Resources and Policies
What is a Lighthouse Congregation?
Lighthouse Congregations are local churches in the Western North Carolina Conference that are particularly equipped to welcome
anyone whose church has closed or disaffiliated. If you find yourself in these circumstances, a
Lighthouse Congregation may be just what you need to fulfill your desire to Remain-UMC. Consider
these United Methodist faith communities a resting place, with people who will care for you while
providing a haven of peace and grace.
Suggested
Reading
If God's Word is revealed to us through scripture, it behooves us to read it. So it goes without saying that the Bible, God's self-disclosure to creation, comes first. Being a creedal church, however, we acknowledge that discovering the meaning of the scripture must be done with the tools the church has historically bestowed through polemics and doctrinal controversies, sermons, prayer, and all the spiritual gifts and graces God has shared with our spiritual ancestry. This transmission of wisdom, values, and biblical interpretation is good and necessary for a proper reading of scripture. Otherwise, reading scripture would boil away to personal preferences and manipulation. In short, without the Church's lineage of biblical understanding, you can, and many people do, twist the scriptures to say anything you fancy.
Hence, this reading list is an ever growing list of authors our theological trained clergy and members recommended.
As soon as Jesus "was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight," the disciples, now apostles, called a nominations committee meeting to make plans, strategies, and settle the first church policy. From that moment until Christ returns in holy glory, churches will always have their own unique policies that govern their congregation. Posted here are the policies about which you might be most curious. If there are policies which are not listed, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
