Learn

learn
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own common sense. ~ Buddha

Throughout Christ’s ministry he challenged the old norms of his culture and appears to have asked as many questions as he supplied answers. With him as our model we resist educational programs and events that would attempt to indoctrinate our members and children into any pre-set list of doctrines. Rather, we encourage people to wrestle together with the difficult questions of our day and to share about God from their own experiences. Scripture is for us central but it is not exclusive and we have found that an honest reading of these timeless treasures with an open mind leads to general consensus much of the time.

Here at Montavilla we understand children to be our greatest gift and deepest responsibility and so we offer age appropriate Sunday school programs to help them in their faith and moral development. When our youth are at an age when they are capable of choosing church membership we offer a lengthy and involved confirmation process to help them understand the history, theology and ethos of the United Methodist Church. Adults have many opportunities to continue their education through book studies and Sunday morning, as well as mid-week evening classes. Our active women’s association often brings in speakers and when particular issues, such as marriage equality, arise the whole church gathers after worship to discuss in a large forum called a “Church Talk.”