Just a little more loyalty, please

Can you imagine finding a Coke machine in the break room at Pepsi headquarters? Or a K-mart flyer in the shopping carts at Wal-Mart? Or Kroger items for sale at Marsh? No? So is it expecting too much to think we might see mainly United Methodist stuff in our U. M. C.s?

In order for you to understand my unconditional loyalty to our denomination, you need to know that I was born in the upstairs bedroom of a Methodist parsonage while my father was a student in a Methodist seminary (the same Methodist theological school I attended after graduating from a Methodist college.) I'm so United Methodist, if Cokesbury sold John Wesley designer underwear, I'd wear it.

That's why I am distressed there is so little evidence of denominational ties in many of our congregations. It's not just the absence of the Cross and Flame on the sign out front; it's the fact we are promoting our competitors' products.

I went to a church for worship one Sunday and since I was early (the worship times under "Community Church" on the sign were obviously wrong) I had time to walk around the building. Thankfully, I guess I looked like a visitor, so no one noticed or greeted me. I walked by a missions bulletin board. It announced an upcoming Mission Weekend, with lots of speakers. One was from the World Vision Reach Out for Christ Mission Society. Another from the Taking Christ into the Whole World Gospel Fellowship. Music would be provided by the Good News Confessing Quartet from Asbury seminary (which is not -- contrary to popular opinion -- related to the United Methodist Church.) There were pictures and postcards from missionaries supported by the congregation -- not one of them United Methodist. Couldn't that church have found one of our thousand United Methodist missionaries worthy of support?

I went by the book table. Not a single book from Abingdon. Nothing by a United Methodist author. Not even the books our own bishop has written. Next to it was a literature rack. It was filled with pamphlets and booklets by Chuck Swindoll, Billy Graham, Robert Schuller, and James Kennedy. Last I heard they aren't serving United Methodist churches.

I noticed a bulletin board announcing upcoming events. Nothing from the conference or the district. Just a big poster about the congregation's "Making Christianity as Contagious as Anthrax" Workshop featuring videos from some big Independent Church pastor.

I walked through the Sunday school, looking into every room. Not a single piece of Cokesbury literature or curriculum. Plenty of David C. Cook and Gospel Light (or Lite, I don't remember) materials. The confirmation class is using curriculum from Young People on a Crusade for Christ.

I happened by the choir room. Since the choir was off somewhere drinking coffee, I looked over the music library. Music from Vineyard, Integrity, Gaither, etc. Not a single song by Charles Wesley.

I just hope they don't start signing up people to make a pilgrimage to Salt Lake City.

Last updated on 01/14/2004

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