Many of the research respondents were raised in UMC. They grew up attending UM churches, and they say Methodism ‘made me who I am.’ They also say it is their heritage: their families have been Methodist for generations. It is family and ‘home’: their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings are Methodist, and family baptisms, weddings, and funerals took place in Methodist churches. Although a number of the respondents sany say they left ‘home’ at some point, they also say they later returned. Methodism defines these respondents. It is who they are.

I grew up Methodist and loved the experience. Then, in college I got involved in a very conservative charismatic church, mostly running from the fact that I am gay. After 18 years, I came to the point where I could no longer live a lie and came out. Since then, the Methodist church has been a source of comfort in some cases and pain in others. . . .

Memories of my Grandfather.

Its a part of my life, and it has been since I was born. I can't imagine not being a part of it . . . My grandfather is a retired UMC minister, my aunt and uncle are currently UMC ministers, and I’ve been going to a UM church since I was 2 years old. It’s a part of me, and it has fostered my faith throughout my life, even if I disagree with it on many topics.

My membership in the UMC is a part of who I am. I was raised in the UMC, and at this point, I plan to stay "until they kick me out."

Being United Methodist is part of my identity. Even though I worship in [another denomination] now, I still consider myself to be Methodist. My family has been Methodist for generations and I hope someday attitudes towards GLBT people will change in the UMC.

It's part of whom I am. Like it or not, church!

The UM church is the church of my family and of my past. As a seminary student I find many similarities between the theology of John Wesley and my own personal theology.

I am a United Methodist - plain and simple. Even at times when I am frustrated by anti-LGBT factions, when I am frustrated with the decisions of Annual, Jurisdictional, and General Conferences, when I am frustrated with the actions of the Judicial Council and the Council of Bishops, I find strength in the journey, strength in a liberating Gospel, and strength in my faith in God.

I am a life long United Methodist and just am not comfortable with other church liturgy and traditions.

I'm a Texan, born and raised, and though I live and attend school [elsewhere], I'll always be a Texan at heart. Same with Methodism. I feel that it's where I belong. I've met so many great people, and had so many wonderful experiences, that I don't want to leave. It's family. You don't leave a family just because you can't stand some of the members. Or . . . just because some hate you without reason.

I'm a life-long Methodist (father was a minister). Generally I go along with the religious beliefs, although I wish some were much more Liberal. I'm also concerned about the more conservative turn in the church.

I have been a Methodist all my life. This is where I belong and where I feel I am called to be. My parents are Methodists, my grandparents were Methodists, and I'll be damned if they're going to take my church away from me.

It's the place where I need to be.

I was BORN in the Methodist (now UM) church and feel deeply committed to it -- and that no one (not the General Conference or Annual Conference) has the right to take that membership from me!

This is my connection to my own family history, my own childhood and past, my own Welsh heritage, and there are still small hopes it will change.

I was raised a Methodist and know no other, and I am comfortable with Methodism.

Been one all my life, went to a Methodist college, was a Christian Educator in UMCs for five years.

I have always been United Methodist. I cannot imagine being a member of any other denomination. . . . I have been tremendously involved in the UMC since I was a youth. . . . I have experienced God in very special ways through the opportunities of service and connection found in the UMC. I feel I am an active and needed member of the church and am very loyal to it. . . . I have loved every moment of my involvement with the UMC. I can't say I haven't been frustrated at times with certain positions of the church, but it is because of my great love for the UMC that I care enough to get frustrated about it in the first place.

It is all I have ever known.

Although the UM church does not allow self-avowed, practicing homosexuals to be clergy, it is the church of my parents and grandparents. I also am pleased that it continues to allow for diverse opinions and my local congregation has been very accepting of me and my partner.

I am proud to be a United Methodist! I was raised in the UMC and it helped shape who I am today. . . . I attend a Reconciling Congregation . . . where I am very happily involved in the life of the church.

I was born a United Methodist, and I consider my faith tradition to be a central part of my identity.

I am third generation United Methodist from both parents. I remain in the church because the worship style is both familiar and for me spiritually satisfying. Also, because of our structure and history of using the Wesley Quadrilateral and my own struggle for personal growth, I have found the United Methodist Church (especially the one I now attend) has allowed me to ask questions. I have also found that my parents were very accepting and many others in the church. I just wish that all [GLBT] persons had the same experience in the church.

This is the church I grew up in.

The church is my family. I've grown up with these people. They've provided me with a sense of belonging and a sense of mission.

