can anyone tell me what is "methodist church"? thanks

[simon syrene]

thanks

[Ralph]

  The methodist church is one of many protestsnt denominations. Cokebury book stores have materials on Methodist doctrines and practice. Call a metnodist church and they can probably direct you to the nearest one.

[aw]

John Wesley and closely related to the Lutherans me thinks. My dad went to Duke and I used to hear these 2 things.

aw

[Tibby]

Lutherans? I thought it was Anglicans. Oh well, close enough, right? lol

[Sower]

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FROM THE WEBSITE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH OF GREAT BRITIAN. JOHN WESLEY WAS AN ENGLISHMAN, AND METHODISM AND WESLEYIANISM ARE THE SAME.

So how did Methodism come about?

Methodism has at its roots one person whose vision, determination and faith inspired fellow seekers to re-assess their lives and renew their relationship with God. John Wesley (1703-1791) challenged the religious assumptions of his day, urging those to whom he preached to 'trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation' for the assurance that we are all forgiven through Christ.

When John Wesley was at Oxford University, he was part of a small group of students who held regular meetings for Bible study, prayer and Communion. This earned them the nickname 'The Holy Club' or 'Methodists'.

Wesley became a priest in the Church of England, but in 1738 had a spiritual experience that he described as God working in his heart through faith in Christ. He launched a hugely influential preaching ministry and had a flair for organising people into small groups. These he named classes, with locally appointed preachers and leaders, which studied the gospels and prayed together. Wesley's new movement became a separate Church which grew rapidly throughout the 18th century and afterwards.

How does Methodism fit into the rest of the Christian Church?

The Methodist Church is the fourth largest Christian Church in Britain after the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches and the Church of Scotland. It has close spiritual links with these and the United Reformed Church and other free churches.

All the Christian Churches share in common a belief that God is the creator and sustainer of all life and that the death on a cross of God's son Jesus Christ was an act of total love which through his resurrection offers a new start beyond our wildest dreams. We share this belief because of the presence of God the Holy Spirit, who continues to move and inspire in the world today.

Methodism encourages links between its churches, recognising the significant benefits in being part of a national movement. This, in Methodism, is called the Connexion. The Church is governed by the Methodist Conference - a democratically elected body that meets annually.

Local churches are grouped in circuits, which organise worship for congregations. Pastoral care is also provided. Two thirds of all Methodist services are conducted by a local (lay) preacher. Stewards and a number of other members of the church council are elected by the General Church Meeting. At every level up to the Methodist Conference itself, lay people share in making decisions alongside ordained ministers and deacons. Every individual can play a part in influencing church policy.

[ollie]

Many years ago the Methodist church in America merged with The Evangelical United Brethren church in America and formed The United Methodist church.

On April 23, 1968, The United Methodist Church was created when Bishop 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. With the words, "Lord of the Church, we are united in Thee, in Thy Church and now in The United Methodist Church," the new denomination was given birth by two churches that had distinguished histories and influential ministries in various parts of the world.

Theological traditions steeped in the Protestant Reformation and Wesleyanism, similar ecclesiastical structures, and relationships that dated back almost two hundred years facilitated the union. In the Evangelical United Brethren heritage, for example, Philip William Otterbein, the principal founder of the United Brethren in Christ, assisted in the ordination of Francis Asbury to the superintendency of American Methodist work. Jacob Albright, through whose religious experience and leadership the Evangelical Association was begun, was nurtured in a Methodist class meeting following his conversion.

http://www.umc.org/abouttheumc/history/