← Back to map
Methodist Tradition

Methodist Church

Founded1738Members80 millionPolityConnexional (Episcopal)

Creeds

The Apostles’ CreedThe Nicene CreedThe Chalcedonian Definition

Overview

Methodism began as a renewal movement within the Church of England, led by brothers John and Charles Wesley. The name "Methodist" was originally a term of derision, referring to the Wesleys' methodical approach to Bible study, prayer, and holy living. John Wesley's theology emphasizes God's prevenient grace (grace that goes before), personal holiness, and social transformation.

Methodist theology is broadly Arminian, teaching that salvation is available to all people and that believers can respond to or resist God's grace. The tradition is known for its integration of personal piety and social justice — the idea that genuine faith produces both inward holiness and outward action.

Historical Context

John Wesley (1703–1791), an Anglican priest, experienced a spiritual awakening in 1738 at a Moravian meeting on Aldersgate Street in London, where he felt his heart "strangely warmed." He began itinerant preaching, organizing converts into small groups called "classes" and "bands" for mutual accountability and spiritual growth.

Wesley never intended to leave the Church of England, but after the American Revolution, he ordained ministers for America, leading to the formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1784. Methodism became one of the largest Protestant movements in the United States through circuit-riding preachers and camp meetings. The United Methodist Church, formed in 1968, is the largest Methodist body today.

Key Beliefs

Prevenient Grace

Before anyone seeks God, God's grace is already at work in every person, enabling them to recognize their need for salvation and to respond to God's call.

Justification and Sanctification

Justification (being declared righteous) is followed by sanctification (being made holy) — a lifelong process of growing in love and holiness through the Holy Spirit.

Christian Perfection

Wesley taught that believers can, in this life, reach a state of "entire sanctification" — not sinless perfection, but a perfection of love where one's intentions and desires are wholly oriented toward God.

The Wesleyan Quadrilateral

Theology is formed through four sources: Scripture (primary), tradition, reason, and experience. All four work together, with Scripture as the foundation.

Social Holiness

"There is no holiness but social holiness." Wesley insisted that personal faith must express itself in care for the poor, justice, education, and the transformation of society.

Assurance of Salvation

The inner witness of the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are children of God. Wesley’s Aldersgate experience of a heart "strangely warmed" became the paradigm for this direct, personal assurance available to every believer.

Ordinances

Baptism

A sign of regeneration, new birth, and God's grace. Infants, children, and adults may be baptized by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.

Lord's Supper (Holy Communion)

A means of grace in which Christ is truly present. Wesley urged frequent Communion and practiced an open table — all who seek Christ are welcome regardless of denomination.

Mass & Liturgy

Service of Word and Table

Sundays; the Lord’s Supper is offered as often as practicable (Wesley urged "constant communion")

  1. Entrance

    Greeting, hymn of praise, opening prayer, prayer of confession, words of pardon, and the peace.

  2. Proclamation and Response

    Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, Gospel readings; sermon; Apostles’ Creed; concerns and prayers of the people; offering.

  3. Thanksgiving and Communion

    The Great Thanksgiving (Wesleyan eucharistic prayer), Lord’s Prayer, breaking of the bread, distribution of the bread and cup. United Methodists practice an open table — all who seek to follow Christ are welcome.

  4. Sending Forth

    Hymn, blessing, and dismissal to serve in the world.

Methodist worship draws on the Anglican Book of Common Prayer that Wesley revised as the "Sunday Service of the Methodists" (1784), strong congregational hymnody (especially Charles Wesley’s thousands of hymns), and the small-group "class meeting" tradition for spiritual formation. Most Methodist bodies practice infant baptism by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.

Catechism

Wesley’s Instructions for Children + The Articles of Religion (1784)

John Wesley produced "Instructions for Children" (1745) and adapted the Anglican catechism for early Methodists. He also abridged the Anglican 39 Articles into 25 Articles of Religion (1784) for the new American Methodist Episcopal Church. Modern United Methodism uses "The United Methodist Book of Worship" alongside the Articles of Religion, the Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren, and Wesley’s Standard Sermons and "Notes on the New Testament" as doctrinal standards.

  • The Articles of Religion (25 articles)
  • The Confession of Faith (EUB)
  • Wesley’s Standard Sermons and Notes on the New Testament
  • The General Rules of the United Societies
On Sanctification

"By sanctification we mean that renewal of our fallen nature by the Holy Ghost… restoring in us the image of God after which we were originally created." — Wesleyan teaching

On Prevenient Grace

God’s grace goes before us — drawing, awakening, and enabling response — so that no one is so far gone in sin as to be beyond the reach of divine love.

On Christian Perfection

"Pure love reigning alone in the heart and life — this is the whole of scriptural perfection." — John Wesley, "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection"

On the Means of Grace

Wesley identified "instituted" means of grace — prayer, searching the Scriptures, the Lord’s Supper, fasting, and Christian conference — and "prudential" means such as works of mercy and class meetings, through which God ordinarily conveys His grace to the believer.

Church Governance

Connexional (Episcopal)

Methodist churches are organized in a "connexional" system — local churches are connected through circuits, districts, and annual conferences. Bishops provide spiritual and administrative leadership, appointing pastors to churches (pastors do not choose their congregations). The General Conference, meeting every four years, sets doctrine and policy for the denomination.

Distinctive Teachings

← Back to map