Doctrine in the United Methodist Church-- You're Doing It Wrong

David F. Watson, Academic Dean and Associate Professor of New Testament at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, once again nails it!
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...some people have identified United Methodism as essentially a liberal tradition that has been threatened by an evangelical presence from its beginning. Others have suggested that United Methodism is basically an evangelical tradition that has been corrupted by liberalism. Still others have argued that the UMC is and always has been a "centrist" tradition that could accommodate a broad variety of positions. The fact of the matter, though, is that in 1972 United Methodism became an internally incoherent tradition. While we affirmed the significance of our doctrines, we simultaneously undercut them. This incoherence is at the root of many of our conflicts today.
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The entire post is worth your time. It can be read here.