Methodist

Methodism represents a branch of Protestant Christianity that traces its heritage back to John Wesley and his attempts to bring revival within the Church of England in the early 18^th century C.E. Methodism holds many of the basic Protestant Christian beliefs, including the inspiration and authority of scripture for faith and practice, the doctrines of the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, and the necessity of grace to save humans from the consequences of sin. The two sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper are also practiced. Wesley taught that Christians should strive to obtain holiness of life (called "perfect love") with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. He established a system of small group meetings that were designed to encourage and support fellow Christians in lives of faith. Methodism spread rapidly throughout the United States in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries through itinerant preachers. Since then, Methodist missionaries, focusing on both evangelism and service, have taken Methodism throughout the world.

Contributors : W. David Buschart, Jacob N. Kinnard, Kathleen A. Mulhern, Ted Vial

John Wesley was a priest in the Church of England, but did not have a personally moving experience of the forgiveness of his own sins until May 24, 1738. He then embarked on a career of bringing others to this experience through preaching, and the organization of small groups for spiritual encouragement. After his death, his followers formed a new Protestant denomination, known as the Methodists.

Methodism took shape in the context of the beginnings of modern industrialization, urbanization, and the Enlightenment emphasis on experience as the most secure path to knowledge. In addition to their roots in Anglicanism, the most direct influence on John Wesley and Methodism was pietism, specifically, the German pietists known as Moravians.

Methodism was founded by John Wesley and his brother Charles. An influence on both of them that shaped Methodism in many ways was their mother, Susanna Wesley. In America, the Methodist Episcopal Church was founded by Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke.

The most important sacred text for Methodists is the Bible. In addition, beliefs and practices distinctive to Methodists were set down by John Wesley in the Large Minutes of the Conference, Wesley's Sermons, Notes on the New Testament, and the Twenty - Five Articles of Religion.

Methodist histories have moved from defenses of Wesley and his theology, through regional histories and biographies of important leaders, to more recent work that connects the history of Methodism to wider social and cultural concerns.

Methodism spread rapidly through the formation of "societies", small groups that met regularly for Bible study and encouragement in Christian life and action. These societies were linked into "connexions" by itinerant circuit riders. In America, Methodism developed into a denomination separate from the Church of England, led by bishops.

Methodism has branched off into several separate denominations. In England the structure of church government and the emphasis (or lack of emphasis) on holiness led to splits. In America, in addition to these two reasons for schism, churches split over disagreements on race and slavery.

Methodism was well-suited to European expansion because it relied on lay preachers and circuit riders. Methodist missionaries built schools and hospitals as well as churches; they were also implicated in all the negative and violent aspects of European and American imperialism.

Methodism began as a kind of missionary movement within the Church. Its two centers have been England and America, and both branches have sent out missionaries, spreading with the imperial reach of each of them in turn.

Methodism is shrinking in the United States and Great Britain, but growing elsewhere.

Like many Christians, Methodists believe that fallen humans are saved when their sins are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. John Wesley's distinctions between prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace distinguish Methodists from other Protestant Christians.

Methodists, like most Christians, believe in a triune God, in Jesus Christ, and in angels. More recently, some Methodists have proposed less traditional models for understanding God and Jesus. Some Methodists continue to believe in angels, while for others they seem implausible or simply irrelevant.

Human nature before the fall was good. After the fall it became self-centered, though free will enables one to respond to God's grace. The purpose of life is to respond to grace so that one might live sinlessly and glorify God.

Methodists believe that God created the world entirely good. Suffering enters the world because of evil, and evil is entirely the result of a free choice by (some) angels and (all) humans to sin by putting themselves above God. Suffering can be alleviated only by God���s grace and power.

John Wesley believed in a traditional idea of an immortal soul that spends eternity either in a place of blessedness called heaven or a place of torment called hell. One's destination depends on whether one is saved, forgiven by God's grace and converted to a life growing toward sinless perfection.

Methodist churches, like most Christian churches, divide the year into a cycle of celebrations based on events in the life of Jesus and the early church. In a sense, Methodists relive or commemorate the entire life of Jesus every year

Methodists do not have as stark a separation of sacred and profane spaces as some other religious traditions. Worship space is organized by the chief means of receiving God's grace, that is, it is designed to focus the worshipper on the sermon and the two sacraments (baptism and communion).

Methodist rites and ceremonies resemble those of other Protestants closely, including an emphasis on the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper, however, has often been seen as less important to some Methodists (though not to John Wesley).

Early Methodists met weekly, outside of worship, in "classes" for mutual encouragement in striving to live a perfect Christian life. The classes have a contemporary equivalent in small group meetings for Bible study.

Methodists, like most Protestants, have a relatively stark worship space. Their most important symbol is the cross. The official insignia of the United Methodist Church is the cross and flame.

Methodism has a relationship of clergy to laity similar to most Protestant churches, though because of its history the laity has consistently played a prominent role in Methodism.

Methodist organization grew out of its history within the Anglican Church. It was organized into societies (which became churches or congregations). Each society was subdivided into classes. Societies in a given region met together in a Conference.

Methodists base moral thought and action on the Bible (as well as reason, tradition, and experience). Unlike some other Protestants, they believe it is possible to live up to the commands in the Bible. There are, however, some significant disagreements regarding what the Bible commands.

Because Methodists believe their salvation in part requires subsequent good works, they have been very active in efforts to improve society. There has not been unanimity, however, on the vision of what an improved society looks like.

Methodists have traditionally given more leadership roles to women than other Christian denominations. On the question of homosexuality, Methodists are split.