Talk:Free Methodist Church

Page revision

I'm planning on a major revision to this page, with much more detail. Alangdon86 06:11, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

Conflicting statement

The following statement from this entry conflicts with details in the entry for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South:

"They also opposed slavery and supported freedom for all slaves in the United States, while many Methodists in the South at that time did not actively oppose slavery."

According to the entry for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South the southern conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church seceded to defend slavery and form the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1844. The Methodist Episcopal Church continued to oppose the institution of slavery. Why then would slavery be a cause for the Free Methodists to secede from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1860?

I believe that the Free Methodist Church organizers were also concerned with pew rent and some theological issues that the MEC was not concerned with. I think that the FMC wanted a more aggressive anti-slavery policy than the MEC did. KitHutch 03:13, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:FMClogo.jpg

Image:FMClogo.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 06:09, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

References and external links

This article needs more real references, not just my footnoting, and more external links to thing like the fmc website. Please contribute whenever possible. Aepoutre 00:15, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Article needs revision

This article needs major revisions. The sections need to be reorganized something along the lines of the following, with all information being its relevant section:

1) Introduction

2) History

3) Beliefs

4) Practices

5) Organization

Over the next few days I will attempt to do this. The work maybe slow, however. I would appreciate if my work to better the article is not reverted like before, but the discussed on this talk page. Thank you. Ltwin (talk) 17:32, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

Ok, I've added "Practices" and "Organization" sections from material already found in the article. I have no idea what to do with the material found in the "Practices" section, but I will at least attempt to clean it up a bit. I've also added a "Recent history" subsection. Ltwin (talk) 17:46, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

What I think we still need is major additions to the Introduction, as Wikipedia says the Intro should be a summary of the entire article. We need a Beliefs section, but I need more theological information than is currently in the article. I'm not satisfied with the Practices section and this information may need to be changed around again or completely deleted. Ltwin (talk) 18:06, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

Article revisions

I have deleted the controversy section. These statements are not needed to learn about the Free Methodist Church. Please do not re-submit them. Thank you. (Fmcomm (talk) 19:47, 28 April 2009 (UTC))

I don't know if this was directed at me or not, if not please ignore this comment. I did not add any of the information in the "Controversy" section. On the contrary, if you look here, I removed this section long before you did. Obviously, someone reverted my edits. Ltwin (talk) 21:46, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

Introduction Section

I plan to provide an updated Introduction section in the coming weeks. (Fmcomm (talk) 19:47, 28 April 2009 (UTC))

Beliefs Section

I plan to provide an updated Beliefs section in the coming weeks. (Fmcomm (talk) 19:47, 28 April 2009 (UTC))

Updated Publications Section

The Publications section has been updated. (Fmcomm (talk) 19:47, 28 April 2009 (UTC))

Distinctive Principles

This section seems pov, sounding promotional like one got it from a Free Methodist brochure. It needs a good copy-edit. Ltwin (talk) 21:28, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Introduction

I do not think this passage should be the opening paragraph:"The Free Methodist Church is a fellowship of Christians in earnest to get to heaven and committed to working in the world for the salvation of all people. The church believes the conditions of salvation are the same now as they were in the days of the apostles."

It is unencyclopedic sounding and promotional. The second sentence is abrupt and awkward. Please tell me what you think. Ltwin (talk) 21:43, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Mission Statement

Is an entire section on the FM church's mission statement necessary? Can't this be included as part of another section? Ltwin (talk) 20:49, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Founding

Do we have a source that verifies the founding as in Pekin, New York? There's an historical marker in Albion (village), New York in front of the Free Methodist church there that says: "The first Free Methodist church in the denomination. Rev. Loren Stiles founded the congregation in 1859. Norman Revival in style it was dedicated May 18, 1860." (You can see a photo of it about 3/5 of the way down this page.) 1859 is before the 1860 date listed in the article as the founding in Pekin. Powers ^T 20:20, 10 October 2009 (UTC)

Beliefs Revision

This is desperately needed. the Beliefs section was written by someone obviously within the Free Methodist church, and clearly violates Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view.