Both my partner and I have been a part of the UM Church since we were born. In fact, my partner's father is a retired UM minister and her sister is an active UM minister. We are both "at home" with the UM liturgy and traditions of our church.

It's complicated being a UM pastor, gay and serving the church at the same time. I love my work. I continue to serve because I love my work and this is my "home."

My parents met at [a] UMC . . . and I grew up regularly attending the church. There are many people I have known all my life there, and when I came out to my parents, they all worked through it as well. While I am interested in what goes on at the national level, I remained a Methodist primarily because of how my church family has received me and my partner. In addition, my church has a really good music program and an urban ministry that I want to support..

It’s where I grew up and was nurtured.

This is my home. I was born in this tradition (well, the predecessor Methodist Church); I was reared in this tradition; I am ordained in this tradition. Why should or would I leave my home?

I am a lifelong member and plan to remain a member of The United Methodist Church (unless excommunicated)!

I have been a UM all of my life. I've tried to give up on it and leave at times, but God keeps me where I am. I'm not an activist, but feel my presence alone makes a difference. I enjoy my ministry and I know the UM system, so I stay.

I have always been a member of the United Methodist Church -- my parents were both raised Methodist, as was I. Having attended a services of several other denominations on occasion in the past, I feel most comfortable with the Methodist Church. However, I do disagree with the church's policies regarding gays and lesbians.

I was raised in the UMC and have tried diversifying my religious view with other organizations, such as the Church of Religious Science. However, I returned to the UMC couple of years ago to find familiarity and comfort. [My church] draws many gays and lesbians in, and acceptance in the congregation is heartfelt.

I have UM blood in these veins.

It is the church of my childhood. I love it. When I was in seminary I searched for another denomination that 'fit' -- I went to every mainline protestant denomination I could find. Whenever I returned to the UMC, I felt at home and alive. It continues to be my home. I long for the institution to change -- so I work in that direction. I pray that it will truly display open hearts, minds and doors as the advertising campaign indicates it is.

I am proud to be a 35-year member and hope to remain one my entire life, but I also am not afraid to move on if that becomes necessary.

I was born into a rich Methodist tradition. I began to explore my church early and compare [it] to the other options available . . . I value history and tradition, as well as theological integrity. I also value open-mindedness and pluralism as they used to call it. Now I would call it diversity. Of all the churches in the town where I grew up and the county around there . . . to this day, there is no other church that comes close to being as good a choice, in my opinion. The United Methodist church has it head and shoulders above all the rest in the emphasis on higher education and learning. In service and mission outreach, Methodism is doing as good a job as any. I feel good about the UMC in every area except how certain issues are being handled, mainly the GLBT issue.

I was reared Methodist and cannot imagine attending any other denomination.

I would love to be in a UM Church where my partner and I could be accepted as a family. We will not leave the UM; this is our home denomination. . . . However, we often don't feel as if we are full members of the church family. However, we both love the liturgy, tradition and especially the music ministry in our local church.

I’m a seventh-generation Methodist.

I come from a long line of United Methodists - my mother and father were United Methodists, and active in the church where my membership and activity continues. So my continuing loyalty to the United Methodist Church comes, in part, from tradition and respect of those who went before. I am a gay man and my thinking is in direct opposition to the messages of The Discipline of the United Methodist Church. Briefly and succinctly put, I interpret the message of The Discipline as questioning whether I can be Gay and Christian. I believe that I can - and I will remain in the United Methodist Church as a challenge to the Discipline's message. I believe the greatest threat to religious institutions today is religious fundamentalism and I believe that the survival of the church is at stake. I will continue to try to confront the ignorance and perpetuation of untruths that religious fundamentalism supports.

I am a life-long member of the United Methodist Church. I feel welcomed, loved, and accepted in my home church.

Family tradition. My family was part of the Wesley movement when it started in Cornwall and continued when they came over to the USA in the 1840s.

Two principal things keep me loyal to the church. The first would be tradition. I t is the church I was raised in and feel most comfortable in. The second is that the church has an openness and mechanisms for change (no matter how slow they may move) that I feel are not present elsewhere.

It was something I was born and raised into. It is something I identify as, but not strongly. My family has traditionally been Methodists for many years.

I am a life-long UM. I was baptized in the UMC. I am not leaving the UMC.

This is the church I was baptised and raised in. It is my church as much as anyone's, maybe more as I have put up with their abuse so long.

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