Not Distinctly Methodist?

I am amazed by the number of new churches arriving in our community and planning to start in just a few weeks in north Paulding. Each one reflects the Kingdom of God and strains of the Christian faith. As a Christian, I have a connection to them that runs deep.

And yet, Crossroads United Methodist Church is, at the heart, a United Methodist Church. To be United Methodist, to be any denomination (or non-denomination for that matter) means something. For me, it has meant a very spiritual and reasoned decision to become an ordained United Methodist pastor.

But what does it mean to be United Methodist? Hat tip to Andy Bryan's post at Enter the Rainbow entitled Distinctly Methodist? It is an excellent essay on what is distinctive.

What also intrigued me is what is missing that some may think ought to be there. Here are some of my distinctly not United Methodist things...

Not just traditional worship.
Not always is there a Ladies Parlor.
Not always do pastors wear black formals.
Not every week is there a pot luck.
Pastors don't move every three years.
You don't always have to have an organ.
You can sing songs not in the UMC hymnal.
You can sing songs in church that aren't hymns.

Others?