The Methodist Church

 

Wesley's Rules

Our Calling

The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission

It does this through:

  • WORSHIP
  • LEARNING & CARING
  • SERVICE
  • EVANGELISM
 
Methodist Deed of Union

 

'The Methodist Church claims and cherishes its place in the Holy Catholic Church which is the Body of Christ. It rejoices in the inheritance of the apostolic faith and loyally accepts the fundamental principles of the historic creeds and of the Protestant Reformation.'

 

 

A covenant with God

'I am no longer my own but yours.

Put me to what you will,

rank me with whom you will;

put me to doing,

put me to suffering;

let me be employed for you,

or laid aside for you,

exalted for you,

or brought low for you;

let me be full,

let me be empty,

let me have all things,

let me have nothing:

I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things

to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

you are mine and I am yours.'

 

 

All can be saved

"All need to be saved.

All may be saved.

All may know themselves saved.

All may be saved to the uttermost."

 

Traditional summary of Methodist Teaching

 

Methodists have always been clear that no-one is beyond the reach of God's love. Salvation is there for everyone who turns to God, and not just for a chosen few.

 

Why do we need salvation?

 

As human beings we find ourselves part of an unjust, sinful and violent world, which we may feel individually helpless to change.

 

We may feel driven by urges such as anger, lust or greed, that we wish did not control us.

 

We may have personalities which are difficult to manage, for instance being prone to despair.

 

We may be enduring poverty and hardship.

 

The demands of modern life leave many of us stressed and overloaded, or isolated and feeling useless.

 

Loss, fear, grief or guilt may be weighing us down. We need salvation.

 

 

What do Christians believe?

 

Jesus preached the Gospel - the good news of the Kingdom of God. Through Jesus' death on the cross, and his resurrection, Christians believe that God has broken the power of all that is evil, in the world and in ourselves. If we accept forgiveness and liberation, and are willing to be open to the Holy Spirit, God can enable us to resist evil and to live life to the full.

 

 

Structure of the Methodist Church

The Methodist Church is still organised in a methodical way using many of the structures introduced by its founder, John Wesley. However, the Church is quite pragmatic, and is willing to make changes where they seem desirable. 

 

Structures are there to enable decision making that takes account of all concerns and views within the Church. No one is given supreme authority – consultation is vital. At the same time, churches cannot simply arrange their own affairs, but have some shared disciplines and

ways of working.

The Connexion

Methodists are linked together in a ‘Connexion’ of churches, circuits and districts.

 

The local church

The local church is the congregational place of worship, where Methodist members and attenders are nurtured.

 

The circuit

A circuit is a group of local churches, served by a team of local preachers and ministers including the superintendent minister.

 

The district

The district serves a geographical group of circuits and is led by the district chair.

 

The Conference

The annual Methodist Conference meets in different places and is the supreme decision making body of the Church. At the start of Conference a new President and Vice-President are appointed to preside over that Conference and spend the year travelling around the Connexion, and abroad representing the Methodist Church.