Mainline or Methodist?

A few years ago Dr. Scott Kisker of Wesley Theological Seminary wrote a book called Mainline or Methodist? Recovering our Evangelistic Mission.

The book made a strong case that the United Methodist Church's identification as a "mainline" church is not only unhelpful but downright un-Methodist. By that he means that the connotations of being a mainline church within American society have really nothing to do with the Wesleyan teaching on salvation and the original Methodist understanding of mission and evangelism.

I've used Dr. Kisker's book as the background for my current column in the United Methodist Reporter. As we approach our annual conference sessions around the connection, I think his argument is an important one to bear in mind. The UMC has a strong tradition behind it and a great deal of potential ahead of it. God ain't done with us yet. But for the church to respond faithfully to the calling Jesus Christ has given to the People called Methodists, we need to take seriously the reason Christ had for raising us up in the first place.

Go to this link to see my current column. And better yet, pick up a copy of Dr. Kisker's book.