What We Believe | What it means to be United Methodist

Part of the “What It Means to Be United Methodist” learning series.

Similar to other Protestants, Methodists trust Jesus Christ for salvation from sins, believe in the Holy Trinity, and look to the Bible for answers to tough questions. United Methodists share a Wesleyan heritage with other denominations. Our beliefs make us unique and inform our religious practice today.

 

The "Cross and Flame" is the official logo of the United Methodist Church worldwide.

The Wesleys

Methodism arose as an evangelical renewal movement within the Church of England. Its early leaders, John and Charles Wesley, wanted to reform the nation, particularly the church, and to spread Scriptural holiness over the land. They sought to help the Holy Spirit breathe new life into the church they loved.

The Wesleyan emphasis on holiness of heart and  life—loving God and loving those whom God loves—is the hallmark of the United Methodist Church. In simplest terms, holiness is love. Wesleyan doctrine and practice intends to reveal and spread God's love through the lives of people.

Guiding this witness is the Book of Worship. It contains services for sacraments and rites of the church such as Communion, Confirmation, Baptism, and Marriage. John Wesley adapted the Anglican foundation book for use in Methodist services.

Creeds of the United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church is an ecumenical denomination. This means we affirm the Nicene Creed and Apostles' Creed. The creeds are historic declarations of Christian faith that provide shape and boundaries for worship and teaching. The creeds are meant for use in worship. They are used in response to the proclamation of the Word and as a way for congregations to affirm the teachings of the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

Read the Apostles' Creed

Read the Nicene Creed

United Methodists share many things in common with other Christians. John Wesley understood the concept of God's grace as foundational for living the Christian life. Wesley described grace in three different forms. These three forms describe how God freely gives for the transformation of individuals.

Grace

Grace is given by God and is present in all creation. Grace awakens our longing for deliverance from sin and death. Grace moves us toward repentance and faith. John Wesley described the dynamic of grace in three forms: prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace. Explore each below using the interactive feature.

Prevenient Grace

Preventative grace comes before us. It is God's working in the world through events, words, and relationships to persuade humanity to embrace God's love. Prevenient grace is God's love that works for us before we are aware of God's love and acceptance.

Justifying Grace

God reaches out to the repentant believer in justifying grace. We don't have to justify ourselves to God. God gives us an accepting and pardoning love with assurance of forgiveness through the prompting of this grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We become new creatures in Christ. A personal transformation or change occurs in the person's heart. A conversion may be sudden or gradual, but always part of an ongoing process.

Sanctifying Grace

Grace is also sanctifying. John Wesley taught that the process of sanctification begins at the moment of justification. At the same time that we are justified, sanctification begins. Through sanctification, we are born again, born from above, born of Spirit. Sanctification is God working with us by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about a real change of heart.

Watch the short video clip below to hear more about the concept of "justifying grace."

You may want to watch more videos about the nature of grace or other United Methodist topics. Click here to visit the United Methodist Videos page on YouTube.

John Wesley advocated practicing what he called "means of grace." A means of grace is something that leads us to a deeper relationship with Christ. These basic practices are how Christians open themselves to grace in all of its forms. People learn this form of loving over time through discipline and practice. For experienced practitioners, Wesley divided the means of grace into two general categories: works of piety and works of mercy. Explore these two means of grace in the following lists.

Works of Piety

Through works of piety Christians grow in maturity in loving God with heart, soul, mind, and strength. Through acts of worship and devotion. Here are some examples of works of piety.

• Public worship
• Ministry of the Word
• Taking of the Lord's Supper (Communion)
• Prayer
• Searching the Scriptures
• Fasting and Abstinence
• Christian Conferencing

Works of Mercy

Through works of mercy, disciples live out their love for God in the world by loving their neighbors as themselves, and in acts of compassion and justice. Here are some examples of works of mercy:

• Feeding the hungry
• Clothing those in need
• Helping the sick
• Helping prisoners
• Welcoming strangers
• Bearing witness to Jesus Christ

One can visualize the works of piety and works of mercy as forming the vertical and horizontal beams of a cross. We direct works of piety toward God (vertically).

We direct works of mercy toward our neighbors and ourselves (horizontally). Both are rooted in love and our means of grace.

Faith and good works both play a part in our Christian story. God's grace and human activity work together. Faith shows itself in the call we feel to God's work in the world and to the good we do for others. We respond to God's love and grace by sharing love and grace with others.

Mission and Service

Service and nurturing the mission of the church also remain pivotal parts of our experience with God. Love of God always links with love of neighbor, a passion for justice, and renewal in the life of the world. The church's nurturing fellowship promotes personal growth, but also equips and mobilizes us for mission and service to the world.

Members serve those in need in Huntsville, Alabama. Photo by Laura Buchanan, United Methodist Communications.

