This post quotes from a book by a United Methodist Bishop. This is an encouraging sign for the United Methodists

The Phaith of St.Phransus: CHURCH GROWTH MOVEMENTS AND PRACTICAL ATHEISM

When the consumerist motivation becomes pervasive everything is reduced to a utilitarian market commodity. Worship is reduced to a marketing tool to attract the masses and is shaped by personal preferences and individual tastes. Evangelism is seen more as joining the church than a radical reorintation of life in response to prevenient, justifying, santifying, and perfecting grace. Ministry becomes a commodity to be dispensed by the professionals and received by the laity. Institutional participation is equated with discipleship and mission is treated as an optional object of occasional financial support. The church is viewed as another of the many institutions competing for the loyalty and support of people, who shop for the institution that best fulfils their self-identified needs.

So true. This , in my experience, contributes to a bland and discouraging sameness with culture. What then, is the need to join yet another social/civic outlet, albeit one with “religious appendages”?

Contemporary Methodists tend to trust planning processes, organizational strategies, institutional structures, and the insights gleaned from the social sciences more than the power of gospel proclaimed and lived.

written by Bishop Kenneth L. Carder (former bishop for TN Conference); excerpt from Rethinking Wesley’s Theology For Contemporary Methodism; edited by Randy Maddox

Thanks, Jonathan, for posting that. I’ll want to read that whole article.