How Does The Methodist Church differ from The Church Of England?

[Hazel W]

I belong to the cofe church but I have often wondered in which ways does the Methodist church differ from the Church Of England,and is it an offshoot from the church of England?
Do Methodists believe in asking Jesus into ones life as their personal Saviour or is that a thing that Pentecostals and Baptists believe in?

Is there a difference between Free Methodist churches and an ordinary Methodist church?And how does the Methodist church view the Elim Pentecostal churches-do you think these kinds of churches are a bit dodgy?

 

[Qyöt27]

I belong to the cofe church but I have often wondered in which ways does the Methodist church differ from the Church Of England,and is it an offshoot from the church of England?

Methodism is descended from the Church of England. John Wesley was an Anglican priest, and remained one his entire life (and from what I understand, you can find parishes in the Church of England that are or at least lean Wesleyan, but I don't have any numbers; at any rate, John and his brother Charles have a spot on the liturgical calendars that get used in some Anglican or Episcopal parishes, as well as other high(er)-church Protestant groups that aren't distinctly Methodist). The reason the two are usually separate was that the Methodist bodies that existed broke away formally after Wesley's death (or in the case of American Methodism, due to the political turmoil surrounding the Revolution and the superintendent/bishop issue, which occurred before Wesley died). But it's not the kind of hard delineation that exists between, say, Catholics and Lutherans (or other Protestants that broke away during the Reformation).

Theologically, Methodism tends to still be similar to the Church of England, only perhaps much more distinctly Arminian (there are a small number of Reformed Methodists, though; mostly in Wales from what I gather). The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church as used by the UMC is an abridged version of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England that removes the Calvinist and Royalist portions (and adds one or two provisions concerning the American situation).

Do Methodists believe in asking Jesus into ones life as their personal Saviour or is that a thing that Pentecostals and Baptists believe in?

Depending on the social situation, you might hear it expressed it in the same way, but you may also hear it more as justification and sanctification. There is at least a tendency for Methodists to avoid so-called 'Christianese', but I can't say whether that's true of all areas.

Methodism was both a strong influence on, and a participating member of the Holiness movement that eventually gave rise to Pentecostalism. So in many ways you can see similarities. The difference is typically that Pentecostalism tends to put a primary focus on the charismatic portions, and Methodism doesn't (even though there are charismatic Methodists). Pentecostalism is also pretty solidly low church, while Methodism can run the entire gamut from low, to broad, to high.

Is there a difference between Free Methodist churches and an ordinary Methodist church?And how does the Methodist church view the Elim Pentecostal churches-do you think these kinds of churches are a bit dodgy?

Free Methodism initially was a difference over pew fees (Free Methodists didn't charge them) and abolitionism. Nowadays I think they just tend to be a bit more to the Evangelical side than the UMC and perhaps some of the traditional views on alcohol and other Holiness movement related things, but I'm not entirely sure.

The only stuff I found on Elim Pentecostal Church was on Wikipedia, and it seems [kind of] to be like any other Pentecostal movement, except for the British Israelism thing. I think that would probably be a contentious point, but beyond that I don't know. We have a couple of members from the UK that might be better suited to answer that part.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Hazel, there is a difference between the United Methodist Church and the Free Methodist Church, but one thing they have in common is being descendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination which was first organized in the United States of America.

Living in England, you are more likely to have contact with the British Methodist Church. It too is descended from the Welseyan Revival which took place in the Anglican Church in the 1700s, but it is not in any way organizationally related to the American versions of Methodism.

My interaction with Methodists from the UK on a Facebook forum indicate to me that they are enough different from United Methodists in the USA that while I can point to very similar theologies in our written documents, I'm would not feel comfortable attempting to give you a feel for the underlying ethos of British Methodism. For that, please, allow me to direct you to their website The Methodist Church of Great Britian and the Facebook group for UK Methodists.

As for how I would answer your questions in the USA: Yes, generally, United Methodists believe in "asking Jesus into ones life as their personal Saviour." I say "generally" because while that is the way we speak when speaking casually, when I reflect theologically on the issue, I realize that Jesus is already present in our hearts and lives. Prevenient grace -- something Methodists of all strips are big on -- tells me that Jesus made contact with me long before I "asked him into my heart". The scriptures tells us that Christ loves us before we first loved him. Faith is always initiated by God, and we are the ones who respond to it. You won't always hear that in Baptist or Pentecostal circles (though a good chance you may hear that among Pentecostals as they have their roots in 19th century Methodism), but Methodist will always speak of the God who goes before us and invites us into a relationship with him, rather than the other way around.