The Book of Discipline

The Book of Discipline is full of beautiful thought, theology, and language. It is the official book of law and order approved by the General Conference. It contains information indispensable to the United Methodist Church. Within its pages, you will find the Constitution, statements of belief, official positions on social issues, and rules for the organization of the church. The discipline remains the most definitive resource about the church and contains rich information for serious study.

The Book of Discipline contains sections on church history, teachings, beliefs, and social principles. Separate study guides are also available. You can buy a personal copy by clicking here.

The Book of Discipline is available online without charge in a read and search version as well. Use this link to read the Book of Discipline online.

Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and Reason

John Wesley, a practical theologian, struck a balance in matters of doctrine and belief. He adopted the theological method of the Church of England which consisted of Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason.

According to our theological task in the Book of Discipline (paragraph 105), Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illuminated by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. Based on this belief, modern scholars created a framework often referred to as the Wesleyan quadrilateral for exploring the framework of our faith.

Wesley further elaborated on this kind of faith in a three-part formula which he wrote for early Methodists in 1743. They are still in the Book of Discipline. Those who wish to live the Christian life should seek to:

1. Do no harm and avoid evil of every kind.
2. Do good of every possible sort and as far as possible to all.
3. Attend upon all ordinances of God.

United Methodist heritage is founded upon the pursuit of loving God with one's entire heart, soul, mind, and strength. Loving God compels Christians to love those whom God loves. United Methodists historically live out their love for God in the world by participating in the struggle for compassion and justice for all people. Early Methodists expressed their opposition to the slave trade, to smuggling, and to the cruel treatment of prisoners. An expression of that continuing concern is known as "social principles." They appear in both the Book of Discipline and the Book of Resolutions.

The Social Principles

The Social Principles are a prayerful and thoughtful effort of the General Conference to speak to issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation. They are intended to guide the church’s witness, teaching, and engagement with the world as an expression of Christian discipleship.

Community of All Creation: United Methodists affirm that all creation belongs to God and that we are responsible for how we care for and steward the natural world.

The Economic Community: United Methodists understand all that we are and all that we possess as gifts from God and seek economic systems that honor human dignity and justice.

The Social Community: United Methodists affirm that human beings are created for relationship with God and with one another.

The Political Community: United Methodists support structures in church and society that protect basic freedoms, uphold human rights, and care for God’s creation.

The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church are reflected in Our Social Creed. 

Membership in the Church

While people do not agree unanimously on all issues some church positions are foundational for United Methodists. For example, no one should be excluded from church membership or leadership responsibilities because of gender or race. Another foundational position is what United Methodists regard as Sacraments.

United Methodists believe Christ ordained two sacraments as signs and pledges of God's love for humanity: Baptism and Holy Communion. Explore each sacrament below.

Baptism

Baptism is the initiation rite for being incorporated into the body of Christ, the church. Through baptism, an infant, child, or adult becomes a member of the catholic (here the word "catholic" means universal) church, of the United Methodist denomination, and of the local congregation. Explore the Sacrament of Baptism in the interaction below.

What Baptism Means

The baptizing of a person is a sign of God's saving grace. God bestows grace upon us before we have done anything. In infant baptism, parents or sponsors pledge by instruction and example to bring children up in the Christian faith, teach them the Holy Scriptures, train them to give reverent attendance to public and private worship of God, and to keep them under the ministry and guidance of the church. Infants are sprinkled with water. Older persons may be sprinkled with water or immersed in water.

Confirmation

When children reach the age of confirmation (at about 5th grade) they affirm the vows made on their behalf at their baptism. They acknowledge the claim Christ has upon their life, professing their faith and intent to live as Christian disciples. Some people ask why we baptize infants and confirm them later. Should we not allow them to decide for themselves? The reason goes all the way back to customs of the early church. When a baby is baptized, we remember that baptism of Jesus. In Jesus' baptism, he was affirmed as God's own Son. Likewise, we affirm that all people are children of God.

Other Traditions

The United Methodist Church does not re-baptize people who come from another Christian tradition. We honor and respect a person's earlier baptism. A service in the United Methodist hymnal and Book of Worship allows individuals to recall their previous experience of God's grace through the waters of baptism.

Communion

Holy Communion is the other Sacrament observed in the United Methodist Church. Again, we understand Sacraments as signs of grace and God's good will toward us.

United Methodists practice "open" Communion. All people are welcome to participate in the meal regardless of their denomination, church, or congregation. This practice underscores United Methodist teaching that Christ hosts the meal and invites us to participate in a long standing oral tradition. Methodism declares this table is open to all who love Jesus Christ or would like to do so.

During Holy Communion, the elements of bread and wine or grape juice are administered. Just as we understand Communion to be a sign of God's grace, we understand the bread and wine to be symbols of the body and blood of Christ.

Communion may be served in United Methodist churches weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Other names for Holy Communion include the Eucharist and the Lord's Supper.