Mainline or Methodist?: Rediscovering Our Evangelistic Mission

by Scott Kisker

Where do we go from here? The dynamic history and identity of the United Methodist Church is lost among the pluralistic landscape in America today. As a living organism, the church can expect to evolve alongside and within resident culture. The problem, according to lifelong member and author Kisker, is the United Methodist Church seems to have lost its missional foundation as it climbed to mainline American Protestant church status. Trying to be both mainline and Methodist is a deadly combination. In fact, it's a leading cause for the denomination's spiritual and numerical decline. ""Real Methodism declined because we replaced those peculiarities that made us Methodist with a bland, acceptable, almost civil religion, barely distinguishable from other traditions,"" writes Kisker. ""Like the Israelites under the judges, we wanted to be like other nations. We no longer wanted to be an odd, somewhat disreputable people. And we have begun to reap the consequences."" So...where do go from here? In his passionate yet critical review, Kisker says we must reclaim the rich roots of salvation, disciple-making and witness that made the tradition so strong. In Mainline or Methodist? he reveals what's not working and unveils a vision to renewal that embodies the distinctive Wesleyan tradition of the apostolic and universal Christian faith.

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Greg West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear and concise look at where we are as a church. It clears away some of the fog that we're caught up in.

[John Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Kisker is one of my professors at seminary so I figured I'd read his books, along with other of my favorite professors. I can safely say that I wouldn't read a book on the current or historical state of the Church normally because I don't think that how we understand 'church' is anywhere close to what our understanding should be. This book, however, precisely addresses my concerns. Methodism, after all, was not originally about a denomination or starting a new belief system or a new set of practices--rather it was meant to be a means of living more and more into the faith and lifestyle that people already claimed to profess.

I think that Dr. Kisker does fairly well in making the original intention of Methodism relevant to today's context for all of the Church but especially for those people who claim to be United Methodist. If United Methodists want to recover the latter-half of their denominational label, they'd do well to read this book.

I was slightly disappointed, however, in that only the last chapter had any clear outline of steps that United Methodists can take in revival and recovery of their roots. For me personally, as someone about to convert to Roman Catholicism but remain a Methodist, I had no problem, and I imagine others who are not denominationally Methodist will also not have a problem: one can be Methodist no matter what denomination they are. The structure of this book is great for people that are not of a Methodist denomination. But the book is specifically addressed to United Methodists, and with that in mind a reader may find the first few chapters a little lacking in terms of how to move forward. There are plenty of historical insights to be found in the first few chapters, but it's not until the final chapter that Kisker really makes his points well.

[Darcy Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a time when the United Methodist Church seems to be busier fighting within itself rather than taking the good news to one and all, I find this book a refreshing look at what is happening and what needs to be done. Highly recommended.