Methodism is a movement within the larger Christian Church that traces its roots to the 1700s, when John Wesley, an Anglican (Church of England) priest, established the Holy Club at Oxford. Methodism can be formally traced to Wesley’s experiences at a meeting at Aldersgate, England in 1738. Wesley wrote in his journal, “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death” [1]. This would set in motion the wheels that lead to revival in the Church of England and eventually the establishment of the Methodist movement. Also involved in this movement was Wesley's brother Charles. It is also important to note that Wesley's mother, Susanna, played an instrumental role in John Wesley's life and faith. Though it is not the intent to overlook either Charles or Susannah, this brief history will focus primarily on John Wesley and the various movements within historic Methodism.

Early Days of Methodism

Methodism can be said to have come about in three major waves: Oxford, Georgia, and London. While Wesley was a student at Oxford University in England, studying for the priesthood in the Church of England, he felt a deep desire to deepen his relationship with God. He struggled with whether his sins had been forgiven, what it meant to be a faithful Christian, whether Christians could be holy or perfected in this life. It would take years before he would eventually “work out” his understanding of salvation and Christian perfection (see the page on "What We Believe").

Wesley's time at Oxford allowed him to establish what became known as the Holy Club [2]. This was a group of men who wanted to devoutly pray, study the Bible, take Holy Communion, and hold each other accountable for their faith. People would ridicule Wesley and his “Methodists,” because of their devout following of their “method” of prayer and faith life.

The next “phase” or movement in Methodism happens in Georgia. In 1735, Wesley was asked to go to Georgia to minister to the newly establish colony under Governor John Oglethorpe. On his journey, the ship encounters a terrible storm. He notices that the Moravians (a group of German Christians) on board were not disturbed in the slightest. This intrigued Wesley, because he was scared to death. He wondered what type of faith they must have to not be disturbed. In 1736, Wesley lands in Savannah, Georgia. What he finds both surprises and enrages him. People are living so unholy that he is disturbed. He finds them drunk [3].

During his time in the colony of Georgia, Wesley publishes a number of documents, but most notably he publishes A Collection of Psalms and Hymns in 1737. This would become the first “Methodist” hymnal. Furthermore, he has some particularly challenging situations, among which, he upsets the leadership in the colony by denying communion to Sophy Williams (a women with whom he had once had been in a relationship with, but that relationship had ended, and she married). This eventually forces Wesley back to England. In 1737, Wesley sets said for England, and he lands back in England in 1738 [4].

This led to the third or final “phase” of Methodism in England: London. After Wesley is back in England, this is when he begins to work out his “method.” The Methodist movement begins to gain momentum and traction, with large crowds attending the holy meetings and prayer services. It is during this phase of Methodism that Wesley begins to organize the people called Methodists into classes and bands. Eventually, Wesley also begins working out the requirements for ordination and pastoral ministry. He also sets out standards of behavior and practice, as well as publishing sermons and notes on the Bible, theology, and the government of the newly found denomination. During this time, Wesley commissions many men and women to help in the movement, but three of the most significant figures from early Methodism include George Whitfield, Thomas Coke, and Francis Asbury. It would be these three men who bring Methodism to America.

American Methodism

Some would argue that American Methodism began when Wesley came in 1736 to minister among the colonists, African American slaves, and Native Americans. However, the formal origins of American Methodism begin in the mid 1700s. Three pioneers of American Methodism are Robert Strawbridge in Maryland,  and William Otterbein and Martin Boem in the Middle Colonies [5]. Throughout the time prior to the Revolutionary War, Methodism grows slowly in the Colonies. However, during and after the Revolutionary War, Methodism begins to grow steadily, and would eventually become the largest denomination in the United States during the 1800s. 

During the pre-war and war years, Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury had been appointed as bishops by John Wesley. Asbury is most notable, as he travels up and down the eastern seaboard. During the American Revolution, clergy in the Methodist movement had continued to serve churches, while many of the Church of England (Anglican) clergy had gone back to England. The first significant moment in American Methodism comes in 1784, when the Methodist Episcopal Church is established with the Christmas Conference [6]. This conference set up the organizational structure of the church, including the role of bishops, clergy, the doctrines and disciplines, etc. 

It is at this point that several points of contention had been challenging the Methodist Episcopal Church: the role of women, the role of bishops, and slavery (this would be come a more significant issue later). The role of bishops would be the first major point of contention, as not everyone is on board with the role of the episcopacy in early Methodist, and this leads to the first major schism. In 1800, the Evangelical United Brethren would be established (a German movement of Methodists) [7]. Although they were “episcopal” in some sense, they did not elect bishops.

The next schism would be the formation of the Methodist Protestant Church in 1830. This group separated over the authority of bishops (namely Francis Asbury), and the limiting of the power of bishops. There were disagreements over slavery as well as other theological disagreements. The three main Methodist groups in the United States, prior to the Civil War, were the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Evangelical United Brethren, and the Methodist Protestant Church. Another Methodist denomination that would emerges wasThe Wesleyan Church (separated in 1843). It separated primarily over the issue of slavery [8].

In the 1840s-50s, the debate over slavery continued to strain American Methodists, particularly those in the Methodist Episcopal Church. And, in 1845, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South was convened in Louisville, KY. This church formed to allow southern states, favorable to slavery, to remain Methodist and independent from the Methodist Episcopal Church (now largely northern). It would take nearly 100 years for the two to reconcile. And, over the next several decades, Methodism continues to grow and change across the American landscape. There are several smaller movements to note: The Church of the Nazarene (1895) and the Church of God (1886). Other Methodist denominations that have come about over the years are Free Methodist Church, Independent Methodist Church, Evangelical Methodist Church, and Southern Methodist Church.

The next major milestone in American Methodism would come in 1939 with the merger of the “three sisters” of Methodism: The Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the Methodist Protestant Church. These churches merged to form The Methodist Church [9]. However, from the onset, there were still apprehension about how unified the churches could be, as some still contended over the role of women, race, bishops, and doctrine.

Methodism Today

Today, the largest Methodist denomination in America is The United Methodist Church, which was formed in 1968 with the merger of The Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church [10]. However, despite initial unity and success, even the UMC has face challenges over the last several years. There are issues on human sexuality, role of bishops and denominational structure, issues with doctrinal contentions over major theological issues (sin, hell, virgin birth, resurrection, Holy Spirit, etc.). One of the more contentious issues that Methodism has faced recently is the issue of human sexuality and the role of ordination and marriage of LGBTQ persons. And so, in 2016, the UMC voted to uphold the traditional teaching on sexuality. However, many bishops, conferences, and churches have disregarded the churches teaching.

In 2022, a new Methodist denomination was formed, The Global Methodist Church. This church aims to restore a more ground up or church-empowered structure, while also maintaining a connectional structure (conferences, bishops, etc.). The church is theologically orthodox. As a new denomination, it continues to work out the needed changes and challenges that come with forming a new movement in Methodism.

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References:

[1] Richard P. Heitzenrater, Wesley and the People Called Methodists (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2013), 88.

[2] Ibid., 46.

[3] Ibid., 64-78.

[4] Ibid., 78.

[5] 1. Ashley Boggan Dreff et al., American Methodism: A Compact History (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2022), 10.

[6] Ibid., 31.

[7] Ibid., 40.

[8] Ibid., 76.

[9] Ibid., 80-82.

[10] Ibid., 153.