What is Methodism?

Methodism is:

• A faith that is both informed and widely experienced
• A religion that is intensely personal but shared with others
• A concern for spiritual, physical and social conditions of all persons
• An affirmation of belief in one God as revealed through Jesus Christ - but an appreciation for a variety of ways in which that affirmation may be expressed.

History of Methodism
Methodism traces its roots to the Church of England and John Wesley (1703-1791) the founding father of Methodism. Early Methodists focused on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis continues to be a hallmark of United Methodism today, in the form of concern for social justice.

The United Methodist church was created in 1968 when The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren joined together. The denominations had similar ecclesiastical structures and a relationship that dated back almost two hundred years.

Today, there are 8.5 million United Methodists in the United States and 1.5 million more worldwide, with the largest growth in membership in Africa and the Philippines.

“We all share a faith in Jesus Christ, but the United Methodist Church encourages us to think for ourselves, so we don’t necessarily share the same opinions about every faith issue or social concern.”

– A UUMC member