A Study of Denominations

1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV 1900) - 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. The Methodist Church

• began as a movement in eighteenth-century England, part of the larger Protestant evangelical revival that endeavored to bring spiritual renewal to the nation and the and to increase the effectiveness of the church's ministry. • The term "Methodist" was applied about 1729 to a small group of students at Oxford University who devoted themselves to a strict method of study and religious practice. The Methodist Church

• While the members of this group referred to themselves as the Holy Club, other university students and leaders reproachfully labeled them Methodists. • The three principal figures in the origin and development of Methodism were members of the Holy Club: 1. (1703–1791), an Anglican clergyman who became its leader 2. His younger brother (1707–1788) 3. And (1714–1770). The Methodist Church • John Wesley was born in 1703 the fifteenth of British clergyman Samuel Wesley. • He was educated in London at Oxford and ordained a deacon in the Church of England in 1725. • Wesley was ordained a in the Church of England in 1728. • As a tutor at Oxford in 1729, he joined his brother Charles and a group of earnest students who were dedicated to frequent attendance at Holy Communion, serious study of the , and regular visitations to the filthy Oxford prisons. • The members of this group, which Wesley came to lead, were John Wesley known as Methodists because of their “methodical” devotion (1703 – 1791) to strict methods of study, diet, exercise, etc. The Methodist Church • In 1736 the Wesley's cam to North America to the colony of Georgia but was unsuccessful with work with native Indians and he returned to England in 1738. • In 1738 upon returning to London he attended a Moravian service in Aldersgate St., London. Here he heard Luther's preface to the book of Romans read. • Recounting the event he said he “felt” his “heart strangely warmed”; he continued, “I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and John Wesley death.” Charles Wesley had reported a similar experience a few (1703 – 1791) days previously. • With this experience, Wesley was ready to propagate the doctrine of "faith only." The Methodist Church • Some months later, George Whitefield, also an Anglican clergyman who had undergone a “conversion experience” invited his friend John Wesley to come to the city of Bristol to preach. • The starting date of the Methodist church is generally given as May 1, 1739 when Wesley and a group of his followers, meeting in a shop on West Street in London, formed the first Methodist society. • It is said that throughout his long career, Wesley had travelled over 250,000 miles and had preached 40,000 sermons across John Wesley the country (1703 – 1791) • Wesley had no intention of starting a new denomination, but they were protesting the formality, coldness, indifference and ungodliness in the Church of England. Methodism in the USA

In 1784, Wesley appointed his aide, Thomas Coke, an Anglican clergyman, as superintendent of the Methodist organization in the United States empowering him to administer the . • The Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States had its beginning when the Christian Conference convened in Baltimore on December 24, 1784. • At this conference, the Book of Discipline prepared by Wesley was adopted which cut the 39 Articles of the Episcopal Church down to 24 Articles then added one to cover the church rulers in the United States. • The Apostles' Creed, inherited by the Episcopal Church from the , was also brought into the Methodist form of worship. Methodist Doctrines

In 1784, the Methodist Church adopted its discipline. • It was an abridgement of the Episcopalian Prayer Book. • In the 1908 edition, p. 3, this statement is made: "Dearly beloved brethren: it is our privilege and duty to recommend most earnestly this volume to you, which contains the Doctrines and Discipline of our Church, which we believe are agreeable to the Word of God, which is the only and the sufficient rule of faith and practice. Yet the Church, in the liberty given to it by , and taught by the experience of many years, and by the study of ancient and modern Churches, has from time to time modified its Discipline in order to secure the end for which it was founded." • Then on page 4: "During the period in which this work has been extending, the Church has revised and enlarged its legislation to meet the demands created by its own success.” • Note: If the discipline and the taught the same, the discipline could not be modified (Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19; Gal. 1:8-9)! Methodist Doctrines

In 1784, the Methodist Church adopted its discipline. • An illustration of the changes in the Methodist Discipline: 1. "Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin. (M.D., 1908, p. 349). 2. "Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are heirs of life eternal. . . " (M.D., 1948, p. 349). 3. Note: Up until 1910, babies were born in sin and would go to hell if they died that way. Since 1910, they are boor in Christ and will go to heaven. Babies began to be born differently in 1910, according to the Methodists discipline Methodist Doctrines

