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I can answer questions dealing with all issues of United Methodist Doctrine and Wesleyan-Arminian Theology. In particular I can answer questions dealing with the Sacraments and other liturgical and worship-oriented questions. I can also answer questions dealing with the form, structure, and organization of the United Methodist Church and our relationship with other denominations.
I am an ordained United Methodist Elder with more than 20 years of ministerial service experience in the local Church.
I am a Clergy Member in Full Connection and have been a member of the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church since 1991. I am a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion. I am also a member of the Emmaus Community, and am currently serving as Senior Spiritual Director for the Dallas Emmaus Community. I am a member of the Order of Saint Luke in the United Methodist Church.
I have my own website: www.RevNeal.org. I have written two books, "Grace Upon Grace" and "Seeking the Shepherd's Arms," both available at Amazon.com and in bookstores.
I have a BA in Religious Studies, History and Russian. I have an M.Div in Systematic Theology and Biblical Studies and a Ph.D in Sacramental Theology and New Testament.
Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church
Fellow of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist
The United Methodist Church is both my community of faith and the field in which I serve as an under-shepherd of Christ's flock.
I am currently in the process of reaching and writing another book on Sacramental Theology, this time focusing more precisely on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I have several book-projects planned for the future dealing with Methodist approaches to the Means of Grace in General, and the Eucharist in particular.
| User | Date | K | C | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carol | 05/14/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you for your reply to my ..... |
| Fred | 05/11/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so much for your response ..... |
| John | 04/03/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Dr. Neals answer is excellent. I have ..... |
| JCE | 03/28/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Dear Dr. Neal, Thank you so much ..... |
| Marie | 03/14/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Sorry for taking so long to read ..... |
I assume you mean that the military person isn't a member of the church ... not that the baby's name is "Nota" ? You list them both as Baptized members, not professed members. You can do that with adults
The PPR chair, Trustees Chair, Administrative Board Chair, Finance Chair, Lay Leader, and Lay Member(s) of Annual Conference must be members of the local church. Otherwise, a participating non-member
Tom, Thank you for writing. In the United Methodist Church there is no set minimum age at which one is old enough to receive Communion. I have communed 5 year old children before ... indeed, and younger
My personal opinion is that the decline in membership is endemic of a shift in our culture away from denominational loyalty and toward non-denomnationalism. There's also been a shift away from the established
Dear JCE, You do not state if you are a clergy member of the Annual Conference, however I assume you are not. My understanding of proper procedure in your case would involve including you, at least

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