Why United Methodist

I was looking at the UM Reporter blog, and clicked over to A Man Called Preach, reading this post about Why He Loves the United Methodist Church.

I was not born a United Methodist -- I joined the church in my senior year in high school. The longer I am a member, the more I love the UM church. Why? Here's my list -- some of them are similar to Will's:

• Open Communion Table -- It's Christ table, and everyone is included.
  
• It's a church for people who will think -- or at least at it's best it is. We are encouraged to think and to grow through study and sharing about what we have learned.
• Women are allowed to use their gifts to preach and to teach. We take that for granted, but there are churches where this is not the case at all.
• Each UM church is different -- it might be politically liberal or conservative, theologically liberal or conservative, and yet we have room for both sets of beliefs.
• Infant Baptism -- I believe that God claims us, and that claiming is not dependent upon age.
• Priesthood of all believers -- I am a minister (although not ordained) and so are you. We are expected to follow our call and to pick up our crosses.
• Connectional church -- We are part of something bigger than our local church.

That might be enough for now, although I'm sure there are more.