Methodist
A Protestant tradition rooted in the Wesleyan revival, emphasizing grace, holiness, and practical piety.
Updated July 23, 2026
What Methodist believe
Methodists believe that salvation is by grace through faith, and that this grace is available to all people through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The tradition follows the theology of John Wesley, who taught that grace operates in three ways: prevenient grace that draws all people to God, justifying grace that pardons the repentant believer, and sanctifying grace that grows the believer in holiness. Methodists affirm the possibility of entire sanctification, a mature Christian life of love and obedience, though they do not teach sinless perfection.
Methodist worship is liturgical but flexible, blending readings, hymns, preaching, and the sacraments. They baptize infants as well as adults, viewing baptism as a sign of grace that precedes and invites faith. The Lord Supper is an open table, available to all who seek to live in relationship with Christ, regardless of denominational membership.
The Methodist tradition is connectional in polity, meaning local churches are grouped into conferences supervised by bishops, and clergy are appointed to congregations rather than called by them. This structure balances local initiative with shared accountability and mission across a national and global body.
Key beliefs
- Salvation is by grace through faith, and grace is available to all through the universal work of Christ.
- Prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace describe the stages of God work in the believer.
- Baptism of infants and adults is practiced as a sign of grace and entry into the covenant community.
- The Lord Supper is an open sacrament, offered to all who turn to Christ in faith and repentance.
- Sanctification and holiness of heart and life are the goal of Christian growth, made possible by grace.
- Scripture is primary, interpreted through tradition, reason, and experience in what is called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.
- Connectional polity under bishops and conferences balances local and general church responsibility.
History
Methodism began as a renewal movement within the Church of England in the 1730s, led by John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield. The name Methodist originated as a nickname for the methodical habits of Bible study, prayer, and accountability practiced by the Holy Club at Oxford. After a missionary trip to Georgia, John Wesley experienced a conversion at Aldersgate in 1738, where he felt his heart strangely warmed, and he began an itinerant preaching ministry across England.
Following the American Revolution, Methodists in the new United States organized as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1784, with Francis Asbury as its first bishop. The tradition expanded rapidly on the frontier through circuit riders and camp meetings. Several mergers shaped modern Methodism, including the 1968 union that formed the United Methodist Church. Recent global divisions over sexuality and authority have prompted the formation of the Global Methodist Church as a more conservative alternative.
What makes Methodist distinct
- The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, using Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience as a framework for theology, is a signature Methodist contribution.
- Prevenient grace teaches that God grace precedes human decision and enables the first response of faith.
- Connectional polity with itinerant clergy appointed by bishops distinguishes Methodism from congregational churches.
- The class meeting, a small group for mutual accountability and spiritual growth, was the original Methodist structure for discipleship.
- A strong emphasis on social holiness and works of mercy links personal piety to public justice and service.
Comparison with other traditions
| Topic | Methodist position |
|---|---|
| Authority | Scripture primary, interpreted through tradition, reason, and experience |
| Sacraments | Two sacraments, baptism and communion, as means of grace |
| Salvation | By grace through faith; cooperative and ongoing; believers can resist or fall from grace |
| Scripture | Bible primary, read alongside tradition and Wesleyan writings |
| Church government | Connectional polity with bishops and annual conferences |
| Worship style | Liturgical with hymnody; varies from traditional to contemporary |
Frequently asked questions
- Do Methodists baptize infants?
- Yes. Methodists baptize infants as a sign of prevenient grace, believing that God acts before the child can respond. They hold that baptism incorporates the child into the covenant community and that the child later confirms that grace through personal faith. Adults who have never been baptized also receive the sacrament upon profession of faith.
- What is the difference between Methodist and Baptist?
- Methodists baptize infants and baptize by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, while Baptists baptize only believers by immersion. Methodists use a connectional polity with bishops who appoint clergy, while Baptists practice congregational autonomy. Methodists also follow Arminian theology and hold that a believer can fall from grace, whereas most Baptists hold to eternal security.
- What is the Wesleyan Quadrilateral?
- The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a framework for theological reflection that uses Scripture as the primary source, interpreted through the lenses of tradition, reason, and experience. The term was coined by Methodist scholar Albert Outler, who derived it from the way John Wesley reasoned. It is not a claim that all four sources are equal, but a method for faithful interpretation.
- Do Methodists believe you can lose your salvation?
- Most Methodist traditions teach that a believer can fall from grace through persistent and deliberate rejection of God. This follows Arminian theology, which holds that the grace that saves can be resisted. Methodists therefore stress the importance of continuing in faith and holiness, and they reject the doctrine of eternal security common among Baptists.
- What is prevenient grace?
- Prevenient grace is the Wesleyan teaching that God grace goes before any human response and enables a person to choose faith. It addresses the problem of human inability so that no one is condemned merely for lacking the power to believe. Methodists use the concept to affirm both universal grace and the necessity of a personal response.
- Who can take communion in a Methodist church?
- United Methodist churches practice an open table, meaning all who sincerely seek to live in relationship with Christ are welcome, regardless of denominational membership or age. Methodists view communion as a means of grace, not a reward for the worthy. Some more conservative Methodist bodies restrict communion to baptized believers.
Find a Methodist church near you
Browse our directory of methodist churches across the United States.
Search Methodist churches →Related denominations
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