The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination that originated in the mid-18th century Methodist movement in England. Methodism started as a reform movement within the Church of England led by John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley. John Wesley emphasized having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, living a holy life, and serving those in need. The Methodist movement quickly spread to America in the 1760s, where it took root and grew rapidly.
Today, the UMC is the largest Methodist denomination in the United States with over 6 million members. It has congregations worldwide, with 12.5 million members globally. The UMC is organized into regional conferences and local churches. It has an episcopal polity, meaning it is led by bishops. However, lay members and clergy have equal voices in decision-making and governance. The UMC has a strong social justice tradition and places emphasis on missions and evangelism.
Some of the key beliefs of Methodists based on biblical teachings include:
- God is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who died for the sins of humankind and was resurrected to bring salvation.
- Salvation is available to all through God’s grace. Faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross and following Him is necessary for salvation.
- The Bible is divinely inspired and contains God’s revelations and truth for Christian living.
- People are created in God’s image but inherit a sinful nature due to the Fall. God’s prevenient grace restores moral ability to all.
- Sanctification is the process of being made holy, through the work of the Holy Spirit, so that believers become more Christ-like.
- The sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion are means of grace instituted by Christ.
- Using free will, people can choose to repent of sins, accept Christ, and live a new life with God’s help.
- Spreading the Gospel and making disciples through missions and evangelism are key duties of the church.
Origins and History of Methodism
Methodism originated as a revival movement within the Church of England in the mid-18th century. It was started by John Wesley (1703–1791) and his brother Charles Wesley (1707–1788). The Wesley brothers were Anglican priests who felt called to take the Gospel to the people living in England at the time.
They began open-air field preaching to reach coal miners, common laborers and others who normally did not attend church. They preached about the need for personal salvation by faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross. The Wesleys taught that having a “method” for living a holy life was important. This method included things like prayer, Bible study, fasting and regularly receiving Holy Communion. Their systematic approach to spiritual growth gave rise to the term “Methodist.”
The Methodist movement quickly gained popularity, especially among the lower classes who responded well to its message. As the movement grew rapidly, the Wesleys appointed lay preachers and class leaders to help disciple the new converts. They also published many hymns and tracts to teach Methodist doctrine and theology.
By the time of John Wesley’s death in 1791, Methodism had become its own distinct denomination in Britain. The Methodist church governance structure took shape with multiple conferences overseeing clergy and congregations. Methodism arrived in the American colonies in the 1760s. Led by early circuit preachers like Robert Strawbridge, Methodism spread rapidly across America over the next few decades.
In 1784, John Wesley appointed Thomas Coke as superintendent and sent him to oversee the American Methodists. The Christmas Conference held in Baltimore that year saw the creation of the Methodist Episcopal Church which became The United Methodist Church in 1968 when it merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
Beliefs and Practices
United Methodists uphold the historic Christian creeds and Protestant doctrines. Their core beliefs are summarized in the Confession of Faith in the Book of Discipline. Methodists place emphasis on the following key tenets:
The Trinity
UMC doctrine is Trinitarian. God exists as three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit united in one divine being. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for humankind’s sins and was resurrected to defeat death (John 1:1-14, Philippians 2:5-11).
The Authority of Scripture
The Bible is considered the primary source for theological doctrine and moral guidance. It contains God’s flawless revelations and serves as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. The books of the Old and New Testaments are divinely inspired and free from error (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Original Sin
Humans are created in the image of God but inherit a corrupted, sinful nature passed down from Adam and Eve’s rebellion. People are in bondage to sin and in need of God’s forgiveness and regenerating grace (Romans 3:23, 5:12-17).
Prevenient Grace
By God’s prevenient (or preventing) grace, He restores moral freedom and ability to people so they can respond to His offer of saving grace. The Holy Spirit convicts and draws all to salvation through Christ (John 6:44, Titus 2:11).
Justification by Faith
Sinners are justified and forgiven only by God’s grace and through faith in Jesus Christ. Good works cannot earn salvation. Justification leads to inner renewal and holiness in the believer (Ephesians 2:8-10).
