Methodist Church History  & Organization
Mike Ervin

Below is the comprehensive summary of the history and organization of the Methodist Church in the United States:

           The Methodist Church in the United States:                                    History and Organization

1. Origins of Methodism

  • John and Charles Wesley (1700s, England): Methodism began as a reform movement within the Church of England, emphasizing personal holiness, disciplined Christian living, and outreach to the poor.
  • “Methodists”: The term came from the Wesleys’ methodical approach to Bible study, prayer, and holy living.
  • Core emphases: Justification by faith, sanctification (holiness of heart and life), lay preaching, small groups (“class meetings”), and social service.

2. Methodism in America

  • Early 1700s: Methodist societies form in the American colonies, often led by lay preachers.
  • 1769: Wesley sends missionaries, including Francis Asbury, who became a key leader.
  • 1784 – The “Christmas Conference” in Baltimore: Marks the formal organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury are consecrated as the first bishops.
  • Growth: The church spread rapidly, especially on the American frontier, through circuit riders (itinerant preachers). By the mid-1800s, Methodism was one of the largest denominations in the U.S.

3. Divisions and Mergers

  • Slavery issue (1844): The church split into the Methodist Episcopal Church (North) and the Methodist Episcopal Church (South).
  • Other branches: The Methodist Protestant Church (1828) and African Methodist bodies (AME, AME Zion, CME) formed due to governance disputes and racial discrimination.
  • 1939 merger: The Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Methodist Protestant Church united to form The Methodist Church.
  • 1968 merger: The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined to form The United Methodist Church (UMC).

4. Organization of The United Methodist Church

  • Connectional system: Methodist churches are linked together, not independent congregations.
  • Annual Conferences: Regional governing bodies led by bishops. Clergy are appointed, not hired by congregations.
  • General Conference: The highest law-making body, meeting every four years with representatives from around the world.
  • Episcopal leadership: Bishops provide spiritual and administrative oversight.
  • Local congregations: The heart of Methodist life, where worship, small groups, and community ministries happen.

5. Beliefs and Practices

  • Wesleyan theology: Strong emphasis on grace (prevenient, justifying, sanctifying).
  • Social holiness: Faith is expressed in personal piety and social action. Methodists have historically been active in education, abolition, temperance, and social justice.
  • Sacraments: Baptism and Communion are central, seen as means of grace.
  • Small groups: Early class meetings have evolved into Bible studies, accountability groups, and fellowship gatherings.

6. Recent Developments

  • Membership trends: Once the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., UMC membership has declined in recent decades.
  • Global reach: Strong growth in Africa and parts of Asia, making the UMC a global church.
  • 2022 - present: A major denominational split has been unfolding over issues of human sexuality and LGBTQ inclusion. Many congregations have left to join the Global Methodist Church (GMC), a new conservative denomination, while the UMC continues as the largest Methodist body in the U.S.

7. Other Methodist Bodies in the U.S.

  • African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) – founded 1816 by Richard Allen in Philadelphia.
  • African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion) – founded in 1821, also rooted in Black Methodism.
  • Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) – founded in 1870 in the South.
  • Free Methodists, Wesleyans, and others – Holiness movements that emphasized sanctification and social reform.

Summary

Methodism in the U.S. grew from the Wesleyan revival in England into one of the most influential Protestant movements in American history. It is marked by an emphasis on grace, holiness, evangelism, and social action. Its organizational life is built around bishops, conferences, and a connectional system. Today, the United Methodist Church remains the largest Methodist body in America, even as it faces division and decline, while other Methodist denominations continue to carry on the Wesleyan tradition in diverse ways.

Methodist Church History  & Organization

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