In 1784, the Methodist Church adopted its discipline - 1. Three "modes," "Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice of either sprinkling, pouring, or immersion" (M.D., 1908, p. 349). (Read Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4; see the meaning of the word "baptism" in the Greek.) 2. Infant baptism. "It (the Methodist Church) baptizes them (babies) in anticipation of their joining the church" (The Beliefs of a Methodist Christian, by Clinton M. Cherry, p. 67). a. Not a single person was ever baptized in the New Testament who did not first believe, repent, and confess faith in Christ. (See every example of conversion in the book of Acts.) b. Actually, Methodists do not know why they baptize babies since they discarded Calvin's doctrine of inherited in 1910! c. Baptism is non-essential in Methodist doctrine. "No baptism is valid, regardless of its mode or the ritualistic words used, unless there is repentance, forgiveness, and a new life in God for the believer" (Ibid., p. 68). (See Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Gal. 3:27; 1 Pet. 3:21.) Methodist Doctrines

In 1784, the Methodist Church adopted its discipline – Faith Only & Inst. Music • Salvation by faith only. 1. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort" (M.D., 1908, Art. IX). 2. James says (2:24) that is "not by faith only.” • Instrumental music. 1. At the of an organ in worship, the is to say, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we dedicate this organ to the praise of Almighty God" (M.D., 1948, p. 550). 2. "In the name of" means "by the authority of." Where in the Word of God does the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit authorize the organ (or any kind of musical instrument) in the worship of the New Testament church? 3. The New Testament teaching concerning "music" is in the following verses: Matt. 26:30; Mk. 14:26; Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; Jas. 5:13.

The

• On April 23, 1968, The United Methodist Church was created when Reuben H. Mueller, representing The Evangelical United Brethren Church, and Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke of The Methodist Church joined hands at the constituting General Conference in Dallas, Texas. • When The United Methodist Church was created in 1968, it had approximately 11 million members, making it one of the largest Protestant churches in the world. • While worldwide membership in The United Methodist Church has grown since 1968, membership in Europe and the United States has declined, offset by significant growth in Africa and Asia. • Changes in worship style, the rise of the charismatic movement, the growth of non- denominationalism, and the emergence of megachurches have all challenged the church as it entered its third century. • Most trying, The United Methodist Church has had to negotiate cultural shifts with regard to gender and sexuality, especially in the United States and Europe. Conflicts over homosexuality, marriage, and abortion have continued uninterrupted nearly since the formation of the denomination. These debates have opened up large domestic, international, and ecumenical rifts over the church’s doctrine and discipline. The United Methodist Church

• The United Methodist Church does not have a central headquarters or a single executive leader. • Duties are divided among bodies that include the General Conference, the Council of and the Judicial Council. • Each of these entities is required by our Constitution, a foundational document, to be part of our structure, and plays a significant role in the life of the church. Structure of Methodist Church (UMC)

General Conference • The General Conference, the primary legislative body of The United Methodist Church, is the only body that speaks officially for the church. • Meeting once every four years to determine legislation affecting connectional matters, it is composed of no fewer than 600 and no more than 1,000 delegates. • Working within the boundaries of the Church Constitution and General Rules, the General Conference defines and fixes the conditions, privileges and duties of church membership; the powers and duties of elders, deacons, diaconal ministers and local pastors; and the powers and duties of annual conferences, missionary conferences, charge conferences and congregational meetings. • It authorizes the organization, promotion and administrative work of the church. Structure of Methodist Church (UMC)

Council of Bishops • The Council of Bishops gives general oversight of the ministry and mission of the church and spiritual leadership to the entire church connection. • Composed of all active and retired bishops, the council meets as a group at least once a year. • Bishops are elected by Jurisdictional Conferences and assigned to a particular area, made up of one or more annual conferences. • Each bishop provides oversight of the ministry and mission of annual conferences in his or her area and appoints all clergy to their places of service. Structure of Methodist Church (UMC)

