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[[Image:United.jpg|thumb|right|300px| The cross and flame emblem is United Methodism's official symbol]]

[[Image:United.jpg|thumb|right|300px| The cross and flame emblem is United Methodism's official symbol]]

The '''United Methodist Church''', (UMC) the largest [[Methodism|Methodist]] denomination, was formed from numerous mergers of American churches dating back to the 18th century. The Methodist Episcopal Church split North and South in 1844 over the slavery issue. They reunited in 1939 (and included the small Methodist Protestant Church) to form the "The Methodist Church (USA)." In 1968 it merged with the historically-German Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church.  

The '''United Methodist Church''', ('''UMC''') the largest [[Methodism|Methodist]] denomination, was formed from numerous mergers of American churches dating back to the 18th century. The Methodist Episcopal Church split North and South in 1844 over the slavery issue. They reunited in 1939 (and included the small Methodist Protestant Church) to form the "The Methodist Church (USA)." In 1968 it merged with the historically-German Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church.  

It is a part of the universal [[church]], a worldwide community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. The UMC is organized into conferences.

It is a part of the universal [[church]], a worldwide community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. The UMC is organized into conferences.

The Methodists closely monitored the actual behavior of all their members through the "class meeting" every week. Typically twelve members met once a week to monitor how they were growing in inward spiritual experience. Their goal was to achieve "a mortifying self-knowledge" and "to replace a sense of the sporadic surveillance of the neighborhood with a sense of the omniscient eye of God"<ref> Schneider (1993) pp. 82, 115</ref>.  This intense introspection was critical in moving from a traditional personality that feared external shame to a modern personality that was driven by guilt.

The Methodists closely monitored the actual behavior of all their members through the "class meeting" every week. Typically twelve members met once a week to monitor how they were growing in inward spiritual experience. Their goal was to achieve "a mortifying self-knowledge" and "to replace a sense of the sporadic surveillance of the neighborhood with a sense of the omniscient eye of God"<ref> Schneider (1993) pp. 82, 115</ref>.  This intense introspection was critical in moving from a traditional personality that feared external shame to a modern personality that was driven by guilt.

By the second half of the 19th century, the class meetings were forgotten and Methodist leaders viewed the novel as a threat to morals. Novels competed with religion for an audience and provided bad examples that could lead the impressionable reader to a life of crime or might distract the reader from contributing to the formation of a just society. Ministers had the duty of directing readers to more edifying literature by acting as book critics. They might also serve as book agents by selling uplifting books, such as those published by the Methodist Book Concern. In the early 20th century, some Methodist scholars came to believe that novels were necessary for faith: reading quality fiction enabled one to discover commendable values and learn how to engage the world. Radio and film would supersede the threat posed by the novel.<ref> Matthew T. Herbst, "'The Moral Hurt of Novel Reading': Methodism and American Fiction, 1865-1914." ''Methodist History'' 2006 44(4): 239-250 </ref>  

By the second half of the 19th century, the class meetings were forgotten and Methodist leaders viewed the novel as a threat to morals. Novels competed with religion for an audience and provided bad examples that could lead the impressionable reader to a life of crime or might distract the reader from contributing to the formation of a just society. Ministers had the duty of directing readers to more edifying literature by acting as book critics. They might also serve as book agents by selling uplifting books, such as those published by the Methodist Book Concern. In the early 20th century, some Methodist scholars came to believe that novels were necessary for faith: reading quality fiction enabled one to discover commendable values and learn how to engage the world. Radio and film would supercede the threat posed by the novel.<ref> Matthew T. Herbst, "'The Moral Hurt of Novel Reading': Methodism and American Fiction, 1865-1914." ''Methodist History'' 2006 44(4): 239-250 </ref>  

[[Image:Ruin.jpg|thumb|350px|decline and fall caused by drink; 1840s]]

[[Image:Ruin.jpg|thumb|350px|decline and fall caused by drink; 1840s]]