A Study of the Methodist Church

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A Study of The Methodist Church
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John and Charles Wesley form the Holy Club at
Oxford University due to dissatisfaction with the
formalism of the church of England. Members
established regular habits of Bible Study,
prayer, worship, acts of piety. Practiced very
methodically. Called Methodists by others as a
term of derision.
History
1744 After growth of Methodism, Wesley organizes
First Conference of Methodist Preachers.
1784 Methodist Episcopal Church formed in
Baltimore, Maryland.
1830 Division over right of laity having power to
make decisions. Methodist Protestant Church
splits off from Methodist Episcopal.
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History
1844 Division over slavery leads to Methodist
Episcopal and Methodist, Episcopal, South.
1939 Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal
South, and Methodist Protestant merge to form the
Methodist Church.
1968 Methodist Church and Evangelical United
Brethren merge to form the United Methodist Church
Other smaller Methodist and Wesleyan Groups
exist. Most of the Methodists in our area will
probably be associated with the United Methodist
Church.
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Foundational Documents
The Articles of Religion of The Methodist Church
The Confessions of Faith of The Evangelical
United Brethren Church
John Wesleys Sermons and Notes
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Governing Document
The Methodist Discipline Contains the
constitution for the church, official church
positions, doctrine and law of the
church.Published every four years after the
General Conference is held. Updated with changes
resulting from decisions made during the General
Conference.
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Methodist view of church
Church Universal (all saved)
Methodist Church
Baptist Churches
Roman Catholic Church
Other Churches
Various denominations are merely different
branches and all make up the Overall
church. United Methodist Church is a part of the
one Catholic (used in the sense of whole or
complete) Church.
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Methodist Church Organization

• Similar to the US Government Balance of Power
  vested in three branches
• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial

General Conference (Legislative)
Council of Bishops (Executive)
Judicial Council (Judicial)
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Organization

• General Conference Legislative
• Meets Every 4 Years
• Composed of 600 1000 delegates
• Half Clergy, Half Laity
• Elected by Annual Conferences and other UMC Bodies

• Petitions to change church law or code brought to
  the General Conference.
• They are assigned to a specific committee
  (depending upon the nature of the petition),
  subcommittee where it may be modified or amended.
  Vote is held to determine if it should be
  forwarded to the General Conference for
  consideration.

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Organization

• Jurisdictional and Central Conferences

Annual Conferences refer to both a Geographical
Area as well as their frequency of meeting.
Divided into regions. US Jurisdictional
Conferences North Central, Northeastern,
Southeastern, South Central, Western Non US
Central Conferences Africa, Congo, West Africa,
Central and Southern Europe, Germany, Northern
Europe, Philippines
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Organization

• Jurisdictions and Central Conferences further
  subdivided

Southeastern Jurisdictional conference comprised
of regional conferences. Southeastern has 15
annual conferences, including the North Alabama
Annual conference. Each conference is presided
over by a Bishop. The North Alabama Bishop is
William H. Willimon of Birmingham. North Alabama
conference subdivided into 8 Districts. Limestone
County UMC churches are either in the Northwest
or the Northeast districts
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Organization

• Jurisdictions and Central Conferences further
  subdivided

Preachers (Clergy) are appointed by the Annual
Conference, not selected by congregations. In
our area, preachers for United Methodist Churches
are appointed by the North Alabama Annual
Conference. Individual churches in our area send
a part of their contribution to the North Alabama
Conference.
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Basis of Faith
But how shall we go about our theological task
so that our beliefs are true to the gospel and
helpful in our lives? In John Wesleys balanced
and rigorous ways for thinking through Christian
doctrine, we find four major sources or criteria,
each interrelated. These we often call our
theological guidelines scripture, tradition,
experience, and reason.
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Scripture

• In thinking about our faith, we put primary
  reliance on the Bible.
• The authoritative measure of the truth in our
  beliefs.
• We try to discern both the original intention of
  the text and its meaning for our own faith and
  life.

