During the early 1900's, the Scope's Trial brought to the forefront of our nation the divide between science and faith, as well as the issues of Modern Scholarship and textual criticism.  Mainstream denominations became populated by a divided congregation, with some believing that scripture was not authoritative, and a book of fables meant for character instruction, while others believed that the Bible was true and could be applied to life in a very literal way.  Fundamentalism as a movement began in the Presbyterian Church and spread throughout the mainstream denominational landscape, and it was at its core scholarship. J. Gresham Machen was a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, and he was considered the leader of the movement with his book Christianity and Liberality. Machen makes it clear that to take away scriptural authority is to create two separate Christianities.  One false, the other other divinely inspired.  

Fundamentalism had its flaws.  To counter those, a new group was identified and called Evangelicals.  Billy Graham was at the heart of this movement, establishing Christianity Today and before Dr. Graham, the National Association of Evangelicals was founded.  Whereas the fundamentalist refused to associate with Catholics and people of other faiths, the Evangelical would work together, ignoring areas of disagreement for the betterment of the gospel.  

Today, Evangelicalism has been associated with a political party, but there are many Evangelicals who do not associate politics with religion.  There are variations and views within evangelicalism that while taking a high view of scripture, seeing it as authoritative, even calling in inerrant, that would not fit into a fundamentalist camp.  Evangelicals are not all creationists or republicans.

Global Methodists are born again Christians in that they believe in accepting Christ as their savior and are awaiting a literal return of Christ, but they do not hold to a literal interpretation of the scriptures in the way that a fundamentalist would.   They read the text with bias in mind, interpret the context of scripture, and analyze it as one would any literary content.   A conservative hermeneutic in which looking for life long principles to be applied universally is applied by the exegetical pastor, and this is different as well from a plain reading of the text that would disallow women from the ministry or promote discriminatory ideas that are hate based.  

In the Global Methodist Church all baptized and believing Christians are welcomed to the table, and this includes everyone.  We may have a conservative theological perspective and a commitment to the authority of scripture, but we are not a discriminatory group or separatists.

At the heart of this movement is the Great Commandment to love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

To God be the glory, Grace and Peace,
Brandon Smith

The Monastery is a centuries old concept with religious brothers and sisters living in community to a follow rule or way of life that renounces the world and pursues God.  In the West, Monasteries are  expensive and many are closing their programs as the Sisters and Brothers age.  The Monastic Way is a very specific progressive Christian concept led by Shaine Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove who originally, both have contributed greatly to the idea that a Monk can be anyone who is committed to the Benedictine Way of Spirituality and live in the world.  Jonathan and Shaine would also be considered evangelicals.  

An evangelical monastery is simply a Monastary, in this case, whose Oblates (those who would make pledge to it) live day to day lives in the world.  What makes it evangelical is its commitment to Holy Scripture, the Wesleyan Way, the gospel, and the Creeds and Confessions.   It is not Catholic, but it is catholic, in that it is big tent and as it is Benedictine anyone can join the Monastery from any religious belief or none, while they may not be able to join its sponsoring Church.  

There are many monasteries with Oblate programs.  Not all are Catholic.  There are Anglican and Methodist Monasteries too.  

The requirement for membership is a commitment to a place, herein, Dantzler Monastery, and the Benedictine Way.  This allows for dialogue between Evangelicals and those who seek to learn more about an Evangelical way of life that is Benedictine and not political in nature.

To this end, we will offer Praying the Hours, Spiritual Direction, and an Oblate Program.  Our Internships and Residencies will partner with Universities, Seminaries, and our local hospital system.

To God be the Glory, Grace and Peace,
Brandon Smith