What is the United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church is a world-wide connection of millions of very diverse people who are working together to know and love God and share the fruits of that with everyone we meet.

Methodists emphasize experiential faith - the ability and responsibility to know the reality of God.

We emphasize personal holiness – the ability and responsibility to live the way God created us to live.

We emphasize social holiness – the ability and responsibility to work for freedom, justice, mercy, and plenty for all people.

United Methodist pastors don’t see their job as telling people what to do. Their job is to help people connect with God, and hear God accurately for themselves.

In the words of our founder,

“In all things that do not strike at the heart of Christian faith, we think and let think.”

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Methodism started in the 1730s as a reform movement in the Church of England.

John Wesley, a priest of that church, felt his heart “strangely warmed” by God’s love when he realized that Jesus Christ died for him personally.

He wanted to share that experience.

Unfortunately, his message of salvation by grace through faith was not well accepted by many church leaders of his day, who put more emphasis on rules and rituals.

Wesley’s movement “to reform the Church and spread scriptural holiness throughout the land” became one of the formative denominations of America.

Today’s Methodist churches vary greatly in worship and music styles, preaching emphases, activities, and even the languages spoken, but all seek to embody Methodism’s traditional focus on integrating personal growth, social justice, and an experience of God’s reality and presence.

What is The United Methodist Church?