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The Methodist Way—An Introduction

Many of our adult programs come to a halt or slow down significantly through the summer.  In this lull, it might be a good time to introduce the concepts of the “Methodist Way” to our readership.  Classes on the components of the Methodist Way were taught and discussed at both Florida Conferences --last year’s and this year’s meetings.

According to Dr. Jeff Stiggans, from the Office of Congregational Transformation:

“While the practices referred to as “The Methodist Way” are as ancient as Scripture and characteristic of the Methodist movement across England and America in the 18th century, the current language came from Bishop Bruce Ough searching Scripture for images to define congregational health for the Ohio West Conference.  He identified four qualities: “Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Faith-forming Relationships, and Risk-Taking Service.” Bishop Robert Schnase of Missouri Annual Conference picked up these phrases, with slight changes, and added “Extravagant Generosity.”

"In the Florida Annual Conference, a number of leaders have chosen to adopt Bishop Schnase’s descriptions of the disciple-making activities essential for every congregation.  Again with slight changes, we will be advocating these five fundamentals of the Methodist Way:

• Cultivating a congregation of passionate worshipers
  

• Extending radical hospitality to our community and the next generation
  

• Forming persons in Christ through deep and intentional discipling
  

• Sending out into the community disciples as salty servants
  

• Pouring ourselves out in extravagant generosity
  

These five activities, collectively known as “The Methodist Way,” describe the“core process every congregation must follow in order to fulfill the Great Commission given them by Christ (see Matthew 28:19-20).”

This week, we conclude the Conference series with the last of  these Methodist Way principles.  This material is provided in a lengthy article, by Dr. Stiggans, from the Florida Annual Conference website.

My hope is that you will stay involved,  read and absorb each section, and work inside RUMC to help us become a more vibrant and inviting congregation.

The Methodist Way, Part 5.  Pouring ourselves out for Christ in extravagant generosity.

A retired minister once remarked, “The last part of a person’s life that Christ seems to gain Lordship over is their checkbook.”  Bishop Schnase evidently agreed when he decided to add this fifth practice to “The Methodist way.”

In the last forty years, financial support in mainline denominations, including United Methodism, has dropped from 3.1% of income to 2.6% while America has become even more affluent.  George Barna states: “Believers frequently donate money to their church – but they don’t donate very much.”  He goes on to add that about 8% of attendees actually tithe and twice that number (16%) actually give nothing.

John Wesley had a threefold dictum regarding good stewardship:

• Make all you can by working hard at an honest and honorable trade;
  

• Save all you can, never squandering money; and
  

• Give all you can by supporting your immediate family, the household of faith and then to all who are in need.
  

In the sermon “The Use of Money” -- more frequently preached than all other sermons except “Justification by Faith” – Wesley said that if you make all you can and save all you can but do not give all you can, you may be a living person, but you will be a dead Christian.

Wesley insisted that for the wealthy, holiness, spiritual vitality, love of God and even faith are directly linked to generosity to the poor.  It was for him not just a matter of the poor going hungry; also at stake was the harmful effect of not fulfilling acts of mercy on the souls of the rich.  The lack of generosity, he believed, would result is a spiritual downward spiral (spiritual de-formation) involving pride, greed and materialism which could seriously undermine our love of neighbor and of God.

Jesus sets for us the example of a steward who knows that all we have comes from God, who trusts God to sustain His needs and who therefore is freed up to pour himself out in generosity to others – even to the point of the cross.  How can we help one another be freed from grasping at things to sustain our lives?  How can we help one another be freed up to pour ourselves out in acts of extravagant generosity?

“The Methodist Way” with its five core practices is one practical way to describe what “making disciples” really looks like in action.  It provides us with a much needed common language by which we can encourage and hold one another accountable for fulfilling our Kingdom potential, in hopes that one day Christ can greet each of us saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”