| Church DevelopmentNot
Exclusively But Enthusiastically!
By Dr. Roger K.
Swanson
Director of Operation Evangelization
 I
don’t remember who it was. It might have been a bishop, but one
Methodist’s testimony has been mine for almost as long as I can
remember. It is this: although I am not a Methodist exclusively, I am
a Methodist enthusiastically!
I have my reasons, and they have to do with my
lifelong commitment to Christian evangelism. Methodism, as a whole
(which includes the United Methodist Church), has a remarkable record
of evangelistic activity that is lying in our heritage, waiting to be
recovered and emulated.
That heritage includes the following:
n Methodist evangelism, avoiding personality
cults, offers Christ and Christ alone, but with a gentleness and
reverence that respects differences.
n Methodist evangelism is holistic. It addresses
the whole person (mind, emotion and will) and is committed to the
comprehensive care of people.
n Methodist evangelism refuses to be sectarian.
It operates in unison with all that name Jesus as Lord. In a word, it
has a catholic spirit.
n Methodist evangelism has refused to settle for
church growth as the essence of evangelism. It has sought to make full
disciples of Jesus Christ who are straining forward toward full
sanctification.
n Methodist evangelism is centered in the
sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist. It seeks, in other words, to
create and sustain Christian community.
n Methodist evangelism has developed a tradition
of sacred song and hymn that has become the jewel of Methodist worship
and the creative force in developing ever more contemporary music and
worship styles.
n Methodist evangelism is non-manipulative and
dialogical, respecting personal freedom and the complexity of our
individual journeys out of sin into the glorious liberty of the
children of God.
My prayer for this movement over which I have
been so enthusiastic over the years is that it will treasure this
heritage and make it operational in every congregation.
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