United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church is a large group.

It has many members in many lands. This group began a long time ago.

Some students in England started it. They studied the Bible in a careful way. People called them "Methodists."

John Wesley was a leader. He went to America to teach.

He helped start new churches there.

Today, the church has many churches. They meet in many different places.

They work to help the world.

People in the church follow Jesus. They use special books to pray.

The United Methodist Church is a large Christian group.

It has about 10 million members around the world. This group includes people in Africa, Europe, and the United States.

It is a major part of Methodism.

The group began in England during the 1700s. A group of students met at Oxford University. They included John Wesley and Charles Wesley. They studied the Bible in a very careful way. Other people called them "Methodists" because they were so methodical. This means they were very neat and disciplined in their study.

In 1768, two groups joined to form a new church. This group is the United Methodist Church we know today.

The church has many parts. It is organized into groups called conferences. The General Conference is the highest level. It is the only part that speaks for the whole church.

Recently, the church has seen some big changes. Many churches in the United States chose to leave. This happened because leaders disagreed on some ideas. In 2024, the church made new rules for its leaders. These rules help different parts of the world lead themselves.

The United Methodist Church is a large Christian group with members all over the world.

It has about 10 million members in many places. These places include Africa, the Philippines, Europe, and the United States. The church is a major part of a tradition called Methodism. Its mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ to help change the world.

This group is known for its special way of worship and its focus on living a holy life.

To run things, the church uses a system called connectional polity. This means the different parts of the church stay connected through groups called conferences. The highest group is the General Conference. This is the only part that can speak officially for the whole church.

In 2024, the church also worked on a plan called Worldwide Regionalization. This plan gives different regions of the world more power to lead themselves. Many people believe this helps the church stay united across different countries.

The roots of this faith go back to the 1700s in England. A group of students at Oxford University began meeting to study the Bible. These students included John Wesley and Charles Wesley. They were very careful and disciplined in their study.

Other people started calling them "Methodists" because they were so methodical. This name eventually became the name for the whole movement.

History shows many changes and splits within the church over time. In 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was officially formed in Baltimore, Maryland.

Later, in 1968, two groups joined together in Dallas, Texas, to create the United Methodist Church. However, the church has also faced hard times. Between 1968 and 2022, membership in the United States dropped from 11 million to about 5.4 million. Some churches also left the group due to disagreements about different ideas.

Methodism has always been part of many different communities. For example, the church grew quickly in the United States because of people called circuit riders. These preachers traveled on horseback to reach many small towns. The church also has a long history with different groups of people. In the 1700s, African Americans like Richard Allen and Absalom Jones were ordained in the church. This history shows how the church has grown and changed through many different eras.

The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a major worldwide Protestant Christian denomination.

It is a primary part of the broader Methodist tradition. The church claims approximately 10 million members globally. These members live in various regions, including Africa, Europe, the Philippines, and the United States. The church defines its central mission through its Book of Discipline. This text states the mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

To manage its global presence, the UMC uses a system called connectional polity. This system organizes the church into various levels called conferences. The highest governing body is the General Conference. This is the only organization authorized to speak officially for the entire United Methodist Church.

Recently, the church has moved toward a structure known as Worldwide Regionalization. This process involves Constitutional Amendments passed at the 2024 General Conference. It aims to give equal autonomy to different global regions. This restructuring includes renaming former Central Conferences to Regional Conferences. Many members believe this helps decolonize the church and promotes global unity.

The theological identity of the UMC is described as decidedly Wesleyan. This means its beliefs are shaped by the teachings of the Wesley brothers. The church emphasizes liturgical worship, holiness, and evangelical elements. These traditions focus on a disciplined spiritual life and the study of scripture. The church also maintains memberships in several religious associations. These include the World Council of Churches and the World Methodist Council.

The origins of Methodism date back to the mid-18th century in England. At Oxford University, a group of students began meeting for intense Bible study. This group included John Wesley and Charles Wesley. They practiced a very disciplined and methodical lifestyle. Other students mocked them by calling them "the Methodists." This nickname eventually became the formal name for the movement.

John Wesley later traveled to America in 1735 to serve as a missionary in Georgia. After experiencing spiritual realizations regarding God's grace, he returned to England to spread these teachings.

Methodism grew rapidly in the United States during the late 1700s. In 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was officially established in Baltimore, Maryland.

This happened after John Wesley appointed Thomas Coke as a Superintendent. To reach the growing American frontier, the church used circuit riders. These were preachers who traveled on horseback to reach rural areas. By 1844, there were 4,000 circuit riders serving the nation. This allowed the denomination to become the largest Protestant group in the country at that time.

The history of the UMC includes many periods of division and merger. In 1844, the Methodist Episcopal Church split due to tensions over slavery. This resulted in the formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Later, in 1939, several groups merged to create The Methodist Church. This merger included the creation of the Central Jurisdiction, which was a segregated administrative unit for African Americans. This system lasted until 1968. The modern United Methodist Church was finally formed in 1968 in Dallas, Texas. This occurred through the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

In recent years, the UMC has experienced significant changes in membership and structure. Between 1968 and 2022, U.S. membership declined from 11 million to 5,424,175. As of 2022, the church had 9,984,925 members and 39,460 churches worldwide. The church also faced a period of disaffiliation regarding social issues. In 2020, leaders proposed a split over the ordination of clergy in same-sex marriages. By December 2023, approximately 7,660 U.S. churches had been approved for disaffiliation. This represented about one-quarter of the UMC churches in the United States. Consequently, the Global Methodist Church was formed in 2022. In May 2024, the General Conference voted to repeal bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.