New Birth and Assurance
The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit giving believers a new life in Christ. They experience spiritual rebirth and become partakers of the divine nature (John 3:1-8, 2 Peter 1:4). Assurance of salvation comes through the inner witness of the Spirit.
Sanctification
Sanctification is the continuing process of being made holy as believers grow to become more like Christ. Through the Spirit, Christians gain victory over sinful nature (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). Sanctification prepares for the afterlife in God’s presence.
Christian Perfection
Christian perfection or entire sanctification is the cleansing from original sin that occurs in a moment by faith in Christ’s atoning work. It enables Christians to love God and others perfectly though mistakes can occur. Perfection is achievable in this life (1 John 4:17-18).
Grace and Free Will
God’s grace restores free will so people can freely accept or reject Christ’s offer of salvation. However, God’s grace can be resisted. Believers must continue cooperating with grace to remain faithful (Galatians 5:1, Hebrews 10:26-29).
Sacraments
UMC recognizes two sacraments instituted by Christ Himself – Baptism and Holy Communion. They are outward signs of inward grace. Baptism signifies dying to sin and being reborn in Christ (Matthew 28:19). The Eucharist represents Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross (Luke 22:19-20).
Afterlife
After death, believers enter into eternal blessedness in God’s presence and enjoy resurrection of the body. Unbelievers face judgment and eternal separation from God (John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:11-15).
Worship and Liturgy
Methodist worship services blend traditional and contemporary elements. Worship is considered a means of grace. Services generally include hymns, prayers, offerings, proclamation of the Word, and the sacraments. Music styles can range from classic Methodist hymns to contemporary Christian songs.
Methodist liturgy follows the Christian year calendar with observances like Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Special services are held for Christian holidays like Pentecost Sunday and Christ the King Sunday. vestments are typically robes for pastors and choirs.
The typical UMC worship service order includes:
- Prelude
- Processional hymn
- Call to worship
- Opening prayer
- Hymns and songs
- Affirmation of faith
- Prayers of confession and pardon
- Anthem or special music
- Sermon message
- Offering
- Communion sacrament
- Benediction
Church Governance and Organization
The UMC has an episcopal system of church governance. Bishops provide spiritual oversight and guide the mission, ministry and temporal affairs of the church. Elders and licensed pastors serve at local congregations under their regional bishop’s appointment.
The chief legislative body is the General Conference which meets every four years. It sets policy and doctrine for the entire denomination. Jurisdictional and central conferences oversee annual regional conferences consisting of many local churches.
Men and women, clergy and lay people all have equal voting rights and voice at General Conference. Laity elect delegates to attend. Bishops have lifetime tenure but must retire at age 68.
The highest court is the nine-member Judicial Council which determines constitutionality of legislative actions. Other boards and agencies like the General Board of Church and Society handle program ministry and missions.
Local churches have administrative and elected councils like the Church Council, Committee on Lay Leadership, Board of Trustees etc. guided by the Book of Discipline.
History of Methodist Social Justice
From its inception, Methodism has championed social justice causes. John Wesley spoke out against slavery and smuggling. Early Methodists were leaders in prison reform and education for the masses in England and America.
In America, Methodist preachers denounced slavery from the 1770s. The MEC church split over slavery leading to the creation of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1844. After the Civil War, black Methodists left to form the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Methodist church backed movements like worker’s rights and women’s suffrage. They supported legislation like child labor laws and Prohibition although that position changed over time.
By the mid-20th century, Methodists were active in the civil rights movement, led by pastors like Martin Luther King Jr. More recently, the UMC has been involved in immigration reform, anti-racism efforts, and ministry to the poor and marginalized.
Methodist Missions and Evangelism
John Wesley believed spreading the Gospel through missions and evangelism was vital. Circuit preachers traveled constantly to share their faith across Britain and America. Lay speakers known as “exhorters” held prayer meetings and preached in homes.
Today, UMC has missionaries serving worldwide. They aim to make disciples by meeting humanitarian needs like hunger, poverty and sickness. Disaster relief programs provide aid globally. Mission trips allow lay members to participate in short-term missions.