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Tradition

• Between the New Testament age and our own era
  stand countless witnesses on whom we rely in our
  theological journey.
• Through their words in creed, hymn, discourse,
  and prayer, through their music and art, through
  their courageous deeds, we discover Christian
  insight by which our study of the Bible is
  illuminated.
• This living tradition comes from many ages and
  many cultures.

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Experience

• The broader experience of all the life we live,
  its joys, its hurts, its yearnings.
• We interpret the Bible in light of our
  cumulative experiences.
• We interpret our lifes experience in light of
  the biblical message.

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Reason

• Finally, our own careful use of reason, though
  not exactly a direct source of Christian belief,
  is a necessary tool.
• We use our reason in reading and interpreting
  the Scripture.
• We use it in relating the Scripture and
  tradition to our experience and in organizing our
  theological witness in a way thats internally
  coherent.

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Distinguishing Methodist positions that stand in
stark contrast with the Bible
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Abortion

• UMC generally regarded as pro-choice
• Official position In continuity with past
  Christian teaching, we recognize tragic conflicts
  of life with life that may justify abortion, and
  in such cases we support the legal option of
  abortion under proper medical procedures. We
  cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of
  birth control, and we unconditionally reject it
  as a means of gender selection.
• Member of the Religious Coalition for
  Reproductive Choice for 35 Years. Very
  Pro-choice organization.
• 2/6/09 UMC Website Included a story lauding
  President Obamas decision to lift an abortion
  gag-order on foreign clinics funded by the US
  Government

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Homosexuality

• Therefore, be it resolved, that The United
  Methodist Church dedicate itself to a ministry of
  Christ-like hospitality and compassion to persons
  of all sexual orientations, and to a vision of
  unity through openness to the spiritual gifts of
  all those who have been baptized into the Body of
  Jesus Christ. Such ministry and openness may
  include welcoming sexual minorities, their
  friends, and families into our churches and
  demonstrating our faith in a loving God a
  willingness to listen and open our hearts to
  their stories and struggles in our churches,
  districts, annual conferences, and General
  Conference encouraging study and dialogue around
  issues of sexuality and praying for all those
  who are in pain and discord over our Christian
  response to this controversial issue.

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Homosexuality

• While persons set apart by the Church for
  ordained ministry are subject to all the
  frailties of the human condition and the
  pressures of society, they are required to
  maintain the highest standards of holy living in
  the world. The practice of homosexuality is
  incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore
  self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be
  certified as candidates, ordained as ministers,
  or appointed to serve in The United Methodist
  Church.
• Big Point of Debate within the UMC. Many want to
  remove this restriction.

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Role of Women

• We affirm women and men to be equal in every
  aspect of their common life. We therefore urge
  that every effort be made to eliminate sex-role
  stereotypes in activity and portrayal of family
  life and in all aspects of voluntary and
  compensatory participation in the Church and
  society.
• We affirm the right of women to equal treatment
  in employment, responsibility, promotion, and
  compensation. We affirm the importance of women
  in decision-making positions at all levels of
  Church life and urge such bodies to guarantee
  their presence through policies of employment and
  recruitment.

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Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

• When a married couple is estranged beyond
  reconciliation, even after thoughtful
  consideration and counsel, divorce is a
  regrettable alternative in the midst of
  brokenness.
• Divorce does not preclude a new marriage.

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Salvation

• From the Methodist Articles of Religion
• Article 9Of the Justification of Man
• We are accounted righteous before God only for
  the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
  by faith, and not for our own works or
  deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by
  faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and
  very full of comfort.
• Methodists teach we are saved by Faith Only
• Article 17Of Baptism
• Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark
  of difference whereby Christians are
  distinguished from others that are not baptized
  but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new
  birth. The Baptism of young children is to be
  retained in the Church.
• Mode of Baptism is the chosen by the recipient.
  Immersion, Sprinkling, Pouring, (usually
  sprinkling).

