United Methodist Church (UMC)

The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a Methodist denomination. The merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church created the UMC in 1968. However, the Methodist faith has roots in the Wesleyanism movement facilitated by brothers John Wesley and Charles Wesley in the eighteenth century.

Methodism is a Protestant religion. Protestantism emerged in the sixteenth century, when Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation by questioning some of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther and his followers believed that Catholics were not being true to Christian beliefs. They broke away from the Catholic Church and called themselves Protestants.

Protestantism is one of the three major branches of the Christian religion, along with the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. About one-third of all Christians in the world are Protestants. Into the 2020s, the number of Protestants in the world was estimated to be anywhere between 600 million and 800 million. The UMC had around 10 million members worldwide and about 5.5 million members in the United States in the mid-2020s. It is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States.

The UMC is a mainline Protestant church. Mainline denominations are considered more modern and liberal. They adhere less strictly to theologies. While they maintain traditional practices, they are open to new ideas regarding societal changes and are more accepting of social issues, including same-sex relationships and abortion.

History

Methodism did not result from doctrinal dispute. It was formed in the eighteenth century by brothers John and Charles Wesley. John Wesley was a minister at the Church of England, but he struggled with his faith.

The Wesley brothers became missionaries and embarked on a trip to the American colonies. They arrived in Georgia in the spring of 1736. Their religious mission was not successful, however, and Charles Wesley returned to England a few months later. John Wesley stayed in America for a time, but he returned to England in February 1738. The two brothers continued to question their faith because of the failed mission trip.

The men had a religious experience that would change their lives at a prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street in London in May 1738. They had a vision of a new movement in the Church of England. Like leaders of the evangelical movement, they urged followers to experience Jesus Christ on a personal level. Followers of what was known as Wesleyanism (and later Methodism) began spreading the budding religion to the American colonies during the 1760s. The Wesley brothers sent several lay preachers to help strengthen the religion. One of these, Francis Asbury, later became an important figure in early American Methodism.

The American Revolution hurt the Methodist movement in America, as John Wesley supported the British and urged American followers not to participate in the war. It also kept Methodists in England split from those in America. After the war, John Wesley sent other Methodists to work with Asbury to strengthen the movement in the newly formed United States and help the Methodists there establish an independent church.

In 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in America. The establishment of two more churches followed. The Church of the United Brethren in Christ was formed in 1800, and the Evangelical Association was established in 1803. These two churches united in 1946 and merged with the Methodist Church in 1968 to form the UMC.

Beliefs

Like other Christians, Methodists share beliefs similar to those of other Protestant denominations. Members of the UMC believe in the Holy Trinity (God, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit). They follow the teachings of the Bible, primarily the scripture of the Old Testament and New Testament.

The UMC adheres to the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church. These are twenty-four statements (twenty-five in America) that formed the basis of the Methodist religion. They were taken from the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of the Church of England. Members also follow the Confession of Faith, which is sixteen articles taken from the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The United Methodist Church also incorporates Wesley's rules, sermons, and notes on the New Testament into its teachings. The rules include "do no harm," "do good," and "practice the ordinances of God." The sermons guide followers through the basic beliefs of the religion, and the notes serve as tools for interpreting the Bible.

Followers of the UMC practice the sacrament of baptism at birth or adulthood and recognize baptized people of all faiths. They also practice open communion, in which every baptized attendee who has received the sacrament of the Eucharist is allowed to take communion—not just members of the UMC.

The UMC has strong beliefs about social and ethical issues and follows the Bible for guidance on certain matters. For example, while it recognized same-sex relationships, it did not allow openly gay people to become ordained or allow same-sex marriage in the church for a long time. Most of these beliefs on social matters are not church law, and members are allowed to have differing views. Despite the 1972 rule banning openly gay people from ordained ministry, more than 150 American ministers came out as gay, and a married lesbian bishop, Karen Oliveto, was consecrated in 2016, bringing division over the matter of sexual orientation to a head. In May 2024, the UMC voted to repeal its longstanding bans on LGBTQIA+ clergy and same-sex weddings. This decision was part of a larger split in the Methodist faith between conservative and more liberal members. Because many conservative members left to join the Global Methodist Church, liberal members were able to push through changes.

Organization

The UMC has neither a single, central leader nor a central headquarters. The General Conference is considered the legislative arm and official mouthpiece of the church. Its delegates meet every four years to discuss legislation that affects members. It defines the powers and duties of church members and church officials such as deacons, diaconal ministers, and pastors. It also authorizes official hymns and books of worship and enacts legislation that affects the operation of the church.

The Council of Bishops is a group of retired and active bishops who give oversight on the mission of the church and spiritual guidance to the church as a whole. The group meets every year. The Council of Bishops' Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships acts as a media relations group to establish bonds with other Christian denominations.

The Judicial Council is the judicial body of the UMC and interprets church law. It is made up of nine members (laypeople and clergy) who are elected by the General Conference. The Judicial Council meets two times a year to ensure that church bodies follow the rules of the church.

Bibliography

Gamble, Justin. “United Methodist Church Lifts 40-Year Ban on LGBTQ Clergy.” CNN, 2 May 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/05/01/us/united-methodist-church-lgbtq-clergy-reaj/index.html. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Goodstein, Laurie. "Methodist High Court Rejects First Openly Gay Bishop’s Consecration." The New York Times, 28 Apr. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/04/28/us/methodist-high-court-rejects-first-gay-bishops-consecration.html. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

"Mainline Church." Theopedia, www.theopedia.com/Mainline‗church. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

"Our History." United Methodist Church, www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/history. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

"United Methodist Church (UMC)." Theopedia, www.theopedia.com/United‗Methodist‗Church. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

"United Methodists At-A-Glance." United Methodist Church, 16 Apr. 2024, www.umc.org/who-we-are/united-methodists-at-a-glance. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

“Who We Are.” United Methodist Church, www.umc.org/en/who-we-are. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.