About the Methodist Church

What is the doctrine of the Methodist Church?

The Methodist church claims and cherishes its place in the Holy Catholic Church which is the body of Christ. It rejoices in the inheritance of the apostolic faith and loyally accepts the fundamental principles of the historic creeds and of the Protestant Reformation. It ever remembers that in the providence of God Methodism was raised up to spread scriptural holiness through the land by the proclamation of the evangelical faith and declares its unfaltering resolve to be true to its divinely appointed mission.

The Doctrines of the evangelical faith which Methodism has held from the beginning and still holds are based upon the divine revelation recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The Methodist Church acknowledges this revelation as the supreme rule of faith and practice. These evangelical doctrines to which the preachers of the Methodist Church are pledged are contained in Wesley’s Notes on the New Testament and the first four volumes of his sermons.

What is the priesthood of all believers?

The Methodist Church holds the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers and consequently believes that no priesthood exists which belongs exclusively to a particular class of persons but in the exercise of its corporate life and worship special qualifications  for the discharge of special duties are required and thus the principle of representative selection is recognised.

What are the sacraments of the Methodist Church?

The Methodist Church recognises two sacraments namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as of divinely appoint and of perpetual obligation of which it is the privilege and duty of the members of the Methodist Church to avail themselves.

Source: The Constitutional Practice and discipline of the Methodist Church Vol 2 p213f

How is the Methodist Church responding to God’s love today?

The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission

It does this through:

• Worship  - through its regular Sunday worship and through its practical relationship between members and with its neighbouring community
• Learning and caring – through a Junior church programme and occasional adult education courses notably during Lent
• Service the church runs a number of social activities for the benefit of all and makes its property available for others who would also seek to serve the community
• Evangelism – the church willingly shares what it understands to be Good News with others and encourages them to become part of the church community sharing its life and responsibilities

For further information you may wish to visit the following websites:
www.methodist.org.uk
www.methodistlondon.org.uk
WORSHIP
LEARNING & CARING
SERVICE
EVANGELISM