UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The United Methodist Church (UMC) was created on April 23, 1968 in Dallas, Texas,

when The Methodist Church (MC) and the EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN

CHURCH (EUB) united. Both churches were products of predecessor unions. The MC

was formed in 1939 by a merger of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist

Episcopal Church South, and the Methodist Protestant Church. In 1946 the Evangelical

Church and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ consolidated to become the

Evangelical United Brethren Church. At the time of union, the UMC had approximately

11,000,000 members, 40,000 local churches, and 35,000 clergy, making it the largest

Protestant DENOMINATION in the UNITED STATES. It also had congregations in

AFRICA, Asia, INDIA, and Europe.

The MC and the EUB had historic ties reaching back to their predecessors’ earlier

years. Jacob Albright (1759–1808), the founder of the Evangelical Association (later

Evangelical Church) had a high regard for METHODISM, and following his conversion

in 1791 was nurtured in a ME class meeting. Philip William Otterbein (1726–1813),

German Reformed pastor and co-founder of the United Brethren, along with a reformed

Mennonite, Martin Boehm (1725–1812), assisted at the ordination of FRANCIS

ASBURY (1745–1816) at the celebrated Christmas Conference in Baltimore in

December 1784 (see BALTIMORE CONFERENCE). Although there were Reformed

elements in the theology of both churches, the Evangelicals and United Brethren before

their union were heavily influenced by Wesleyan thought and Methodist polity.

Theology

The UMC is basically Wesleyan in its theology although within this broad framework

there is considerable theological diversity in the denomination (see WESLEYANISM).

At the time of union it was agreed that the denomination’s official theological position
would include four documents referred to as “doctrinal standards.” They include JOHN

WESLEY’S (1703–1791) standard sermons, his Explanatory Notes Upon the New

Testament, Articles of Religion sent by Wesley to America in 1784 and based on the

Church of England’s THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES of Religion, and the Confession of

Faith of the EUBC. The complete texts of the Articles and Confession are published in

the denomination’s Book of Discipline.

At the 1972 UMC General Conference, the church adopted a document titled “Our

Theological Task,” the chief architect of which was Albert C.Outler (1908–1989),

theologian, ecumenist, and Wesley scholar. The document emphasizes John Wesley’s use

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of scripture, TRADITION, reason, and experience (referred to by some as the “Wesleyan

quadrilateral”) as sources for understanding and practicing the faith. It urges United

Methodists to use these sources for their theological reflection. The document is

published in the UMC Discipline, its principal ecclesiological guide, and has appeared in

every Discipline since 1972 (although it was revised substantially in 1988). The revised

document makes clear that the BIBLE is the primary source for Christian belief and life.

United Methodism has been a leading force in renewing interest in the life and thought

of John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, who more than anyone has left his imprint on the

theology, structure, and mission of the denomination. The United Methodist Publishing

House has regularly published interpretive studies of Wesley’s theology and ministry,

and is publishing a critical and authoritative 35-volume edition of Wesley’s works.

Polity

The UMC is governed by a constitution and is organized as a connectional system

maintained by a system of conferences. Every congregation is affiliated with a local

charge conference. Charge conferences elect delegates to a regional annual conference.

Every four years annual conferences choose delegates to attend the denomination’s

Jurisdictional (U.S.) or Central (outside the U.S.) conferences and the church’s General

Conference.

The General Conference is the supreme legislative body of the church and is the only

entity that may speak officially for the church. The General Conference meets every four

years and is composed of approximately 1,000 lay and clergy delegates in equal numbers

representing various nations, but mostly from the United States. It revises The Book of

Discipline, which describes the church’s mission and structure, and adopts a number of

positions on social issues that are published as “Social Principles” in the Discipline and in

The Book of Resolutions. Legislation adopted by the General Conference provides

direction for every level of the connectional structure.

The denomination has an Episcopal form of government in which bishops, elected and

assigned by Jurisdictional or Central Conferences, ordain men and women as deacons

and elders and generally superintend the church’s work. They preside at the sessions of

annual, Jurisdictional or Central, and General Conferences. UMC pastors serve in an

itinerant system in which they are annually appointed by a bishop to serve local churches

or other ministries. Bishops are assisted in administration and receive advice on

appointments from district superintendents who supervise groups of churches in the

annual conference.

