined in their lifestyle. They must exhibit a clear understanding and support of the theology and doctrine of the United Methodist Church. Additionally, there must be evidence of gifts that will qualify them as "fit and ready" for ministry.

Upon passing muster with the board of ordained ministry a candidate is then available to be appointed by the bishop to serve in various ministry settings. Once these individuals (now called provisional members) begin their service, they are nurtured and guided through a well designed residency period and for a minimum of three years beyond the completion of seminary.

At the completion of residency persons must then submit to another level of examination to evaluate their effectiveness in ministry. With a positive recommendation of the board of ordained ministry, they may become ordained clergy. Persons who will be considered for ordination and full membership in the annual conference will be evaluated in April.

As you enjoy all the beauty of spring and the new life that it brings, pray for those who are engaged in this process of becoming United Methodist clergy. Their leadership into the future is critical for the advancement of the Gospel and the witness of the Church.

Jamie Jenkins
jjenkins@ngumc.org

From North Georgia UMC Regarding Japan

Note from Jamie Jenkins, Executive Assistant to the Bishop:

I am sure all of us are praying for the people of Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. Two clergy members of the North Georgia Conference, brothers Ken and Shin Nishimura, are both serving in Tokyo. Jennifer Bowden is a Navy Chaplain in that region and I know of three North Georgia United Methodist families that have family members in Japan. What NGA United Methodist connections do you know of in Japan?

Spring Children's Consignment Sale March 11 & 12

It's that time again! This is the week we stage our church consignment sale. It's a huge affair, takes up a 20,000 square foot building, involves 250 consignors, plus hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers. This isn't the old church yard sale where everyone shows up on a Saturday morning and uses a magic marker and masking tape. We use barcodes to track everything and are computerized for checkout. While most of our consignors and shoppers are from Augusta and the immediate area we also have many who drive an hour or more to be with us. 40% of the proceeds benefit our mission partners, plus it's a great community outreach as we meet so many neighbors and offer an "open door" that helps us build relationships with a great variety of people.

I'll post some pictures later in the week.

If you've ever wondered about staging this type sale or want more information see the church link for the sale

If you want to shop with us, are on Facebook, and want a map see Spring Children's Consignment Sale

"When the Saints Go Marching In"

Here's a great song sung with many voices on a day of worship:

We are traveling in the footsteps
Of those who've gone before
But we'll all be reunited (but if we stand reunited)
On a new and sunlit shore (then a new world is in store)

Oh when the saints go marching in
When the saints go marching in
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

And when the sun refuse (begins) to shine
And when the sun refuse (begins) to shine
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When the moon turns red with blood
When the moon turns red with blood
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

On that hallelujah day
On that hallelujah day
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

Oh when the trumpet sounds the call
Oh when the trumpet sounds the call
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

Some say this world of trouble
Is the only one we need
But I'm waiting for that morning
When the new world is revealed

When the revelation (revolution) comes
When the revelation (revolution) comes
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When the rich go out and work
When the rich go out and work
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When the air is pure and clean
When the air is pure and clean
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When we all have food to eat
When we all have food to eat
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When our leaders learn to cry
When our leaders learn to cry
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

John Piper vs. Rob Bell

Have you heard the news?

No, I'm not talking about Charlie Sheen.

During the last week there have been a variety of intriguing news items. An old, now new, theological war has erupted with Rob Bell's soon to be released book "Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived." See the video which starts with a story about whether Ghandi is in heaven or hell at Love Wins promo I find the video true to Bell standards- catchy, edgy, hip, and offering an intriguing sound bite.

But, for some, the video opens up quick, easy answers based on their doctrinal view about God, heaven, and hell. Let the battle of doctrines on the blogosphere and Tweetworld begin as old evangelicals take on the new evangelical upstart! And, again, all of this before they've read the book. :)

Enter, John Piper (a Calvinist), who tweets: "Farewell, Rob Bell." That's all he writes.

Here's a recap of the larger issue if you missed it this week:
main stream news and
news with more theological background

Some of this is sad to me. I hate when Christians turn on each other, and clergy leaders at that, and make it appear we'll certainly turn on each other quibbling over ideas. Of course, thoughts, ideas, and words are important, as that leads us toward certain ways of life and action. After all, the reason that there are different religions and even subgroups within a religion is based on what you think is most important in thought and action.

At the least Bell will sell more books. Maybe there will be discussion about some theological concepts. How does an evangelical (wait, does Piper or Bell best espouse that thought?!) differ from a Baptist, or a Methodist, or a Catholic, or a Mormon, or a Hindu or Sikh? I'm curious what the average person (that is, not a pastor or academic or bookseller) thinks or questions about heaven, hell, and the nature of God.

Piper vs. Bell- I wonder who will win?