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Things to keep in Mind

• The need for scriptural authority in religion
  is foreign to most Methodists.
• Many Methodists will not have a thorough
  understanding of the Bible.
• Most will have very unfavorable views and
  misconceptions of churches of Christ (e.g. dont
  believe Old Testament, dont believe in playing
  music anywhere)

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Things to keep in Mind

• Many Methodists will not agree with official
  church positions on controversial subjects such
  as abortion, homosexuality.
• Methodists have no issue or problem with having
  John Wesley as founder. In fact, they are proud
  of their Wesleyan heritage.

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Things to keep in Mind

• Methodists churches are very involved in national
  or global social issues. A few examples
  Hurricane Katrina relief, Black History, Helping
  the Homeless, Malaria control, etc.
• Most official church positions are worded very
  pleasantly and thoughtfully (craftily) so as not
  to offend either side.

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Things to keep in Mind

• Methodist take pride in allowing for differing
  views within their own group.
• Clergy/Laity distinctions are very strong. Many
  Methodists lay members put much trust in their
  clergy due to their religious education, training
  and leadership.

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Things to keep in Mind

• Local Social activities very much a part of
  Methodist religion. This can be difficult for
  some to give up.
• Some may make a distinction between the teachings
  of Jesus and those of the apostles.
• Some may believe God as revealed in the OT is
  different from the NT.

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Teaching Methodists

• Have to prove to them they are lost, that their
  conversion was not valid. This will likely be
  difficult. Many will have experienced as much
  emotion and feeling relative to their conversion
  as you. They will likely be confident of their
  salvation.
• Have to show the relevancy of the scriptures to
  us today. They will likely assume that customs
  of the day may have affected what is in the
  Bible. You have to prove that it is still
  applicable.
• Have to show why one church is not as good as
  another. What is the problem with a church
  having a human founder? What are the origins of
  various churches? Have to show that what you are
  asking them to join is not just another man
  made group that also has errors.

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Teaching Methodists

• You may have to use their own Bible. They may
  think you are using your own edited version (such
  as Jehovahs Witnesses or Mormons).
• You must prove the necessity for religious
  authority but dont quote heres the three ways
  you establish authority like a creed. Be ready
  to show from the Bible why you do/dont do a
  certain thing. Even simple things may be a point
  of discussion. e.g. Where is the authority for
  having decorative plants in your church building?
• Your own level of commitment (and that other
  Christians) will likely be sensed by the
  individual you are teaching and will have an
  impact.

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Teaching Methodists

• Need to show that God does not approve of
  religious division.
• You may have to prove that God is not different
  now from what He was like in Biblical times.
• You may have to overcome the idea that Methodist
  preachers, due to training in seminaries are
  assumed to have much more knowledge and that
  regular lay people should trust them.
• You may have to deal with the Bible in terms of
  the generally accepted books and letters versus
  other books that are not considered canon.

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What Can We Do?

• Invite them to a Bible Study. Hold a study in
  your home and invite them to study a book of the
  Bible (e.g. Acts). Gods word is quick and
  powerful and has the ability to convict people
  if we can get them to examine it.
• Emphasize the Whole Bible Approach. The Bible
  tells one continuous story.
• Show examples of conversion from the Bible.
  Discuss passages that show what a person must do
  to be saved.
• Point out how local churches were organized, what
  their work consisted of, their practices and why
  it is important that we follow that pattern.
• Prove that authority in religion is necessary to
  please God. Show examples from the Bible where
  God expected men to follow the instructions given
  them.

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What Can We Do?

• Show from the Bible what constitutes faith. Show
  how we cannot allow our own ideas to change what
  the Bible teaches.
• Examine your own positions. Know why you believe
  and practice what you do. Continue to study and
  grow.
• We are commanded to go into all the world and
  teach. We are given examples of how NT
  Christians went out spreading the word. We will
  give an answer in judgment for our compliance to
  Gods commands.
• Remember, our goal is not to win an argument or
  get as many people as possible believing the same
  way we do. We are simply trying to convert
  people, and help make more true disciples of
  Christ. Let your speech be seasoned with salt.

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Methodist Episcopal Church South, Discipline, 1930
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A Methodist Church and its Work, Tippy,
Kern 1918 Statement concerning the work Of the
church.