United Methodist Church

Church Links

National Regional/Local

In 1729 ordained clergyman John Wesley felt a call to renew the Church of England.  Although the church rejected the renewal efforts, the movement was embraced by many and led to the beginning of Methodism.  When the United Methodist Church was created in 1968 by the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church, it had approximately I I million members, making it one of the largest Protestant churches in the world.  It 2002 it was considered the third largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.

Abortion: The UMC believes in the sanctity of unborn human life, which makes it reluctant to approve abortion.  But it is equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well being of the mother, for whom devastating damage may result from an unacceptable pregnancy.  Therefore, the church supports the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures.  The church cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control and unconditionally rejects it as a means of gender selection.

Baptism: United Methodists identify their ritual for baptism as "The Services of the Baptismal Covenant." In baptism the church declares that it is bound in covenant to God.  Through baptism new persons are initiated into that covenant.  This covenant connects God, the faith community, and the person being baptized.  Each of the three are essential to the fulfillment of the baptismal covenant.  God's gift of grace initiates the covenant relationship and enables church community and the person to respond with faith.  One can choose to be baptized by sprinkling, pouring, or immersing.

Birth Control: People have the duty to consider the impact on the total world community of their decisions regarding childbearing.  They should have access to information and appropriate means to limit their fertility, including voluntary sterilization.

Christ's Return: Christ will return again in glory to judge  the righteous and the unrighteous.

Communion: The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves, one to another, but rather is a sacrament of redemption by Christ's death; insomuch that, to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, the bread which is broken is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the body of Christ.  Transubstantiation, or the change of the substance of bread and wine in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.  The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after a heavenly and spiritual manner.  And the meand whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Lord's Supper is faith.  The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.  Communion may be served as often as desired and is open to all.

Deity of Jesus: The Son-who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father-took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin so that two whole and perfect natures, the Godhead and manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided.  Christ is very God and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried to reconcile his Father to mankind.  He was a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.

Divorce and Remarriage: The UMC affirms the sanctity of the marriage covenant which is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman.  When marriage partners are estranged beyond reconciliation, the church recognizes divorce as regrettable, but also recognizes the right of divorced persons to remarry.
Government: The General Conference of the United Methodist Church, composed of no fewer than 600 and no more than 1,000 delegates, is the only body that speaks for the church.  It convenes every four years to set legislation and define powers and duties within the church.  Five jurisdictions (geographic areas) are composed of several episcopal areas-each of which is overseen by a bishop elected by lay and clergy representatives.  Within these episcopal areas are annual conferences that are divided into districts.  The district superintendent oversees the local churches in each district.  Clergy are assigned to local churches and other appointments by the bishop.

Heaven/Hell: The UMC believes in the resurrection of the dead: the righteous to life etemal, and the wicked to endless condemnation.

Homosexuality: The church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers it incompatible with Christian teaching.  However, the UMC also affirms that God's grace is available to all.  Homosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth, and the church supports basic human rights and civil liberties for homosexual persons.
 
Inspiration of Scripture: The Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for salvation.
Miracles:  The UMC accepts the biblical accounts of miracles.

Restrictions: The church supports abstinence from alcohol, illegal drugs, and tobacco.  Christians should refrain from gambling.

Security of Salvation: After a believer has received the Holy Ghost, they may depart from grace given and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend their life.

Trinity: With Christians of other Communions, the United Methodist Church confesses its belief in the triune God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible.  And in unity of this Godhead are three persons of one substance, power, and etemity-the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.  This confession embraces the biblical witness to God's activity in creation, encompasses God's gracious self-involvement in the dramas of history, and anticipates the consummation of God's reign.

Women in Ministry: The UMC affirms the importance of women in decisionmaking positions at all levels of church life, including pastoral positions.  It urges churches to guarantee their presence through policies of employment and recruitment.
======================================================
For more information contact:
United Methodist Church
601 W. Riverside Ave.
Dayton, OH 45406
Phone: (800) 672-1789
Fax: (615) 742-5469
E-mail: infoserv@umcom.org
Web site: www.umc.org 

Church information from The 60-Second Guide to Denominations: Understanding Protestant Churches of North America (2003) by Shelly Steig, Published by World Bible Publishers, Inc.  Iowa Falls, Iowa