Methodist / Wesleyan

Grew from

Anglican

From

1738 AD

Origin

England

Confession

Articles of Religion 1784 AD

Began as a renewal movement inside the Church of England under John and Charles Wesley, emphasising personal conversion and holiness, and separated after Wesley's death.

What marks it out

Grace held to be genuinely resistible and offered to all, against the Reformed account of election — the Arminian side of that argument, and the reason Methodists and Calvinists parted. Sanctification as the expected direction of a Christian life, with entire sanctification held out as attainable in it. Method itself: class meetings, lay preachers and circuits, the organisation that let a renewal movement reach industrial England. Charles Wesley's hymns as the tradition's working theology.

Bodies that grew from it

• The Salvation Army (1865 AD)
• Holiness movement (1867 AD)
• Pentecostal (1906 AD)

Figures

• John Wesley 1703–1791

  Methodism, and 250,000 miles on horseback

• Charles Wesley 1707–1788

  Something over six thousand hymns

• George Whitefield 1714–1770

  Preaching to crowds no building could hold

• Richard Allen 1760–1831

  The first independent Black denomination in the United States

• Sojourner Truth c. 1797–1883

  Preaching abolition and women's rights on the same platform

Alongside it

Also from Anglican.

• Religious Society of Friends (1652 AD)
• Episcopal (1789 AD)

In the record

1. 1730–1840 AD Revival

   The Great Awakenings

   Waves of revival preaching produced the Methodist movement and, later, the Baptist and Restorationist expansion in America.

What it holds

Each position in the terms this tradition itself uses, with its confessional source.

Baptism Church-dividing

A sign of regeneration and of covenant membership; the baptism of young children is retained. Articles of Religion, XVII (1784)

Church authority Church-dividing

Governed by conference and superintendency; councils are useful but not infallible. Articles of Religion, XXI-XXII (1784)

Justification Church-dividing

Justified by faith alone, yet holding that grace works real sanctification in the believer and may be resisted or lost. Articles of Religion, IX (1784)

Mary Church-dividing

Honoured as blessed; invocation of saints is not practised. Articles of Religion, XIV (1784)

Scripture and tradition Church-dividing

Scripture is sufficient for salvation, read with reason, tradition and experience as aids rather than as equals. Articles of Religion, V (1784)

The Lord's Supper Church-dividing

A sacrament of redemption in which the benefits of Christ are truly received by faith; transubstantiation is rejected. Articles of Religion, XVIII (1784)

The saints and intercession Church-dividing

Invocation of saints is not practised, though their example is commended. Articles of Religion, XIV (1784)

The state after death Church-dividing

Purgatory is rejected as without scriptural warrant. Articles of Religion, XIV (1784)

How many sacraments Genuine disagreement

Two sacraments ordained by Christ. Articles of Religion, XVI (1784)

Icons and images Genuine disagreement

Images are not venerated, though their use in teaching is unobjectionable. Articles of Religion, XIV (1784)

Ordination of women Genuine disagreement

Women are ordained to full ministry, including the episcopate. Contemporary practice, summarised

Perseverance of the saints Genuine disagreement

A believer may make shipwreck of faith and finally fall away; perseverance is not unconditional. Wesley, A Call to Backsliders (1778)

Predestination and free will Genuine disagreement

Election is conditional on foreseen faith; prevenient grace is given to all and may be freely resisted. Wesley, Predestination Calmly Considered (1752)

How the cross saves Difference of emphasis

Emphasises the universal scope of the atonement: Christ died for all, not only the elect. Held across the confessional standards; no tradition makes one theory a test of communion.

Spiritual gifts Difference of emphasis

Open to the continuing work of the Spirit, with emphasis on holiness of life. Wesleyan teaching, summarised

The millennium Difference of emphasis

No single position is required; readings vary within the tradition. Augsburg Confession, XVII (1530) for the Lutheran position; otherwise contemporary practice, summarised.

Inspiration of scripture Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Held across all confessional standards

Salvation originates in grace Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Second Council of Orange (529)

The Incarnation Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)

The Resurrection Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)

The Trinity Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)