I don't know the Elim Pentecostal Church in the UK, so I will not speak to it specifically. In the US, I would not call pentecostal churches as a whole to be dodgy, which is not to say that there are not some churches of every denomination that won't be dodgy. While in the USA the Pentecostals are known for having more enthusiasm in their worship today than many UMC churches, that hasn't always been true, and that is really more of a congregation to congregation variance. What is more of a denominational variance is the understanding of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. In the UMC, we believe that the Holy Spirit is present in anyone who is in Christ. While some people will talk about a second work of grace, that is not central to Methodist teaching. But in the Pentecostal Church the idea of a second work of grace, known as being "baptized in the Holy Spirit" is very significant. Indeed, many have an expectation that the presence of the Spirit will be evidenced by specific signs such as speaking in tongues. Such practices would be foreign to many United Methodists (though not all).

 

[Cjwinnit]

in which ways does the Methodist church differ from the Church Of England,and is it an offshoot from the church of England?
Do Methodists believe in asking Jesus into ones life as their personal Saviour or is that a thing that Pentecostals and Baptists believe in?

As current trends go the Methodist church will die off in about 25-40 years and the Church of England will die off in about 40-50. That's the main difference.

 

[Greter]

As current trends go the Methodist church will die off in about 25-40 years and the Church of England will die off in about 40-50. That's the main difference.

This is their own fault. They have become churches of compromise. Look at the response the Anglican church had to the rejection of women bishops "Everyone will see us as out of touch!" the word of God is eternal and should not be toned down. This is not meant to be easy.

 

[GraceSeeker]

This is their own fault. They have become churches of compromise. Look at the response the Anglican church had to the rejection of women bishops "Everyone will see us as out of touch!" the word of God is eternal and should not be toned down. This is not meant to be easy.

Are you a member of either denomination, or just a troll who runs around besmirching the character of brothers and sisters in Christ? And, YES, that is what you have done. First there is no single Methodist Church, but many different denominations that are part of a larger Methodist family. The largest of these is the UMC. The UMC is organized to be administered using a representative form of government, so if you believe it has compromised there are actual brothers and sisters in Christ who you are accusing of such compromise. If you're going to hold us accountable, you could at least be more specific so that we could repent of it. But, thus far, you've only posted non-specific, generic dispersions. Not exactly in keeping with the principles of Matthew 18. So, please, tell us, where do you see the UMC as having compromised?

 

[Greter]

Are you a member of either denomination, or just a troll who runs around besmirching the character of brothers and sisters in Christ? And, YES, that is what you have done. First there is no single Methodist Church, but many different denominations that are part of a larger Methodist family. The largest of these is the UMC. The UMC is organized to be administered using a representative form of government, so if you believe it has compromised there are actual brothers and sisters in Christ who you are accusing of such compromise. If you're going to hold us accountable, you could at least be more specific so that we could repent of it. But, thus far, you've only posted non-specific, generic dispersions. Not exactly in keeping with the principles of Matthew 18. So, please, tell us, where do you see the UMC as having compromised?

I am sorry if I offended you brother. I was talking specifically about the Church of England and the British Methodist Church (more towards the C of E than anyone else). I don't know much about the Methodist churches abroad even then I don't specifically blame individual christians, there are great christians in every denomination.

 

[Cjwinnit]

First there is no single Methodist Church, but many different denominations that are part of a larger Methodist family. The largest of these is the UMC.

Britain has a different set-up. Here, for the most part, the Methodist Church is one body. A dying one, but only one.

 

[Greter]

Britain has a different set-up. Here, for the most part, the Methodist Church is one body. A dying one, but only one.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them absorbed into the C of E in the next 10 years, if not in less time.

 

[Cjwinnit]

I wouldn't be surprised to see them absorbed into the C of E in the next 10 years, if not in less time.

It's been tried but not happened for various reasons. It's unlikely that the Methodist Church will join the C of E in one single big action; rather that individual Christians will move churches by themselves.

 

[GraceSeeker]

I am sorry if I offended you brother. I was talking specifically about the Church of England and the British Methodist Church (more towards the C of E than anyone else). I don't know much about the Methodist churches abroad even then I don't specifically blame individual christians, there are great christians in every denomination.

OK, but my question still remains: In what way do you see either of these bodies as having compromised on something? Not saying that they haven't, for people make all sorts of compromises, but I believe it would be helpful if, in the face of such an accusation, the charge might be specific and not general.

