Methodism - world wideChristianity is a global faith with over 2.5 billion followers and Methodism is a 300 year old offshoot of that family. It is the 2nd largest Free Church in the world with 39 million members and a community roll of 74 million in over 100 countries.British MethodismThere are about 330,000 members with 1 million on the community roll. A total of 1,900 Ministers and Deacons and 10,800 local preachers. With about 6,100 local churches in 650 Circuits, which form 33 Districts in England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Shetland and 2 overseas Districts in Gambia and Tonga.A local church is constituted by the people gathered in a location, usually in a specific church building. Those people exercise a ministry with the Church Council and Minister coordinating their activities. The Church Council is made up of the managing trustees of the local building and its fundsLocal churches in a defined area group together into a Circuit. Each Circuit has a Superintendent Minister and the Circuit operates through the Circuit Meeting, to which local churches vote local church members as their representatives. They are responsible for reporting Circuit decisions back to the local Church Council and the wider congregation.Circuits are grouped into Districts (similar to a Diocese in the Anglican Church). Each has a Chairperson of District and the District works through its Synod to decide District Policy. It also links Conference and Connexional Offices with Circuits and local Churches. We are in the West Yorkshire District.We are not a “sect” since we have ties with other mainstream Christian communions like Anglicans, the United Reformed Church and other inter denominational Christian councils. We are not just British but part of the world-wide, multi-ethnic Church. Nor are we just a collection of individual local churches; we are connected and act together, able to speak with one voice at the public, political and international levels.The Focus of our FaithAs a mainstream Church with a long history we are focused on the impact of the free grace of God (i.e. the unearnable, freely given, inclusive, sacrificial and transformational Love of God) on human lives, human communities and human systems of trade, and governance.We read the formative and normative documents of our faith - the Scriptures - in the light of our collective Tradition, Reason and Experience, with the plain teaching of the Scriptures as primary, in relation to faith, thought and action. We strongly believe that Faith and Love in action are both essential to Christian living and service in the world.Methodist HistoryWe can trace our origins to the 18th century and John Wesley (1703 - 91). It began as a “Society” within Anglicanism and was a sacramental, evangelical renewal movement. However, the Anglican Church at that time was rather moribund and eventually “the Methodists” as they were called, became a separate church after Wesley’s death. However, it itself split into various churches such as Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists. However, the major Methodist churches joined together in the Union of 1932 to form The Methodist Church as we have it today. Its characteristic features of vital and personal faith, compassion for others, social reform, the power of saving faith, renewal and holiness, care for each other and church order have provided its particular flavour to the world-wide expression of the Christian faith. See the UK Methodist website for further distinctive features of Methodist faith and practice. (click here)Created by Xara Web Designer Premium 7 , a product of the Xara Group Ltd., Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 6EX UKwww.xara.com/uk
Methodism - world wide
Christianity is a global faith with over 2.5 billion followers and Methodism is a 300 year old
offshoot of that family. It is the 2nd largest Free Church in the world with 39 million members
and a community roll of 74 million in over 100 countries.
British Methodism
There are about 330,000 members with 1 million on the community roll. A total of 1,900
Ministers and Deacons and 10,800 local preachers. With about 6,100 local churches in 650
Circuits, which form 33 Districts in England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Shetland and 2
overseas Districts in Gambia and Tonga.
A local church is constituted by the people gathered in a location, usually in a specific church
building. Those people exercise a ministry with the Church Council and Minister coordinating
their activities. The Church Council is made up of the managing trustees of the local building
and its funds
Local churches in a defined area group together into a Circuit. Each Circuit has a
Superintendent Minister and the Circuit operates through the Circuit Meeting, to which local
churches vote local church members as their representatives. They are responsible for reporting
Circuit decisions back to the local Church Council and the wider congregation.
Circuits are grouped into Districts (similar to a Diocese in the Anglican Church). Each has a
Chairperson of District and the District works through its Synod to decide District Policy. It also
links Conference and Connexional Offices with Circuits and local Churches. We are in the West
Yorkshire District.
We are not a “sect” since we have ties with other mainstream Christian communions like
Anglicans, the United Reformed Church and other inter denominational Christian councils. We
are not just British but part of the world-wide, multi-ethnic Church. Nor are we just a collection
of individual local churches; we are connected and act together, able to speak with one voice at
the public, political and international levels.
The Focus of our Faith
As a mainstream Church with a long history we are focused on the impact of the free grace of
God (i.e. the unearnable, freely given, inclusive, sacrificial and transformational Love of God)
on human lives, human communities and human systems of trade, and governance.
We read the formative and normative documents of our faith - the Scriptures - in the light of our
collective Tradition, Reason and Experience, with the plain teaching of the Scriptures as
primary, in relation to faith, thought and action. We strongly believe that Faith and Love in
action are both essential to Christian living and service in the world.
Methodist History
We can trace our origins to the 18th century and John Wesley (1703 - 91). It began as a
“Society” within Anglicanism and was a sacramental, evangelical renewal movement. However,
the Anglican Church at that time was rather moribund and eventually “the Methodists” as they
were called, became a separate church after Wesley’s death. However, it itself split into various
churches such as Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists. However, the major Methodist churches
joined together in the Union of 1932 to form The Methodist Church as we have it today. Its
characteristic features of vital and personal faith, compassion for others, social reform, the
power of saving faith, renewal and holiness, care for each other and church order have provided
its particular flavour to the world-wide expression of the Christian faith. See the UK Methodist
website for further distinctive features of Methodist faith and practice. (click here)
Created by Xara Web Designer Premium 7 , a product of the Xara Group Ltd., Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 6EX UK
www.xara.com/uk
