WHAT IS DISTINCTIVE ABOUT METHODISM?
All Can Be Saved
Methodists have always been clear that no-one is beyond the reach of God's love. Salvation is there for everyone who turns to God, and not just for a chosen few.
Assurance of God's Love
"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." - John Wesley
Living a Holy Life
The longing for holiness is not about wanting to be 'holier than thou'. It is about wanting the love of God to permeate all of our life, and for that love to be shown through our lives to other people.
A Grassroots Movement
It is a strong feature of Methodism that ordinary lay people play a major part in the running of the Church.
A Covenant with God
I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
Born in Song
Methodists are well known as enthusiastic singers, in choirs and congregations. Singing is still an important means of learning about, sharing and celebrating our faith.
Small Groups
Early Methodist gatherings were called 'societies'. John Wesley encouraged different kinds of small groups to develop, so that both leaders and members of the societies could receive support and challenge in their faith.
Reading the Bible
"The Bible is the record of God's self revelation, supremely in Jesus Christ, and is a means through which he still reveals himself, by the Holy Spirit."
- A Catechism for the people called Methodists, Question 52
The Methodist Quadrilateral
Methodists traditionally use a fourfold approach to learn about our Christian faith and apply it to contemporary issues and to our Christian practice.
The Connexion
Methodists belong to local churches or ecumenical partnerships, but also feel part of a larger connected community, the Connexion.