Methodism

From Conservapedia

Methodism is a branch of Christianity partly based on the teachings of John Wesley. When Wesley was a student at Oxford University, he founded a group of Bible students dedicated to prayer and a methodical discipline. Others made fun of them, calling them "Methodists."

In the United States there are several major Methodist bodies:

All of these Methodist churches have the "connectional" form of government in which there are bishops, annual conferences and general conferences. The annual conference, presided over by a bishop, is divided into districts presided over by superintendents. The bishops together with the superintendents appoint the local ministers. In some of the smaller Methodist bodies, such as the Southern Methodist Church, the Primitive Methodist Church, and the Evangelical Methodist Church, there are no bishops.

John Wesley, the founder of the movement, was a minister of the Church of England (Anglican) who on May 22, 1739 had a conversion experience while listening to the reading of Luther's commentary on St. Paul's Letter to the Romans. He preached the Gospel in England and America for over 40 years following his conversion, and tens of thousands joined his lay groups. They remained in the Church of England until after Wesley's death.

In the United States, with Wesley's permission and support, the Methodists organized themselves as a separate denomination in December, 1784. Held in Baltimore, the Christmas Conference saw the ordination of pastors and the election of Francis Asbury as Superintendent, or bishop, of the newly formed Methodist Episcopal Church.


Beliefs[edit]

Methodists are Protestants and believe the Bible to be divine revelation and the ultimate guide to doctrine. Scripture is understood through the use of reason, church tradition, and personal experience. This fourfold approach to religious truth—scripture, reason, tradition, and experience—is referred to as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. By comparison, the Anglican church from which Methodism came speaks of a three-legged stool consisting of scripture, reason, and tradition.

Methodists are Arminian in doctrine, but unlike Arminian Baptists, Methodists baptize infants and believe in the real presence. They are also characterized by their belief in perfectionism, the teaching that a person in his earthly life can reach a state where he is no longer under the domination of sin. Methodists have long taught the Christian obligation to tend to the needs of the poor and unfortunate and, like Pentecostals, they emphasize the importance of revival in the church.

Colleges and Universities with a Methodist Affiliation[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

Britain and world[edit]

USA and Canada[edit]

African Americans[edit]

Primary sources[edit]

See also[edit]


Categories: [Methodism] [Christian Denominations] [Revivals]


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