GENERAL
    History
 -Both of the Wesley brothers had transforming religious experiences in May, 1738.

 -Began as a lay movement within the Church of England. between 1738-1790 under the leadership of  John and Charles Wesley. Started in the US in 1784.

 -They  added a 5am and 5pm preaching service to the Anglican services devoted to justification   by faith and holy living.

 -Wesley never intended to break from the Church of England and died an Anglican priest.

 -Charles Wesley was a prolific hymn writer, John Wesley a dynamic street preacher.

 -To strengthen the Methodist work in the colonies, John Wesley sent to America in 1771 Richard Wright and Francis Asbury to undergird the growing American Methodist societies.

  -Francis Asbury became the most important figure in early American Methodism. His energetic devotion to the principles of Wesleyan theology, ministry, and organization shaped Methodism in    America in a way unmatched by any other individual.

 -The American Revolution had a profound impact on Methodism.

Question: Being a part of the Church of England, how do you think Wesley and the Mehtodists dealt with the   American revolution?

  -John Wesley's Toryism and his writings against the revolutionary cause did not enhance the image of Methodism among many who supported independence.

  -Furthermore, a number of Methodist preachers refused to bear arms to aid the patriots.

  -When independence from England had been won, Wesley recognized that changes were necessary in American Methodism. He sent Thomas Coke to America to oversee the work with Asbury. Coke brought with him a prayer book titled The Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America, prepared by Wesley and incorporating his revision of the Church of England's     Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.

  -Two other preachers, Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey, whom Wesley had ordained, accompanied Coke. Wesley's ordinations set a precedent that ultimately permitted Methodists in America to become an independent church.

 -In December, 1784, the famous Christmas Conference of preachers was held in Baltimore to chart the    future course of the movement in America. Most of the American preachers attended, probably including   two African Americans, Harry Hosier and Richard Allen. It was at this gathering that the movement    became organized as The Methodist Episcopal Church in America.

 Church Splits
  1784 Methodist Episcopal-American
  1816 African Methodist Episcopal-Black church, racial issues
  1822 African Methodist Episcopal Zion-Black church, racial issues
  1828 Methodist Protestant-full lay participation
  1843 Wesleyan Methodist-Slavery: abolitionists
  1845 Methodist Episcopal South-Slavery: Pro slavery
  1870 Colored Methodist Episcopal South: Black southern group
    Changed to Christian Methodist Episcopal
  1946 Evangelical Association and Church of the United Brethren in Christ unite.
  1968 Evangelical United Brethren and The Methodist Church unite to form United Methodist.

  -AME and AME Zion  Methodist churches split not for doctrinal issues but because the blacks in the Methodists churches had to sit in the balcony and had to wait until all the whites were served  communion before they could partake. Slavery was also a BIG issue.

    Membership
 -Baptism and Confirmation necessary for membership in local church.
 -18+ Million worldwide.

    Clergy
 -Will ordain both male and female clergy.

    Education
 Syracuse U., Duke U., Boston U., Northwestern U., Southern Methodist U.

    Social Services
 -Founded 'Goodwill' in 1902

 -After WWI ended the churches actively worked to secure world peace and order. Many laity, pastors,    bishops, and church agencies supported the establishment of a world organization to serve as a forum for   the resolution of international social, economic, and political problems.

 -In April, 1945, their labors contributed to the founding of the United Nations.

 -For Wesley there is no religion but social religion, no holiness but social holiness.

   Missions
 -John Stewart's mission to the Wyandots was the beginning of the presence of Native Americans in Methodism.
 -Established schools for former slaves and their children.
 -Missionaries like Isabella Thoburn, Susan Bauerfeind, Harriet Brittan motivated thousands of women tosupport home and foreign missions.

    Misc.
 -Heavily contributed to and were involved with the Presbyterians in the 'Camp Meeting' style of worship.
 -Open air preaching
 -Itinerant preachers.

Question: What were  itinerant preachers?

  -Circuit riders on horseback going from town to town, cabin to cabin.
  -Preached individual responsibility and need for conversion and regeneration.
  -Lit fires of revival on the frontier.

    Ecumenism
 -Active members of the World Council of Churches, and the National Council of Churches.

Question: How did the Methodist's get their name?

    Name
  -Given to them by the organized church and fellow students at Oxford U. in 1729 because they     followed daily routines of religious observances and social work. They were methodical.

  -Also called 'Bible Bigots' 'The Holy Club' 'Bible Moths'.

    Homosexuality
 -Good Samaritan United Methodist Church
  -A Reconciling Congregation:  Good Samaritan United Methodist Church believes we are all children of God and that God loves us all equally. We welcome and affirm persons of all sexual orientations. We pledge our love and acceptance to all persons and especially to those who have felt hurt or abandoned by the institutional church. We proclaim our selves to be a church of  reconciliation to all people. Join us in the worship of the God of love.

  -We are one of 95 United Methodist Churches across the nation who have announced that we  welcome and affirm persons of all sexual orientations. For more information, contact the church.

DOCTRINE
    General
 -Armenian as interpreted by John Wesley

 -Wide berth given to interpretation. Some liberal some conservative.

 -Reformed
  -Believes that while the grace of God is undivided, it precedes salvation as "prevenient grace,"  continues in "justifying grace," and is brought to fruition in "sanctifying grace."