 

[Mr Dave]

I belong to the cofe church but I have often wondered in which ways does the Methodist church differ from the Church Of England,and is it an offshoot from the church of England?
Do Methodists believe in asking Jesus into ones life as their personal Saviour or is that a thing that Pentecostals and Baptists believe in?

Is there a difference between Free Methodist churches and an ordinary Methodist church?And how does the Methodist church view the Elim Pentecostal churches-do you think these kinds of churches are a bit dodgy?

Hi Hazel,

I may be repeating things that have already been said, if so sorry =S

Structural/Polity differences

The CofE is an episcopal church, so the whole structure of the church is based on this. This means that directing the church (on human level, the Holy Sprit would be working too) are bishops who oversee a diocese, and the church filters down that way.

The Methodist Church is a Connexional Church, which means that it works slightly differently. Directing the church is the Methodist Conference, which is a gathering of people from across the entire Connexion (elements of the Whole Church) and includes both lay and ordained, presbyters and deacons.



Theological Differences

As part of its Anglo-Catholic heritage, the CofE is a Reformed Church which means that it has particular views of Salvation and predestination that Methodism doesn't hold to. I say officially because there are quite a lot of Anglicans who are more with Methodists here.

Again officially, theology of ordination. In the CofE, the usual form of ordination is ordination as a Deacon, which is accompanied by an ontological change (the ordination in some way changes the one being ordained). From this you are then usually (there are some 'particular deacons' who remain as a deacon always, but these are uncommon) ordained as a priest (another ontological change). If you are then called, you may also be ordained as a Bishop (another ontological change). In Methodism you are called by God either to the Presbyterate (Ministry of Word and Sacrament) or to the Diaconate (Ministry of Serving), and remain in this, there is only one ordination, and no official belief of ontological change (although some Anglicans don't believe in this and some Methodists do).


Practical Differences

In Holy Communion, as alcohol is not permitted on Methodist premises, the wine is always non-alcoholic, whereas in the CofE it is almost always alcoholic.

The CofE is the established church so had certain rights and priviliges; Supreme Governor is HM The Queen, Bishops in the House of Lords, some aspects of the church are written in law and come from Parliament, archbishops and some other senior posts are granted by royal assent and chosen by Parliament (upon advice). Methodism doesn't have any of this.



The Methodist Church is happy to work alongside any church that is equally happy to do so. I don't think Elim or Free Methodist are necessarily dodgy (some congregations may be, but that's true of most =P ). Structurally they are different being congregational churches. Each congregation is much mroe 'stand-alone' and directs itself rather than as a large unit. Elim holds to Pentecostal theology which is itself another discussion.

Hope that helps.

 

[Mr Dave]

Do Methodists believe in asking Jesus into ones life as their personal Saviour or is that a thing that Pentecostals and Baptists believe in?

We sort of do, but maybe not in quite the same way as in some pentecostal churches.

To become a member of the Methodist Church you must already be baptised and confirmed. Part of the confirmation service is the affirmation of faith which goes;


Minister: Do you turn away from evil and all that denies God?
Answer: By the grace of God, I do.

Minister: Do you turn to God, trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and in the Holy Spirit as Helper and Guide?
Answer: By the grace of God, I do.


Later on after the words of confirmation you make some promises,

I ask you now to respond to God's love and grace by making these promises,

Will you commit yourself to the Christian life of worship and service, and be open to the renewing power of God?

Will you seek the strength of God's Spirit as you accept the cost of following Jesus Christ in your daily life?

Will you witness, by word and deed, to the good news of God in Christ, and so bring glory to God?

(All of these are answered with, 'With God's help I will')

 

[GraceSeeker]

Again officially, theology of ordination. In the CofE, the usual form of ordination is ordination as a Deacon, which is accompanied by an ontological change (the ordination in some way changes the one being ordained). From this you are then usually (there are some 'particular deacons' who remain as a deacon always, but these are uncommon) ordained as a priest (another ontological change). If you are then called, you may also be ordained as a Bishop (another ontological change). In Methodism you are called by God either to the Presbyterate (Ministry of Word and Sacrament) or to the Diaconate (Ministry of Serving), and remain in this, there is only one ordination, and no official belief of ontological change (although some Anglicans don't believe in this and some Methodists do).

Interesting. This then is also a difference between British Methodism and United Methodism. In the UMC we do have first an ordination to the order of deacon and then, for those who are going into the pastorate, a second ordination to the order of elder. Bishops are consecrated, not ordained, to their office.