What do you think?
Rate this book
Together: United Methodists of the Temple, Tabernacle, and Table
Stan Copeland and Scott Gilliland tell what a church has taught them through uplifting a vision to be "one diverse community, passionately engaging the Bible, uplifting Jesus in worship and loving service, and challenging in Love that which divides." Together supports the denomination moving forward by allowing local congregations, and area Conferences, to do authentic, Christ-centered ministry in their local mission fields. Together recognizes the long-standing theological and sociopolitical diversity within United Methodism as Traditionalist (Templers) and Progressives (Tabernaclers), but we all gather around a long, broad Table that the Lord sets, and to which He invites ALL of us to feast.
190 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2018
5 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 22, 2019
Together is a book specifically written to address controversial issues facing the United Methodist denomination--specifically in terms of the 'way forward' or future vision. Should the denomination stay united or be divided over issues of human sexuality? Should the denomination--as a whole--decide matters decisively or should local churches within the denomination be allowed to follow their consciences--to be as conservative, as moderate, or as liberal as they please? Can we all agree to disagree?
Two authors--both pastors at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church--argue that it is important to be united--to stay united.
They argue that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are both fixed and free. In fact fixed and free is one of the mantras that is repeated--not only in this book but in the One Church Movement that they are advocating. But what does that mean exactly? Well, they use the example of how the Israelites had a FREE moving way to worship in the wilderness and a FIXED way to worship in the nation of Israel. Somehow the fact that one was made of cloth and one of stones is supposed to be a super-symbolic metaphor for how we are supposed to worship in the twenty-first century. I believe these three chapters showcase some mighty fine doublespeak.
God is God is God is God is God is God. God does not change, there is no fluctuation. He doesn't become more of this and less of that or more of that and less of this. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Israelites wandering in the desert weren't "free" to worship God as they saw fit. They weren't "free" to worship him on their own terms. They weren't "free" to reinterpret God's words to mean what they wanted them to mean. The rules and ceremonies regarding worship weren't more "fixed" and "absolute" and "determined" then they were in the desert. They weren't. The tabernacle was never a casual, free-and-easy, go-with-the-flow way to do church. Both temple and tabernacle were holy and sacred, set apart. For at all times God was to be FEARED as the one, true God.
Sadly I am not even sure this is where the authors were going with all this "free" and "fixed" talk. Perhaps they are under the delusion that God is changeable and that he is changing all the time. Every single generation has the opportunity--the responsibility--to see where God is at now and what he's saying now. Where God was at ten generations ago--three generations ago--it doesn't matter. All that matters is what is God is saying now to you and me.
But the book goes beyond the "fixed" and "free" metaphor. That's only a tiny bit of what the book is about. The book is also about how we are to trust one another always. I am trust that you are listening to the Holy Spirit in your life and you are to trust that I am listening to the Holy Spirit in my life. The same Spirit that is leading me to believe one way is also leading you to believe another way. But because we both love the same Jesus Christ it will all be okay. You are not to judge me and I am not to judge you. It doesn't really matter if we agree on this issue or that issue or even any issue so long as we agree that Jesus is great. The name of Jesus unites us all together and if there's one thing Jesus hates it's squabbling and fussing. Unity above all else. Love is all that matters.
Essentially the book seems to be arguing that there is no one right way to interpret any passage of Scripture. The Holy Spirit speaks to each one of us as individuals.
I can only imagine how much easier Paul's life would have been if he'd subscribed to this philosophy of doing church.
Hey brothers! How's it going?! I've been hearing some mighty strange stuff about you guys. But you know what? It's all good. All good, I tell you. No stress, no worries. Just sit back, relax, and keep rolling with the Spirit. Aren't you glad that I'm no longer that judgmental guy who went around trying to force people to agree with me all the time?! But I've learned that I'm cool, you're cool, we're all cool.
Paul could have avoided sending letters altogether and just sent postcards.
I won't address the issue of human sexuality here for the review. It's unnecessary. Their approach to interpreting any passage of Scripture--any practice or doctrine--is troubling enough without focusing in on one issue alone.
