Centenary United Methodist Church
AI summary — doctrinal positions on this page are inferred by AI from this church's own public statements and may be inaccurate.
Inherited from denomination
What United Methodist Church teaches
Positions bound by the denomination's confessional standards. This is what the tradition teaches; whether this specific congregation publicly holds each is a separate question — see Statements below.
Affirms
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsweakSame-sex marriage authorization implies moral affirmation.
- Infant BaptismstandardWestminster XXVIII; Book of Concord SC IV; Council of Trent Session VII; Wesleyan Articles Art. XVII
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriageweakMatthew 19:9 (adultery ground); 1 Corinthians 7:15 (abandonment ground). Practice varies.
- Women in pastoral / ordained officeweakVarious denominational actions (TEC 1976, ELCA 1970s, PC(USA) 1956, AG 1935, CofE 1994 priests / 2014 bishops, etc.)
Denies
- Assumption of MaryweakUniversal Protestant rejection — not attested in Scripture; not received as dogma.
- Immaculate ConceptionstandardUniversal Protestant + Orthodox rejection. Orthodox reject on the grounds that they hold prepurification at the Annunciation, not conception.
- Marriage as one man and one womanweakPC(USA) 2015; ELCA 2009; TEC 2015; UMC 2024. Same-sex marriage authorized in polity.
- Perpetual Virginity of MaryweakNatural reading of Matthew 13:55–56 (brothers of Jesus); typical modern Baptist / evangelical position.
- TransubstantiationstandardOrthodox reject the Aristotelian metaphysics; Lutherans use 'sacramental union'; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII rejects explicitly; Reformed/Baptist reject substance-change.
Wrestles with
- Apostolic SuccessionweakLutheran and Methodist bodies retain 'succession of doctrine' language without the tactile chain.
- Believer's BaptismweakPaedobaptist bodies practice adult baptism on credible profession where infant baptism was omitted, but do not consider it normative.
- Pacifism vs. just-warweakDefault just-war framework — usually unwritten. Inheriting at weak confidence.
- Real PresenceweakCalvin's spiritual presence (genuinely present but not physically) is neither strong affirm nor deny; Anglican/Methodist typically hold a receptionist view.
- TheotokosweakConfessionally valid title (Ephesus is a received council) but not used devotionally; retained in liturgy where liturgy is retained.
In their own words
Statements
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> About | Centenary United Methodist Church Memphis We would love for you to join us! Click here to plan your visit. Toggle navigation Menu Home About Justice Events Ministries Give Contact PLAN YOUR VISIT About About Us Our Beliefs History I'm New Our Team Centenary UMC: A Legacy of Justice and Faith Welcome to Centenary! The Centenary Family warmly welcomes you and would be honored to have you worship with us. It is our prayer that the Lord will richly bless each of us as we open our hearts to God's presence, His Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.Source ↗
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> I'm New | About | Centenary United Methodist Church Memphis We would love for you to join us! Click here to plan your visit. Toggle navigation Menu Home About Justice Events Ministries Give Contact PLAN YOUR VISIT I'm New About Us Our Beliefs History I'm New Our Team Welcome! We are glad you are considering joining us! See the answers to the most common questions below. If you still have more questions, call us at 901-774-7604. Questions & Answers Here are some answers to common questions. How do I become a member of Centenary? keyboard_arrow_down TheSource ↗
about
I'm New | About | Centenary United Methodist Church Memphis We would love for you to join us! Click here to plan your visit. Toggle navigation Menu Home About Justice Events Ministries Give Contact PLAN YOUR VISIT I'm New --> About Us Our Beliefs History I'm New Our Team Welcome! We are glad you are considering joining us! See the answers to the most common questions below. If you still have more questions, call us at 901-774-7604. Questions & Answers Here are some answers to common questions. How do I become a member of Centenary? keyboard_arrow_down The pastor will invite any to join after tSource ↗
about
About | Centenary United Methodist Church Memphis We would love for you to join us! Click here to plan your visit. Toggle navigation Menu Home About Justice Events Ministries Give Contact PLAN YOUR VISIT About --> About Us Our Beliefs History I'm New Our Team Centenary UMC: A Legacy of Justice and Faith Welcome to Centenary! The Centenary Family warmly welcomes you and would be honored to have you worship with us. It is our prayer that the Lord will richly bless each of us as we open our hearts to God's presence, His Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. If you are visiting for the first tSource ↗
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> About | Centenary United Methodist Church Memphis We would love for you to join us! Click here to plan your visit. Toggle navigation Menu Home About Justice Events Ministries Give Contact PLAN YOUR VISIT About About Us Our Beliefs History I'm New Our Team Centenary UMC: A Legacy of Justice and Faith Welcome to Centenary! The Centenary Family warmly welcomes you and would be honored to have you worship with us. It is our prayer that the Lord will richly bless each of us as we open our hearts to God's presence, His Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.Source ↗
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> I'm New | About | Centenary United Methodist Church Memphis We would love for you to join us! Click here to plan your visit. Toggle navigation Menu Home About Justice Events Ministries Give Contact PLAN YOUR VISIT I'm New About Us Our Beliefs History I'm New Our Team Welcome! We are glad you are considering joining us! See the answers to the most common questions below. If you still have more questions, call us at 901-774-7604. Questions & Answers Here are some answers to common questions. How do I become a member of Centenary? keyboard_arrow_down TheSource ↗
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