General agencies composed of several councils, boards, and commissions amenable to

the General Conference are an important feature of the connectional system. They

provide services and ministries beyond the local church and annual conference in such

areas as EVANGELISM, stewardship, social issues, global mission, finance, HIGHER

EDUCATION, publishing, and communications. Each agency has voting members who

represent the wider church and who employ staff to do the agency’s work.
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The UMC uses a carefully defined system of judicial administration described in its

Discipline. A Judicial Council, constitutionally created, is the denom-ination’s highest

judicial body. It determines the constitutionality of legislation and rules on the legality of

actions taken by any entity created or authorized by the General Conference.

Worship and Liturgy

Worship practices in local UMC churches vary. Almost all local churches have Sunday

services, though they may also have other gatherings for WORSHIP during the week.

Some congregations prefer a more formal LITURGY that does not vary much from week

to week. Others choose more spontaneous worship allowing for liturgical freedom. In

almost all congregations, however, the elements of worship include hymns, prayers,

scripture readings, and a sermon. United Methodism recognizes two sacraments,

BAPTISM and holy communion, or the LORD’S SUPPER. Baptisms of infants and

adults are held occasionally in congregational worship as is needed. Baptism is required

for church membership. Celebrations of Holy Communion are usually held monthly, but

in some churches weekly.

Worship is guided by hymn books (see HYMNS AND HYMNALS), including The

United Methodist Hymnal, which was last revised in 1989, and The United Methodist

Book of Worship (1992), although these resources are not utilized in every congregation.

Supplemental collections of hymns and worship materials have also been published,

including the African American Songs of Zion (1981), the Asian American Hymns from

the Four Winds (1983), the Hispanic American Celebremos (1983), and the Native

American Voices (1992).

Ministries and Institutions

A wide variety of ministries and institutions are supported by the UMC. Local churches
support denominational work in their annual conferences and other parts of the world

through a system of giving known as “apportionments.” In addition to their

apportionment giving, many congregations sponsor scouting programs, soup kitchens,

clothing banks, and other ministries pertinent to their local communities. Among the

denomination’s most important ministries are health and welfare institutions, including

hospitals, retirement homes, agencies to aid children and families, and shelters for the

homeless.

The UMC and its predecessor denominations have been at the forefront of Protestant

educational endeavors. Every local church is expected to have a SUNDAY SCHOOL for

training children, youth, and adults. United Methodist Women, the church’s principal

women’s organization, carries on an effective mission education program in local

churches and annual conferences. The church is also involved in secondary and higher

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education. A network of colleges and universities, including several black colleges, is

related to the church. In 1992 the denomination opened Africa University in

ZIMBABWE for the education of students across that continent. UMC theological

schools in the United States and Europe train its CLERGY and also enroll students from

other denominations.

The UMC is a vigorous supporter of ecumenical institutions. At the denominational

level it is an active member of the WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES and the

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES, two of the world’s principal ecumenical

organizations. United Methodism also provides substantial financial and organizational

support to the WORLD METHODIST COUNCIL, which links the family of Methodist

and related United Churches in more than 100 countries.

Caucuses
UMC denominational life has been significantly influenced by a number of unofficial

caucuses, some of which were formed in the years immediately following the church’s

inception. Among them are four racial/ethnic caucuses that have been effective advocates

for racial inclusiveness in the leadership of the denomination (see ETHNICITY). Black

Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR), a national forum of black United Methodists,

was founded in 1968. BMCR was especially successful in promoting the establishment of

a general agency, the General Commission on Religion and Race, in 1968 to advance the

goal of a racially inclusive church. In 1970 the Native American International Caucus

was formed, and that same year Hispanics began to form Methodists Associated

Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans (MARCHA). The National Federation of

Asian American United Methodists was founded in 1975. Racial/ ethnic people are

significantly represented in the membership of the UMC in the United States, and their

caucuses have been powerful forces in the choice of denominational leaders, including

bishops.

