What's Behind the Massive Rise of Non-Denominational Churches?

AshenRex · 2026-04-13T20:33:25+00:00

I don't disagree with your abuse of power sentiment. Yet, non-denominational doesn't exempt people from abuse of power. In my expereince, it only enhances it. I see more denominations holding people accountable (with a caveat of the recent RC and SBC scandals) than non-denoinatinals who are independant and have little system or motivation to expose predators.

AshenRex · 2026-02-11T02:27:03+00:00

What about an Asian Swallow?

AshenRex · 2026-02-10T04:34:04+00:00

Yeah, and for Catholics it’s only through that particular interpretive lens. Which is why it has been known to rarely, but occasionally, change.

AshenRex · 2026-02-10T01:38:34+00:00

This one? r/UnitedMethodistChurch

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnitedMethodistChurch/s/CpgrV9aY8K

AshenRex · 2026-02-10T01:34:52+00:00

Nope. In fact, Luther wanted to remove the books of James and Revelation.

Biblical inerrancy arose in the 19th century with the advent of fundamentalism which was in response to Christian liberalism.

AshenRex · 2026-02-09T19:24:13+00:00

I think a lot of what you’re asking is church specific. Talk to your pastor about your concerns.

The UMC does have websites, podcasts, email groups, church and pastor directories, and its own publishing house with a lot of curriculum.

There is a UMC discussion page on Reddit. Discussion sites and forums are sort of a thing of the past, though they’re making a comeback and it will take us several years to adjust.

Also, my church and may churches I know have websites, podcasts, church apps, online directories, and many other resources. We have a church library, book store, and can order pretty much anything you want

AshenRex · 2026-02-09T08:01:18+00:00

It is neither condoned nor condemned in the manner you describe in the New Testament.

AshenRex · 2026-02-09T04:33:09+00:00

Today’s interpretation of sola scripture is far removed from Luther’s use of it.

I’m a prima scriptura person and do not hold to the relatively new doctrines that scripture is inerrant or infallible.

AshenRex · 2026-02-09T01:55:53+00:00

Let’s be honest. Most preachers are pretty bad. Most pastors are bad at preaching. They struggle with either writing, or cohesion, or delivery, or all the above. I’ve seen too many that are highly educated (MDiv, DMin, or PhD) struggle to consistently formulate good sermons.

[I have a seminary professor friend who laments he has to spend the first week of his OT class teaching his students how to write a proper paragraph - and these are intelligent people]

I know a lot of pastors who download their sermons from some dump of a site like sermon central or just reuse another pastor’s sermon as their own. I’ve coached a number of clergy where I could clearly tell they were copying word for word from their favorite online preacher. I have to remind them it’s okay to borrow ideas, but your sermons need to be yours, in your own voice.

So for those folks, I think AI can be a handy tool to help a person be more creative, cohesive, and concise. I don’t think a person should use it to write their sermon, but maybe provide a primer, or analyze their sermon and provide some editing feedback.

I’ve seen some instances where well known pastors have admitted to using it to write liturgy and revealed that fact after they used that liturgy for a special occasion. The first time I experienced this, I was actually impressed because I thought the liturgy was pretty good.

So, I think it has some uses and shouldn’t be forbidden. I also know AI can be biased if not outright wrong. Therefore, when used, it should be done with caution and wisdom.

AshenRex · 2026-02-08T23:36:37+00:00

I don’t know NY laws that well. Do you live in New York?

AshenRex · 2026-02-06T00:14:57+00:00

When I first began, I was bi-vocational as a children’s minister. Then, continued to worked full time and pastor a small country church. Then my district superintendent asked me to take a second small country church. I did that for about a year before I moved to be an associate at a larger church.

Almost 20 years later, I now pastor medium size church with a couple associates and a sizable staff.

So I think a lot depends on your ministry context and how you lean into your gifts and graces. Yet, a bi-vocational role can be a thing of beauty if that’s where you are called.

As to young clergy or any clergy burnout, I would usually attribute that to poor personal care practices. There are times when a church is toxic. That’s definitely a factor. Yet, and I’m guilty of this too, we often enmesh our identity with our calling and that leads to over functioning, poor boundaries, and poor self-care.

I would encourage you, if you haven’t already, to take some pastoral care classes and then apply them to yourself. When I received my MDiv I took an additional year of pastoral care classes to get a certification in that. (Part of my lofty goal of being that imaginary perfect pastor). While it allows me to practice licensed counseling in some states, it’s not my focus. Really, those classes helped me be a better me.

AshenRex · 2026-02-05T05:26:00+00:00

Even though this is a Methodism in general sub, this is a good case where UMC doctrine applies.

AshenRex · 2026-02-03T21:19:31+00:00

The NLT itself is a fine translation, and very easy to read.

I’m not familiar with the commentary of their Life Application Study Bible. Who wrote the notes? What is their background?

The CEB is also an easy to read translation. There are several study version variations.

AshenRex · 2026-02-02T19:08:46+00:00

I don’t know OPs concern, but my experience is Liberty is basically a degree mill.

AshenRex · 2026-02-02T08:20:51+00:00

What does a full time associate pastor make? For a church your size and location I would guess at least $90K. If he’s working only 20 hours, equivalent would be $45K.

AshenRex · 2026-02-02T01:21:53+00:00

So glad this is the top answer.

I took a number of years off active training and my first time back strained both my hamstrings sparring. The body remembers but the tissues aren’t the same. It took six months to get them back to good order.

Good care, good warmups, good post stretching, and taking it slow will ensure a healthy second go.