Question: What is meant by 'prevenient'  'justifying' 'sanctifying' grace?

 -Fundamental and evangelical

 -Holiness

 -Entire Sanctification, 2nd blessing,

Question: What is 'entire sanctification'?
  -It is an emphasis upon practical divinity, the implementation of genuine  Christianity in the lives  of believers.

  -Sanctification and Perfection. They hold that the wonder of God's acceptance and pardon does  not end God's saving work, which continues to nurture our growth in grace. They hold that  through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to  increase in the knowledge and love of  God and in love for our neighbor.

  -New birth is the first step in this process of sanctification. Sanctifying grace draws  us toward the gift of Christian perfection, which Wesley described as a heart "habitually filled with the love of  God and neighbor" and as "having the mind of Christ and walking as he walked."

  -They believe that this gracious gift of God's power and love, the hope and  expectation of the  faithful, is neither warranted by our efforts nor limited by our frailties.

Question: Is this a gift from God?
      Is this something we should expect in our lifetime?
      Is this Biblically based?

    Specific
 -United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith in God, incarnate in Jesus Christ for our salvation and ever at work in human history in the Holy Spirit.

 -They adopted creeds formulated at the Councils of  Nicaea and Chalcedon.

  -The hold that such creeds helped preserve the integrity of the church's witness, set boundaries for acceptable  Christian doctrine, and proclaimed the basic elements of the enduring Christian message.

  -They believe that these statements of faith, along with the Apostles' Creed, contain the most prominent features of our ecumenical heritage.

 -They also follow, with some modifications, the Articles of Religion of the Church of England and the Heidelberg Catechism of the Reformed tradition.

 -'The Book of Discipline' contains their Constitution and Doctrinal statement that is used denomination wide.

 -Scripture:
  -They claim to share with many Christian communions a recognition of the authority of Scripture  in matters of faith.

Question: Notice any words missing in their doctrine of Scripture?

WORSHIP
    Style
 -Based on the BCP with significant modifications.
 -Some are more liturgical than others.
 -Go over bulletin.

    Sacraments
 Baptism
  -Sprinkling, pouring or immersion. Immersion is rare.

  -Necessary for membership in the Universal Church (salvation)

  -The vows made by the  parents or sponsors of the child are later assumed by the child when he is  old enough. (confirmation)

  -It is symbol of God's forgiveness and cleansing of our sin.

  -It is a sign of regeneration.

  -They believe they are a part of Christ's universal church when by adoration, proclamation, and  service they become conformed to Christ. They are initiated and incorporated into this community of faith by Baptism, receiving the promise of the Spirit that re-creates and transforms us.

  -See order of worship for rite of baptism.

Question: Is it symbolic or efficacious?  Can it be both?
      What is the Baptist view of the rite or ordinance of Baptism?

 Lord's Supper
  -Same as Baptists but observed quarterly.

    GOVERNMENT
 Structure 'Connectional System'
    Episcopacy (executive branch)    Conferences (legislative branch)   Judicial Council (Judicial branch)
 Bishops elected for life  set guidelines   9 member board based on
  (clergy)       Lay & Clergy      Book of Discipline

Boards and Agencies

Local Council

 -A Bishop is placed over an area of churches. Great authority is placed in the office of the Bishop:    especially to place, transfer and remove local pastors.

 -There are districts in each conference and they are responsible for: Missions work, College support,    hospital support, publications, candidate exam for ministry.

 -Local churches called 'charges'

Methodist Groups in the US
African Methodist Episcopal Church
 -One of the three largest of the Methodist groups in the US
 -Has it roots in Phila., Pa.
 -2,210,000 in 6,200 churches

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
 -Split from Methodist Church over discrimination issues.
 -Has it's roots in NY
 -1,195,173 in 6,057 churches

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
 -Split from Methodist Church over discrimination issues.
 -Has it's roots in the South.
 -800,000 in 3,000 churches

Congregational Methodist Church
 -Split over governmental polity and itinerancy.

Evangelical Methodist Church
 -Fundamental in theology
 -Evangelistic in programs
 -Congregational in Government.
 -9,500 in 138 churches

Free Methodist Church of North America
 -Conservative in doctrine and lifestyle
 -Human freedom: abolitionists; full women's rights inc. ordination.
 -Freedom to worship in any style decided upon by the congregation.
 -Free seats in worship. Used to have to pay for a pew.
 -Freedom in relationships. No private societies.
 -Freedom for laiety to have full participation in the church.
 -81,230 in 1,159 churches
 -There are more Free Methodist outside the US than inside it.

Primitive Methodist Church U.S.A.
 -Return to 'original Wesleyan' doctrine.
 -8,487 in 83 churches

United Methodist Church
 -United Methodist is the largest of all Methodist bodies.
 -Encourages abstinence from alcohol.
 -Has a 'Book of Discipline' with everything you want to know about the life, doctrine and government of    the U Methodists.
 -9,124,575 in 37,876 churches
 -37,807 clergy
 -Property valued at 17.5 billion dollars  (church buildings only. not schools, hospitals or nursing homes.)
 -89 U. Methodist colleges, 13 seminaries, 12 2yr colleges and 1 medical school
 -Missions in 79 countries with hundreds of missionaries.