Methodism

Methodism is a Christian denomination partly based on the teachings of John Wesley. When Wesley was at Oxford University, he founded a group of Christian students dedicated to prayer and a methodical discipline. Others made fun of them calling them "Methodists."

In the United States there are several major Methodists bodies:

• The United Methodist Church
• The Free Methodist Church
• The African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)
• The Christian Methodist Church
• The African Methodist Episcopal Church, Zion.

All Methodist groups have the "connectional" form of government. They have bishops, annual conferences and general conferences. The annual conference, presided by a bishop, is divided in districts presided by superintendents.

The bishop together with the superintendents appoint the local ministers.

John Wesley, the founder was a minister of the Church of England (Anglican) who on May 22, 1739 had a conversion experience, while listening to the reading of Luther's commentary to the Letter to the Romans. He preached the gospel in England over 40 years after his conversion, and tens of thousands joined his lay groups. They remained in the Church of England until after Wesley's death.

In the United States, with John Wesley's permission and support, the Methodists organized themselves as a separate denomination in December, 1784. Held in Baltimore, the Christmas Conference saw the ordination of pastors and the election of Francis Asbury as Superintendent, or bishop, of the newly formed Methodist Episcopal Church.

Beliefs

Methodists are Protestants and believe the Bible to be the sole authority in all matters of faith. They are Armenian in doctrine, but unlike Aremenian Baptists, Methodists baptize infants. Methodists are also characterized by their belief inChristian Perfection, the doctrine that teaches that a person, in his earthly life, can reach a state where he is able not to sin. Like Pentecostals, Methodists also emphisize the importance of revival in the church.

Colleges and Universities with Methodist Affiliation

• Northwestern University (Illinois)
• Ohio Wesleyan (Ohio)
• Baldwin Wallace (Ohio)
• Otterbein (Ohio)
• Defiance (Ohio)
• Kenyon College (Ohio)
• Ohio Northern (Ohio)