Two authors--both pastors at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church--argue that it is important to be united--to stay united.
They argue that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are both fixed and free. In fact fixed and free is one of the mantras that is repeated--not only in this book but in the One Church Movement that they are advocating. But what does that mean exactly? Well, they use the example of how the Israelites had a FREE moving way to worship in the wilderness and a FIXED way to worship in the nation of Israel. Somehow the fact that one was made of cloth and one of stones is supposed to be a super-symbolic metaphor for how we are supposed to worship in the twenty-first century. I believe these three chapters showcase some mighty fine doublespeak.
God is God is God is God is God is God. God does not change, there is no fluctuation. He doesn't become more of this and less of that or more of that and less of this. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Israelites wandering in the desert weren't "free" to worship God as they saw fit. They weren't "free" to worship him on their own terms. They weren't "free" to reinterpret God's words to mean what they wanted them to mean. The rules and ceremonies regarding worship weren't more "fixed" and "absolute" and "determined" then they were in the desert. They weren't. The tabernacle was never a casual, free-and-easy, go-with-the-flow way to do church. Both temple and tabernacle were holy and sacred, set apart. For at all times God was to be FEARED as the one, true God.
Sadly I am not even sure this is where the authors were going with all this "free" and "fixed" talk. Perhaps they are under the delusion that God is changeable and that he is changing all the time. Every single generation has the opportunity--the responsibility--to see where God is at now and what he's saying now. Where God was at ten generations ago--three generations ago--it doesn't matter. All that matters is what is God is saying now to you and me.
But the book goes beyond the "fixed" and "free" metaphor. That's only a tiny bit of what the book is about. The book is also about how we are to trust one another always. I am trust that you are listening to the Holy Spirit in your life and you are to trust that I am listening to the Holy Spirit in my life. The same Spirit that is leading me to believe one way is also leading you to believe another way. But because we both love the same Jesus Christ it will all be okay. You are not to judge me and I am not to judge you. It doesn't really matter if we agree on this issue or that issue or even any issue so long as we agree that Jesus is great. The name of Jesus unites us all together and if there's one thing Jesus hates it's squabbling and fussing. Unity above all else. Love is all that matters.
Essentially the book seems to be arguing that there is no one right way to interpret any passage of Scripture. The Holy Spirit speaks to each one of us as individuals.
I can only imagine how much easier Paul's life would have been if he'd subscribed to this philosophy of doing church.
Hey brothers! How's it going?! I've been hearing some mighty strange stuff about you guys. But you know what? It's all good. All good, I tell you. No stress, no worries. Just sit back, relax, and keep rolling with the Spirit. Aren't you glad that I'm no longer that judgmental guy who went around trying to force people to agree with me all the time?! But I've learned that I'm cool, you're cool, we're all cool.
Paul could have avoided sending letters altogether and just sent postcards.
I won't address the issue of human sexuality here for the review. It's unnecessary. Their approach to interpreting any passage of Scripture--any practice or doctrine--is troubling enough without focusing in on one issue alone.
January 5, 2019
This was a good book for those looking toward the called session of General Conference. It is a successful statement of how the UMC remain together.
December 17, 2018
Centrists can be frustrating for others to deal with. But Together reminds us that they are more than just desperate peace-keepers trying to stay united at all costs, like traumatized children working to keep their fighting parents together. Centrists have a sincere conviction that the mission of making disciples is possible even for people who are divided about sexuality. They don’t believe those who hold more traditional views are bigots and they believe congregations of every stripe can be open and welcoming to LGBTQ persons as beloved children of God. They also believe, as the Rev. Copeland says, that the UMC could answer a cry in the larger culture:
“The hunger for unity has today gone from a growl to a roar in our country. Whether the church still has a voice that will be heard is unfortunately in question.” (xviii)
Read my full review on Heartlands...https://alexjoyner.com/2018/12/16/wha....
“The hunger for unity has today gone from a growl to a roar in our country. Whether the church still has a voice that will be heard is unfortunately in question.” (xviii)
Read my full review on Heartlands...https://alexjoyner.com/2018/12/16/wha....
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews