Important Facts About the Methodist Church

The Methodist Church began in the late 18^th century as a movement within the Church of England. A small group of students formed a group on the Oxford University campus. The group included brothers John and Charles Wesley and focused on Bible study, methodical study of scripture and living a holy life.

Other students mocked the group by calling it the Holy Club.

They also mocked them by calling them the Methodists.

Eventually the Methodist started individual societies or classes for members of the Church of England that wanted to live a more sacred life.

Methodist preachers gave long spirited sermons in open air fields to all classes of people.

The Church we see today is primarily Wesleyan in traditional. John Wesley was influenced by Arminian theology. Jacob Arminius believed that people could only be redeemed by grace.

Methodist began sending missionaries to America starting in the 1760's. Most of the missionaries were not ordained minsters. The societies they formed received the sacraments from ordained members of the Church of England. Many of those clergy fled American when the Revolutionary War began.

In response to the lack of clergy natives ordained their own.

In 1784 John Wesley sent Rev. Dr. Thomas Coke to start the American Methodist Church.

Francis Asbury, who'd stayed in United States despite the crisis, was set to be ordained as joint superintendent of the church. Asbury only accepted the appointment after the assembled conference agreed.

Eventually Asbury and Coke were named bishops of the American Methodist Church. John Wesley did not like the title.

Early Methodis clergy were known as Circuit Riders. They traveled throughout a designated area ministering to congregations and delivering sermons.

Francis Asbury traveled 270,000 miles and preached 16,000 sermons.

In 1792 several factions split off from the American Methodist Episcopal Church because they did not agree with the church's use of Episcopal power.

Methodism traditionally believe in free will and not predestination.

Their liturgy is not considered church but varies from congregation to congregation.