Who Are We?
Methodism's Future In The Global Church
Methodism has, for the last 237 years, been an independent movement. In America, it has been tied closely to the denominations founded in the late 18th and early 19th centuries that bear the Methodist and Wesleyan name. The United Methodist Church in particular, the spiritual successor to the denomination founded by John Wesley’s decision to consecrate Thomas Coke, has bore the brunt of that identity, along with the various other denominations bearing the name Methodist and Wesley. The United Methodist Church, however, seems to be coming to an end for better or worse. Even if it doesn’t completely collapse, from now on things will never be the same for Methodists around the world, even if they weren’t in the UMC.
Methodism has become an institutional movement over the past 200 years. The truth of the matter is most denominations are not so closely linked to a single founder like Methodism is to John Wesley. While all of us in the Methodist or Wesleyan family would say something to the effect of we are simply joining John Wesley and so many others in the pursuit of God, there is a certain amount of identity that is wrapped up in the man himself, or maybe the name, that we cannot dismiss. In the center of this confusion is Methodism’s struggle with the method itself. Undeniably, most Methodists know little of class meetings, the doctrine of holiness, or practice constant communion. In many ways, Methodism is no longer a unique movement but is solely wrapped up in its own existence as an identity. To put it plainly, there is no longer a method in Methodism, it just simply exists.
If we broaden the scope of our analysis, however, we get a different picture of the current state of Methodism. From another perspective, Methodism has evolved far beyond the denominationalism that has spurred from our identity crisis, and into something that resembles Wesley’s initial movement – a movement within the broader Church. The charismatic and Pentecostal movements undeniably have their roots in the Methodist movement in America and Wesleyan theology. Currently it is the leading force of global evangelism.
In America, Churches of every stripe can’t get enough of small groups and are battling to find a small group system that effectively makes disciples (hint: the Methodists have one!). Ecumenically, the liturgical renewal and convergence movements are bringing the beauty of liturgy and effectiveness of the sacraments back to their proper place in the life of the Church. Even our Baptist friends are getting on board! Methodists should be avidly awakened to engage these shifting currents in the global Church that, properly appraised, seems to be converging around something that looks dangerously like the exact things John and Charles Wesley were so passionate about reforming in the Church of their day.
This global decentralization of holiness theology has the potential to place the Methodist movement and its successors in a place that more closely resembles the early Methodist movement than it does the Methodism that has existed the last 237 years. As we look toward the future of Methodism, the denominations and institutions that have propped it up the last two centuries look less like Methodism than the spiritual movement that most Global South Christians identify with led by charismatics in a mosaic of denominations and traditions. Combined with the aforementioned currents in theology and praxis these shifts offer the opportunity for Methodism to be cast in a different light.
Just as in Wesley’s day, Methodism could be a Spirit-led movement that speaks into the Church regarding our emphasis; discipleship, holiness, and communion with God to name a few. In this spirit, Methodism finally has a guiding document in The Faith Once Delivered: A Wesleyan Witness authored by Wesleyan theologians in a multitude of traditions. Following this pattern, Methodism may be best served by unshackling itself from the restraints of denominational identity. It could transcend denominations and affect change across the broader Church. Or Methodism can repeat the mistakes of institutionalization and attempt to rebrand itself as something new, yet again, something it is not and was never intended to be.
The choice is up to us, Methodists. What will Methodism be, and who will we be?
Looks like the UMC has thrown the baby out with the bathwater. John Wesley developed a satan proof way of making disciples and creating a church working towards Holiness. The 'organisation' has sadly left it behind and is now suffering as a consequence. Chris x