I’m a born and bred United Methodist. I still attend the same church I was baptized in and consider many people at my church to be as close as actual blood relatives. Although we’re going through a time of tough trials and tribulations, I still love the United Methodist church.I love our famous Wesley’s quadrilateral, which is the basis of our faith.

According to the official UMC website, “The...components or "sides" of the quadrilateral are (1) Scripture, (2) Tradition, (3) Reason, and (4) Experience. For United Methodists, Scripture is considered the primary source and standard for Christian doctrine. Tradition is experience and the witness of development and growth of the faith through the past centuries and in many nations and cultures. Experience is the individual's understanding and appropriating of the faith in the light of his or her own life. Through reason the individual Christian brings to bear on the Christian faith discerning and cogent thought. These four elements taken together bring the individual Christian to a mature and fulfilling understanding of the Christian faith and the required response of worship and service.”

Works Cited:

Communications, United Methodist. "Wesleyan Quadrilateral - The United Methodist

Church." The United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church, 2016.

Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

I’ve always loved being United Methodist, our traditions, our values… but there as a few things that are just fundamental to you if you’ve grown up in the United Methodist church.

1. Potluck is a monthly holiday that you take extremely seriously.

Every family has their signature dish that they bring once a month. Jello with fruit cocktail is a classic side, as well as deviled eggs and interesting varieties of mac and cheese. Don’t forget the heavenly rolls and homemade cake and pie! It’s like Thanksgiving once a month.

2. You and your family/friends have a traditional place you sit in the congregation.

And that place is where you’ll make your very grave. (Okay maybe that's a little over dramatic.)

3. Passing the peace makes you feel a part of a community.

Passing the peace is when you “greet those worshiping around you”. It’s also the time where you introduce yourself to the people visiting/new to your church and say “Hi” to your friends. Passing the peace reminds you that you are home.

4. You can recite the liturgy to the Great Thanksgiving by heart without fail.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him our thanks and praise.

Etc.,etc., etc… I could type the whole thing out. No problem.

I think this is pretty cool, except maybe in situations where someone quotes Star Wars, saying “May the force be with you.” and you respond after a beat, “And also with you.”

5. You find it bizarre that other denominations don't allow women to be pastors.

One of my favorite things about the United Methodist church is that we embrace the spiritual gifts of all people. After all, some of the most famous people of faith in the Bible were women: Mary, who gave birth to Jesus and had the faith to do God's will knowing she'd be ridiculed and threatened for being pregnant, as well as bring dishonor on her family. There's also the two women who discovered the angel at the empty tomb, and oh Ester. She only saved the Jewish people with her courage and bravery. These are only a few of the women of the Bible.

6. Your summers are spent at camp and / or on mission trips.

My identity as a United Methodist wouldn’t be the same without going to church camp almost every summer, especially in middle school and high school. JEM camp and CYME taught me how to be a leader and helped me make some of my closest friends. Church camp brought me closer to God and gave me new-found independence as some of my first times away from home that wasn’t just going to my grandparent’s house.

Another large part of United Methodism is mission. I've had the opportunity to go to something wonderful called "Youth Force" 5 times now, and I'll definitely go back as an adult leader someday soon. I'm experienced mission through a national denominational partnership called "D.O.O.R." (Discovery Opportunities for Outreach and Retreat) twice in San Antonio and Denver. I've also volunteered with my church at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma (which is really fun, I'd recommend it) and Skyline Urban Ministries. These experiences have shaped me into the Christian I am today.

7. You love the "Open Table" policy.

The United Methodist church has a policy of an open table when it comes to Communion. This means that anyone can take Communion at a United Methodist church. You don't have to be baptized, confirmed, a certain age, a member of that church, United Methodist, or even a Christian. There are absolutely no requirements other than your personal desire/choice to take Communion. This is honestly one of the things I like the most about the United Methodist church, if someone has the desire to take communion and experience the powerful symbolism of the Last Supper before Jesus died on the cross for their sins, they can do so. I think that's a beautiful part of our church policy.

8. Your church family is your family.

The United Methodist tradition is centered around family. I still go to the same church I was baptized at and have so many elders who remember me from when I was a child. Whenever I volunteered to watch kids in the nursery or do Vacation Bible School, I always watched the siblings of my friends and my parent’s friends children. Some of the strongest memories of my childhood are from experiences I had at church.

To Conclude, being a United Methodist is a fundamental part of who I am. I'm so blessed to be a part of a church that has shown me so much love and fostered so much personal growth.