Congratulations to our new #FreeMethodist bishops! Axios!

https://www.gc23.org/news/cowart-martin-kolde-to-lead-fmcusa-as-bishops

The #FreeMethodist church makes special provision for the salvation of the poor and the ignorant. Its houses of worship are open to all who choose to come and conduct themselves in an orderly manner. The rich and the poor may freely meet together; for all the seats in all our church edifices are required to be forever free.

The incredible women and men who were recently ordained into the #FreeMethodist Church in the Free Methodist Church in Southern California (#FMCSC) and Pacific Coast Japanese Conference (#PCJC) over the weekend in #LosAngeles!

The #FreeMethodist are a nation by themselves. God raised them up to be such. Wherever they are true to their calling, they prosper. When they try to be like everyone else, they get swallowed up.

A #FreeMethodist preacher who has not settled convictions that the truths to which we give special emphasis are important truths of the #Bible, has no business among us. They will do us more hurt than good.

God has called the #FreeMethodist #church to keep alive among people the remembrance of the days of simplicity, plainness, and spiritual power. We must be true to our calling.

Christ said, "The poor have the gospel preached unto them." If they do not hear the gospel where #FreeMethodist have churches, it is their own fault. They need not stay away because they do not wish to remit a seat or because they can not wear fine clothes. Let them come as they are. They will be cordially welcomed.

Many people do not go to #church because they are not able to dress in fashion. They can not appear as the congregation generally do, and so stay away. The #FreeMethodist church requires all its members to dress plain, so plain people need not be afraid to attend church with them.

Besides the #FreeMethodist Church, we know of no other church, except the #Friends, which, from principle, excludes all caste from its houses of worship. Most denominations have some free #churches from policy. Others have some free seats; but the residents of the place are seldom willing to advertise their poverty or their penuriousness by occupying these free seats with regularity.

The #FreeMethodist church is a friend of the poor. It teaches that the #grace of God, which brings salvation, is #free for all.

@ygalanter It used to be very common for churches to charge for seating in the United States. One of the reasons that early #FreeMethodist members were expelled from the (now-United) #Methodist church was their refusal to charge for seating, as well as refusal to tolerate slavery.

People sometimes leave the #FreeMethodist church because of little things which they do not like, and unite with a church whose position on vital questions they plainly see to be radically wrong. Some of our straightest preachers have gone to the broadest of sects.

Question for anyone who is a pastor in Kansas and/or the Free Methodist Church:

I've been a CMC/licensed pastor for 3 months. Am I legally allow to officiate a wedding in Kansas?

Background: I was asked this morning to officiate a wedding this afternoon for a bride who's mom and step-dad attend the church I'm Pastor at. I said no because I didn't know the legality (also, I don't know the couple themselves and haven't met with them ahead of time).

#FMT #FreeMethodist #FMCUSA #KansasPastor

So what are all of our new denominational hashtags? Are we still using the ones from the birdsite? I've seen #WCT, are we staying with that are does it get changed to #WCM? Are are we having the "T" from birdsite just mean "toots"? (Weird Christian Toots?)

#FreeMethodist #FMT, what are we using to find each other/communicate? As a newbie to FMCUSC, #FMT was so helpful when asking questions!

What are others using? I know there was #WMT...what does everyone else use?

By way of #introduction, I’m a recently retired #librarian, a mom of 2, and grandma of 5 living in central Kansas. I grew up in #mozambique and #southafrica where I learned to love the #tswa language, #blitzbok #rugby, and great curry. Hoping stay connected with my #freemethodist folks who might have migrated over to Mastodon. Also love church #liturgy, history, #hymns, my husband of 40 years, travel, gardening, our golden Labrador, social justice, and a ridiculous amount of coffee.