Methodist Church Is Established
The establishment of the Methodist Church on February 28, 1784, marked a significant moment in the development of Protestant Christianity, rooted in the teachings of British evangelist John Wesley. Originally ordained as an Anglican priest, Wesley's early experiences at Oxford University shaped his methodical approach to faith, leading him to form the "Holy Club." This group emphasized good works and a structured religious life, earning the nickname "Methodists." After a transformative vision in 1738, Wesley dedicated his life to evangelical preaching, conducting mass outdoor gatherings and revivals that attracted many, particularly among the working classes. His focus on personal salvation and social reform resonated in a time of hardship, contributing to the growth of numerous Methodist societies across Britain and North America.
The Deed of Declaration formalized the organizational framework of the Methodist movement, ensuring its longevity beyond Wesley's life, as he passed away in 1791. Over the years, the Methodist Church saw the emergence of various splinter groups, culminating in the formation of the World Methodist Conference in 1881, which serves as a global meeting place for Methodist congregations every five years. Today, the Methodist Church continues to be influential in various social justice issues and remains a prominent denomination within the Christian faith.
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Methodist Church Is Established
Methodist Church Is Established
On February 28, 1784, the British evangelist John Wesley signed the Deed of Declaration, a set of rules and regulations for the formation and organization of Methodist societies in Britain and around the world. In effect, it was the establishment of the Methodist Church, an important Protestant denomination of the Christian faith.
Wesley was born on June 17, 1703, in Epworth, Lincolnshire, in England. His father, Samuel Wesley, was a cleric. As a youth Wesley was educated at Oxford University. Afterwards he followed in his father's footsteps and was ordained as a priest of the Anglican Church (the Church of England, the official national church) in 1728. In 1729 he returned to Oxford to pursue advanced studies, where he joined a group of students called the Holy Club. This group's methodical approach to religion, including social obligations such as doing good works, earned them the nickname methodists. The name stuck when John Wesley, joined by his brother Charles, took up evangelical preaching after receiving a vision in 1738. That vision convinced him to spread the message that anyone could be saved through inner faith in Jesus.
Departing from the Anglican tradition, Wesley hosted revivals, mass outdoor gatherings in fields or other convenient locations for the purpose of reviving religious fervor. He traveled thousands of miles a year around England, giving several sermons a day, sometimes facing hostile crowds and punitive authorities. Over time Wesley became immensely popular with the working classes, thanks to his emphasis on individual salvation through personal faith and his involvement in social reform movements; Methodists were prominent in poverty-relief causes and other measures for the amelioration of the hard lives of the masses. The open-air meetings and rousing new hymns were also a refreshing change from the more formal atmosphere of Anglican services.
By the 1780s, Wesley and his followers had established a significant number of Methodist societies in Great Britain and North America. The Deed of Declaration of 1784 introduced a tighter structure to the Methodist movement, providing for a legal organization of the various societies so that they could outlive their founder. After Wesley died, on March 2, 1791, the faith he had created would survive and prosper. As the movement spread, various splinter groups arose, as often occurs in a growing religion. By 1881 an Ecumenical Methodist Conference had been established to serve as an umbrella organization for the various Methodist chapters. Now called the World Methodist Conference, it meets every five years.