Local churches are encouraged to support missionaries, plant new churches and find creative ways to evangelize. Radio, TV, and online ministries have enabled Methodists to share the Gospel more broadly. Evangelism training resources equip laypeople to witness to Christ.
Camps, youth ministry, Christian education programs, Bible studies, relief efforts and leadership training are some other evangelism tools. VBS, Sunday schools, youth groups, and college ministries aim to disciple younger generations.
Denominations Within Methodism
There are multiple Methodist denominations worldwide that descended from the original Methodist movement. Some of the larger Methodist branches include:
- United Methodist Church – Largest body of Methodism in America with over 6 million members.
- African Methodist Episcopal Church – Formed by black Methodists, has over 2.5 million members.
- Christian Methodist Episcopal Church – Broke off from the AME church and has almost 1 million members.
- Free Methodist Church – Formed to serve the poor, has around 70,000 US members.
- Wesleyan Church – Broke off from Methodist Episcopal over slavery, has over 100,000 members.
- Church of the Nazarene – Traces roots to Methodism, has 2.5 million global members.
Additionally, there are independent Methodist denominations in countries like Mexico, India, England, Tonga and more. Methodists worldwide share common heritage and basic theology but governance and practices vary.
Comparison to Other Denominations
As a mainline Protestant church, Methodism has similarities with denominations like Presbyterianism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism including:
- Affirmation of core Christian doctrines on Trinity, Jesus Christ, sin, salvation etc.
- Belief in the authority of the Bible
- Infant and adult baptism practices
- Formal, liturgical worship services
- Governance by elders/bishops
- Involvement in theological education and missions
Methodism differs from Reformed churches on beliefs about free will. It rejects strict predestination. Methodists also differ from Baptists on views of baptism, authority of bishops and sanctification as a second work of grace.
Pentecostals see speaking in tongues as initial evidence of baptism in the Spirit whereas Methodists do not hold this theological view. However, charismatic renewal has influenced some Methodist churches.
Methodist Influence on Other Traditions
As Methodism spread rapidly in the 1700s and 1800s, its theology and practices influenced many other Christian movements and leaders like:
- Charles Finney – Key figure in Second Great Awakening revivals.
- Phoebe Palmer – Leader in Holiness movement.
- William Seymour – Began the Azusa Street Revival, start of modern Pentecostalism.
- William Booth – Founded the Salvation Army church and social service organization.
- Aimee Semple McPherson – Early Pentecostal healing evangelist.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. – Baptist pastor and civil rights movement leader.
- Pope Francis – First Jesuit pope with Methodist appreciation for evangelism.
Through revivals, Methodist teachings on holiness and sanctification spread to groups like the Nazarenes, Free Methodists and the Salvation Army. The emphasis on social justice has inspired many activists and faith-based organizations.
Current Methodism Challenges & Controversies
Today, the UMC faces declining membership in America and deep divisions over theology and social issues. Key challenges and controversies include:
- LGBTQ stances – UMC restricts homosexual marriage and ordination, causing ongoing debates.
- Liberal vs. conservative theology – Interpretations of Scripture, Christ and salvation are hotly contested.
- Racial justice – Efforts to dismantle white privilege and promote diversity have been emotionally charged.
- Young adult retention – Younger Methodists often leave due to disagreements or lack of spiritual depth.
- Declining congregations – Lower birth rates and aging population shrink church rosters.
These factors have caused division with the possibility of denominational splits along progressive and traditionalist lines. Despite diffs, Methodism continues to impact many through its ministries.
Conclusion
Methodism began as an 18th-century revival and grew into a worldwide Protestant movement. It continues to share the Gospel and make disciples through missions, evangelism, and social justice efforts. Core Methodist beliefs include God’s transforming grace, personal holiness, and faith in Christ’s redemptive work on the cross.
With millions of members globally, Methodists actively live out their faith in local churches and communities. They uphold Biblical truth while also adapting ministry to changing cultures. Jesus Christ remains the living center of Methodist teaching and spiritual life.