Methodist / Wesleyan
- Grew from
- Anglican
- From
- 1738 AD
- Origin
- England
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.
Bodies that grew from it
In the record
-
1730 AD–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)