Last week, my cell phone case really started to come apart.  I say really because the side had started to come off the back two months ago, and I tried not to order another right away and hoped that it would not get worse, but it did.  It got much worse; my phone started to fall out of the case.  At this point, the case was as much a problem as not having a case because I depended on it if I dropped the phone.  And the phone is the important piece in this combo.  The case is there to hold the phone and to protect it with a boundary.  When the boundary is damaged, the phone can break when trouble comes. 

So, a few days back I started looking for new phone cases and I found one that fit and had good boundaries, good protection, and can hold the phone firmly and comfortably.  My new case costs less than my current case did.  The funny thing is that it sat in the box for a day because I was procrastinating on the change.  It took me 36 hours to put the new case that would protect my phone on the phone.  I did not have a case on the phone for a few hours as I took it out and then waited to put the new one on.  During that time, I recognized that the phone needed a case because it was both precious and fragile.  My anxiety was eased as I slipped the phone into the new case.

Why would I write about my phone case? Well, it's not about the phone case.  I could have started with the church is like a person with a cell phone.  Apply this to our current situation at Christ Church.  In a week and a half, we will decide if the Global Methodist Church (GMC) will be our new home and if it will help to provide boundaries that protect the church and hold her so that outside forces have less of an opportunity to harm her.  A denomination can help in the rough places and provide accountability and assistance in the mission of the church to make Disciples and hold the scriptures as our primary guide.  Just as you are both support and are supported by your sisters and brothers in faith, a denomination provides partners on the journey of faith for the congregations. 

We have had some time to examine the options and to ask questions.  After the service on October 8th, we will have an opportunity to decide if the GMC will be our launch partner for a new day in the life of Christ Church.  I invite you to be present.  If you have questions, let me offer a few of resources.

The Global Methodist Church Website: https://globalmethodist.org

And its facts page in particular: https://globalmethodist.org/faqs/

Its page on Beliefs (this is critical)  https://globalmethodist.org/what-we-believe/  this page has subsection one Doctrine and also has all the details on governance.

Also on beliefs and possibly easier to digest is a Catechism for the GMC found at https://globalmethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Catechism-for-the-Global-Methodist-Church.2023052496.pdf  A Catechism contains the beliefs of the church in a Question and Answer format and can be the source of lessons for Sunday School or a small group. 

You may also ask questions of me by calling or emailing pastor@christchurchgastonia.org

Peace, 

Burt