Judicial Council • As the denomination’s highest judicial body or "court," the Judicial Council's nine members, made up of and clergy, are elected by the General Conference and normally meet twice a year to consider whether actions of the various church bodies adhere to the constitution and follow the rules outlined in the Book of Discipline. • Their cases are generally referred to them by action of the Council of Bishops, the annual conferences or the General Conference. • According to the Constitution, decisions of the Judicial Council are final Organization of Methodist Church (UMC) The Church as Connection • United Methodist leaders often speak of the denomination as “the connection.” This concept has been central to Methodism from its beginning. • The United Methodist structure and organization began as a means of accomplishing the mission of spreading scriptural holiness. • Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, recognized the need for an organized system of communication and accountability and developed what he called the “connection,” a network of classes, societies, and annual conferences. • Every local church is linked to an interconnected network of organizations that join together in mission and ministry, allowing us to accomplish far more than any one local church or person could alone.

Organization of Methodist Church (UMC) The Church as Connection • Within the connectional structure of The United Methodist Church, conferences provide the primary groupings of people and churches for discernment and decision-making. • At every level of the connection, church leaders and members come together in conversation, or conferencing, to discuss important issues and discover God’s will for the church. • The word, conference, thus refers to both the assembly and organization of people as well as the process of discerning God’s call together. Organization of Methodist Church (UMC) • General Conference - As the primary legislative body, General Conference is the only entity with the authority to speak on behalf of the entire United Methodist Church. (Meets every 4 years) • Jurisdictional Conferences - There are five geographic jurisdictions, or regions, in the United States, which are comprised of eight to 15 annual conferences each. (Elects Bishops) • Central Conferences - In Africa, Europe and the Philippines, there are seven geographical regions, called central conferences, each of which is comprised of annual conferences and divided into several episcopal areas. • Annual Conferences - The annual conference is a geographical entity, an organizational body and a yearly meeting. • Districts - Each local church is part of a district, which is an administrative grouping of churches in a geographic area. (meets annually if authorized by the annual conference. Inquires into the spiritual condition, work, etc., of each charge) • Charge Conferences and Local Churches - As the visible presence of the body of Christ, the local church is the place where members grow in faith and discipleship, putting their faith into action through ministry in the world. United Methodist Foundational Documents • The Articles of Religion of The Methodist Church and the Confessions of Faith of The Evangelical United Brethren Church form a foundation of doctrine for United Methodists. • They, along with Wesley's Sermons on Several Occasions and Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament, are "standards" of doctrine for United Methodists. The Articles of Religion (1) • When the Methodist movement in America became a church in 1784, John Wesley provided the American Methodists with a liturgy and a doctrinal statement, which contained twenty-four "Articles of Religion" or basic statements of belief. • These Articles of Religion were taken from the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England—the church out of which the Methodism movement began—and had been the standards for preaching within the Methodist movement. United Methodist Foundational Documents • The Articles of Religion of The Methodist Church and the Confessions of Faith of The Evangelical United Brethren Church form a foundation of doctrine for United Methodists. • They, along with Wesley's Sermons on Several Occasions and Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament, are "standards" of doctrine for United Methodists. The Articles of Religion (2) • When these articles were voted on by the American conference, an additional article was added regarding the American context, bringing the total number of articles to 25. • These articles became the basic standards for Christian belief in the Methodist church in North America. First published in the church's Book of Discipline in 1790, the Articles of Religion have continued to be part of the church's official statement of belief. United Methodist Foundational Documents • The Articles of Religion of The Methodist Church and the Confessions of Faith of The Evangelical United Brethren Church form a foundation of doctrine for United Methodists. • They, along with Wesley's Sermons on Several Occasions and Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament, are "standards" of doctrine for United Methodists. The Confession of Faith • The Confession of Faith is the statement of belief from The Evangelical United Brethren Church. Consisting of 16 articles, the current form of this statement of faith was presented and adopted by the 1962 General Conference. • When The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 from the union of several branches of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, both The Articles of Religion and the Confession of Faith were adopted as basic statements of the Christian faith.