I’m grieved about the Fountain Hills Methodist Church pastored by David Felten.
My father was a Methodist missionary. I was baptized as an infant, attended Sunday school and was confirmed in the Methodist Church. I was taught the Apostle’s Creed. My sister is a trustee in this church. When I visit her I worship as a Methodist.
The church was founded by John Wesley. He received inspiration from scripture. He was a brilliant preacher and writer.
In addition to his teachings, the UMC uses the Book of Discipline, written by leaders of the Protestant Reformation. It affirms two creeds, Apostle’s and Nicene, foundational beliefs of the Christian faith.
Pastor Felten and others are in disagreement with some of these beliefs.
A letter entitled “Integrity and Unity” was sent to the Council of Bishops for the fall meeting of 2014. “We are grieved that our church has been torn asunder by those who disregard the will of the General Conference, who disobey the Book of Discipline…”
I assume he is one because of his statements. Two articles quoting him appeared in The Times on Feb. 11, 2015. On page 8A, Pastor Felten mentions, “reason and experience -- two important guidelines of our founder John Wesley…”
Wesley has a sermon on reason titled SERMON no. 70 on Reason (July 6 1781): “….A beautiful summary of which we have in that which is called the Apostle’s Creed.” The third line is –“He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.”
In the second article on page 5B, Felten says this is a myth. How can one boast about one’s founder and a few pages later label his beliefs as myths?
Pastor Felten is free to write and believe, but he does profess some basic ideas contrary to the United Methodist Church and John Wesley.