Other caucuses have been voices on theological and social issues. The Methodist

Federation for Social Action, which had its origins in the Methodist Episcopal Church in

1907, has been an advocate for liberal social change, including racial and GENDER

inclusiveness and the complete acceptance of gay and homosexual people in the

denomination. Its counterpart, Good News, formed in 1966, is a representative of the

evangelical party in the church and advances a conservative theological agenda (see

EVANGELICALISM). A caucus of gay and lesbian United Methodists, Affirmation, was

organized in 1975. United Methodist charismatics formed United Methodist Renewal

Services in 1977. The caucuses, racial/ethnic or otherwise, are well organized and publish

newsletters or magazines on a more or less regular basis. Their lobbying efforts are

especially visible at the sites of the General Conference.

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Issues and Controversies

The UMC struggles with a number of issues that have occupied its attention since its

creation. Among these issues are sexism, racism, HOMOSEXUALITY, membership

decline, and the global nature of the church.

WOMEN have always been prominent in the life of the denomination. But although

women have represented much more than half its membership, it took a considerable time

for them to be regularly chosen as delegates to conferences, to serve as clergy in local

churches, and to become leaders in the connectional structure (see WOMEN CLERGY).

Their situation has changed considerably. In 1972 there were fewer than 300 active

female clergy, but by 2000 their numbers had grown to approximately 8,000. In 1980 the

UMC elected its first female bishop, Marjorie Swank Matthews (1916–1986). While

increasing numbers of women occupy leadership positions in the local church, annual

conference, and other levels of the denomination, they still wrestle with gender bias in

many areas of denominational life.

Racial diversity has been an issue in the UMC since its inception. While the church

affirms commitment to racial inclusiveness, this remains an unfulfilled goal in many

areas of denominational life. Racial/ethnic diversity is often represented in annual

conference and general church leadership. However, local church memberships generally

do not reflect racial diversity, even in communities where the population is multiracial.

The denomination has a general agency, the General Commission on Religion and Race,

which monitors and advocates racial inclusiveness.

Homosexuality has been a very controversial issue in the denomination. UMC General

Conferences have discussed the issue since 1972. Although the church affirms the civil

rights of homosexuals, it declares homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching

and prohibits avowed and practicing homosexual people to be ordained and appointed to

its ministries. At the 2000 General Conference, the church also took a position that its

clergy may not perform ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions. Many believe that

changing the church’s position on homosexuality may cause a schism in the

denomination.

Declining membership in the United States and Europe has been troubling. In its first

three decades UMC membership in the United States decreased ap proximately 25

percent, dropping it from the first to the second-largest Protestant denomination in the

United States. Meanwhile, the church’s membership in Africa and the PHILIPPINES, its

two other geographical regions increased steadily during the same period. For this reason,

African and Filipino United Methodists have asked for a larger role in the denomination’s

life and ministry. As it becomes more conscious of its international character, the church

is working on ways to insure that it does not understand itself as simply a North

American denomination.

See also Bishop and Episcopacy; Methodism, North America

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References and Further Reading

Behney, J.Bruce, and Paul H.Eller. The History of the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1979. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church.

Nashville, TN: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1968-. The Book of Resolutions of The

United Methodist Church. Nashville, TN: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1968- .

Frank, Thomas E. Polity, Practice, and the Mission of The United Methodist Church. Nashville,

TN: Abingdon Press, 1997.

McEllhenney, John G. United Methodism in America: A Compact History. Nashville, TN:

Abingdon Press, 1992.

Richey, Russell E., William B.Lawrence, and Dennis M. Campbell, eds. Questions for the Twenty-

First Century Church. United Methodism and American Culture, vol. 3. Nashville, TN:

Abingdon Press, 1999.

Richey, Russell E., Kenneth E.Rowe, and Jean Miller Schmidt, eds. The Methodist Experience in

America: A Sourcebook. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000.

Yrigoyen, Charles Jr. Belief Matters: United Methodism’s Doctrinal Standards. Nashville, TN:

Abingdon Press, 2001.

CHARLES YRIGOYEN, JR