Very Abbreviated Methodist History

If you are a "cradle to grave" Methodist (or United Methodist) as I am, there is a deep sense of connection to previous generations of your loved ones who also came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who looked to the local church for support, encouragement, and instruction. It's an incredibly humbling thought to know we now have received the torch of faith.

5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 2 Timothy 1:5-6 (NIV)

In my experiences of serving four unique, local United Methodist churches in Alabama, I've come to know that often times as many as half of our churches are made of up those who did not grow up in a local UMC. This is an encouragement to me knowing that the witness and testimony of each of our local churches has created an atmosphere where other believers from various backgrounds can be welcomed and received with open arms. This openness and spirit of hospitality represent some of our Methodist roots when we are at our best.

Methodism dates back beyond the beginning of our nation and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was actually formed as a "breakaway" denomination having begun as a renewal movement within the Church of England in the 1700s. United Methodism, on the other hand, is still a very young denomination only having been founded in 1968. The start of the historical timeline below of the Methodist movement predates the formation of our nation. We are a denomination which was ultimately founded by the convergence of three churches in existence as of 1800: the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Association, and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.

Methodist Church Timeline 1700s to present.PDF

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Methodist societies began forming in the 1730s under the leadership of John Wesley (a brief biography is available here: John Wesley - GCAH), an Anglican cleric/priest. The first Methodist "class" or small group Bible study meeting was organized in the U.S. in 1760. Finally in 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a new breakaway denomination after John Wesley and others were unable to realize the renewal and reforms they were seeking within the Church of England (Anglican).

By the time of Wesley's death in 1791, it is said Methodists in England numbered over 70,000 and Methodists in the new U.S.A. were over 50,000 (article here: John Wesley | Christian History | Christianity Today). Wesley's life and legacy, as well as his focus on a community of believers living out their faith together, were very much based on the image of the early Church found in Acts Chapter 2:

46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

According to the World Methodist Council, as of 2016 there were over 51 million followers of Jesus representing more than 70 different Methodist-related denominations including United Methodists, Free Methodists, Evangelical Methodists, Church of the Nazarene, Wesleyans, and many others. Though we may carry different denominational labels, there is great unity among all Methodists in our core beliefs. The one obvious missing data point on the chart above is the creation of the new Global Methodist Church (GMC) which officially launched in May 2022. The GMC is not yet a recognized member of the World Methodist Council and is scheduled to have its first convening conference in 2023. In May of 2022, the Bulgaria Annual Conference (formerly UMC) was the first entire Annual Conference to officially join the GMC. By June of 2022, a new church plant in the Philippines performed the first baptisms of the GMC at Good News Life Church (led by for former UMC Superintendent). As of September of 2022, 72 former UMC congregations in Texas joined the GMC which currently has membership represented in thirteen U.S. states (read more at: Articles - GMC).

I'm not personally seeking to endorse any specific Methodist denomination. Each person and each local church are called to the spiritual practice of discernment daily for God's will. In the next article, we will focus more on the recent history of the United Methodist Church while giving the most attention to the past six years in which there has been tremendous change and controversy.

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

Wes