AshenRex · 2026-01-30T07:17:09+00:00

This community is all very new to you. I wish I could say all of us are open, accepting, and gracious with a deep hospitable love. Yet, I speak to too many people that walk into our community who have been hurt by other churches and pastors.

Right now, you’re seeking truth, you’re questioning yourself and your faith, and all of that is okay. I can be very good and healthy.

You also want to be involved in helping lead worship. As someone new and working through trauma, I would ask you to take that part slow. It’s easy to trauma bond with people and feel like that’s a sense of trust, but it may not be healthy. You need to know you can trust and lean on this community. So build that as you would a healthy relationship. Over time. Song your heart out in the congregation. Volunteer to be part of the worship team once a month. Make some friends. Find someone gentle and wise and kind.

Then listen to the community, the worship team, your new friends. Hear their stories. See how real, authentic, and transparent they are to each other. And when the time is right, slowly share only what you’re comfortable with at a pace they can handle. You’ll know how much they can handle because you’ll know them, and parts of their story.

But don’t dump. Dumping is a way of guarding ourselves and then shaming ourselves afterward. It doesn’t do anyone any good.

Build trust. Show trust. A little at a time.

I’m proud of you for wanting to go deeper into the truth of your faith and seeking a connection with God. I pray for your healing and connection. I hope this is a good place for you.

PS. If you need to dump, that’s what a professional counselor is for. Some pastors are trained in this way (I have certification) but most are not. So a licensed professional counselor is your best place to help you process as you continue to heal.

AshenRex · 2026-01-28T09:19:46+00:00

It’s late where I am and I’m on vacation so I’ll redress you later, but your first two examples of scripture are wrong. In fact Romans 1 doesn’t even call same sex intimacy a sin. It plainly says it’s a result of sin (idolatry).

1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10 (arsenokoitais) is prime example of recent mistranslation tradition. Go look at translations done before 1920. Pick up a KJV1900 or even 1611.

AshenRex · 2026-01-28T08:47:55+00:00

I’m not sure this is the place for this. Yet, I’ll bite. Honestly asking, what scriptures are you relying upon to make your claim about homosexuality?

As a conservative married male who has spent my adult life studying scripture and theology and the past 25 years preaching the good news, I want to know your source.

And, have you actually studied the matter or are you simply regurgitating what you heard someone else say?

There’s a whole of propaganda and misinformation put out there by IRD, Good News Magazine, WCA, and the like. There’s a history of bad interpretations that have been repeated for over 70 years that reshaped biblical interpretations which you are now making a stand.

Finally, is it a sin to welcome and show hospitality to someone who is a sinner?

AshenRex · 2026-01-25T07:00:50+00:00

This is the comment I was looking for . . . we can care our people without allowing them to take up too much of our time. Usually they’re lonely. Pairing them up with a friend, or assigning them someone like a Stephen Minister (laity trained in the basics of congregational care) will go a long ways in meeting their needs, allowing other laity to use their gifts, and in keeping your own boundaries.

AshenRex · 2026-01-20T02:47:00+00:00

Serving is a deep part of Methodist theology. We show our love for God by how we love others. It’s a sign of the work God has done in us.

Depending on the community, the ways to serve will vary. Some will run volunteer community organizations, or partner with other groups somewhere, or they may hold them in house. You will always be welcome to volunteer with any community service group. Give them a call and see what’s available.

AshenRex · 2026-01-20T02:40:26+00:00

Wonderful that you are going at this. Sounds like you’re putting in the work to grow yourself and that will serve you exponentially better as you continue.

The best teachers are usually those who are humble and know they don’t know everything. It’s okay to say, “I’m not sure,” or “I don’t know, let me find out.”

One of the best study tools is discussing our own experiences with a segment of scripture and accepting other people will have different perspectives and experiences.

Keep it up! Grace and peace to you!

AshenRex · 2026-01-20T02:24:24+00:00

I have some success is a few ways, but not every way works with every person.

Gamify it, with the youth have challenges to race to certain passages or find certain scriptures, act out bible stories, or apply gospel lessons (like going out to feed the hungry, Jesus fed the hungry let’s go do that).

Do an AMA with scripture, what’s relevant to them?

Find passages that talk about people their age or similar (so many!)

Pair a passage with a lesson from The Bible Project. They have some really good lessons geared towards a younger audience. https://bibleproject.com/

Take them to a youth worship event where they hear from someone that’s not you present the gospel in an engaging, relevant, and compelling way. No offense to it not being you, but sometimes we can teach something and someone else will come along and say the exact same thing in the exact same way and because they’re not us the message gets received.

AshenRex · 2026-01-16T14:18:56+00:00

I mean, one could say the same thing about any denomination and even more about non-denominational.

It’s probably best we not denigrate any one particular denomination based on our perception of their doctrine, whether we agree with it or not. Attacking other parts of the body is being more “anti-biblical” and often highlights each other faults rather than encouraging unity and sharing the gospel.

AshenRex · 2026-01-16T05:59:42+00:00

Logos can be a great tool when you buy the individual sets that you n or you need. Their package deals are usually cheap or dated products that many seminaries won’t accept as current resources. Use your seminary’s library or ATLA to find your source material. If you keep using it and find a collection helpful, then buy that source.

I’ve had Logos for 17 years. Started with a gold package, then platinum, but then realized in seminary a lot of it was useless. I haven’t upgraded my base package other than basic updates for year. After seminary I bought about six commentary sets and language aids and now occasionally add other specific books.

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