Why do Methodists state that they believe in the Holy Roman Catholic church?

There are many different beliefs within the Methodists religion. Many of them live by the Word of God. Some have strayed and have compromised the Word. They are the ones that will say they believe in anything just to show they're willing to do anything to bring ones to their church. That's all they're interested in.

I believe they say something to the effect of believing in the holy catholic church, i.e., the universal church created by jesus. NOT the Roman catholic church.

The word "catholic" with a small c means "universal". The word catholic with a capital C means specifically the Roman Catholic Church.

Methodists are not Catholics.

Tthe Confession of Faith for the United Methodist Church is basically the same as that of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which merged with the Methodist Church back in the seventies to form the United Methodists. In that, the statement of belief is made in a "catholic", NOT Holy Roman Catholic Church. Catholic in this particular case meaning world-wide, or universal and all-inclusive. This does not refer to one particular organization, but to the concept that all followers of Jesus Christ are members of the same Christian faith, or church.

It doesn't say "Roman". The vast majority of Christians say the same creeds, and they include the line about the Catholic church because we really do believe in the "holy catholic church". It's nothing to do with the Roman Catholics. The word "catholic" means universal and applying to every human being, i.e. we believe that everyone has the option of being included in the church if they choose. The Roman Catholic Church simply holds itself to be the real deal, so they call themselves the Catholics. Protestants and the Orthodox Churches also believe themselves to be the real deal, but they don't actually call themselves "Catholic".

I used to be confused by this too, but it's actually quite simple. It's just that the word is used in two different senses. "Catholic" doesn't mean that church, it means universal. You just don't hear it that often in that sense.

Apostles Creed Methodist

Misty and David have it right, but the question remains,how can the Methodists believe in a universal church while remaining outside of that church, for Methodism will never be universal in nature as is the Catholic church!

They don't say that. I was raised Methodist and they say the Apostles Creed, which states they believe in the "holy catholic church" using a small "c" in the word catholic. This means they believe in the "universal church" which is what the word "catholic" means in Greek.

Methodists are protestants. This means that they are Christians, but that they reject the authority of the Catholic Church (big C)

sorry fireball it doesnt include your church

The word 'Catholic' is taken from the Greek 'Katholicos', which translated, means 'Universal'. The Greek word was Latinized into 'Catholicus'. Taking the true meaning of the word, we find that the 'Catholic Church' is mentioned in Scripture in Matt 28:19-20, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of 'ALL' nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe 'ALL' that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you 'ALL' days, even unto the consummation of the world." The three 'ALLS' are ALL people, ALL truth, for ALL time, truly 'Universal', truly 'Catholic'

Saint Ignatius (35-107), the second Bishop of Antioch wrote a letter to the Smyrneans in 107 A.D..

In this letter is recorded the first known use of the words "Catholic Church"...

Paragraph #8

"You must all follow the lead of the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed that of the Father; follow the presbytery as you would the Apostles; reverence the deacons as you would God's commandment. Let no one do anything touching the Church, apart from the bishop. Let that celebration of the Eucharist be considered valid which is held under the bishop or anyone to whom he has committed it. Where the bishop appears, there let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not permitted without authorization from the bishop either to baptize or to hold an agape; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God. Thus everything you do will be proof against danger and valid." The first recorded use of the word is found in the writings of Ignatius of Antioch, who was a young man during the time of the apostles and was the second bishop of Antioch following Peter, who went on to become bishop of Rome. Ignatius was immersed in the living traditions of the local church in Antioch, where the believers in Christ were first called Christians (cf. Acts 11:26). He was taught and ordained directly by the apostles. From the apostles Ignatius learned what the Church was—how it was to function, grow, and be governed.

can you truly believe this stupidity

"holy catholic church". It's nothing to do with the Roman Catholics

Ive got to frame this one has to be the dumbist fundie ever needs to be put in the fundie hall of shame

You are probably referring to the Apostle's Creed, a statement of Christian belief that dates back to the 4th century AD before the Roman Catholic church had been formed. It uses the word "catholic" in its literal meaning of "worldwide" or "universal".

The Roman Catholic church uses the word "catholic" in its name because at one time it was pretty much "the only" church, making it the head of the church "worldwide" (or "catholic") at that time.

The creed is not a reference to the denomination of the Roman Catholic Church, but to the concept of there being a "worldwide" church that all Christians belong to, regards of the name on the door of their building.

The Holy catholic church and the Roman Catholic Church are two different things, although I believe the RCC to be part of the HCC.

Catholic is simply a word meaning "Universal".

edit

I defer to Fireball on all questions Methodist.

They don't. They say the Holy catholic church. With a little "c" on catholic. Catholic means universal.