A Reconciling United Methodist Congregation
United Methodist History |
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| "The mission of the Church is to make disciples of
Jesus Christ." |
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Origins:The United Methodist Church originated in the lives and ministries of John Wesley (1703-1791) and his brother Charles (1707-1788), pastors in the Church of England. They were a part of a small group of Oxford University students ridiculed as "Methodists" because they spent so much time in methodical prayer and Bible study. Both brothers had transforming religious experience in May, 1738 and from there, lead a lively renewal movement in the Church of England. The Methodist movement quickly spread to the north American continent, brought over by laity and clergy swept up in the Wesleyan revival. Development of the Methodist Family Of Denominations: Wesley's influence helped to form many denominations that are the parent bodies of the present United Methodist Church, including the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Evangelical United Brethern. The history of these parent churches is one of division and coming together. Africans and African-Americans left to form their own Methodist denominations, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the African-American Episocopal Zion Church. Divisions have been over many issues, including the role of laity and clergy and the evil of slavery. In 1844, the Methodist Episcopal Church split between south and north over the issue of slavery. The Christian Methodist Church was the African-American branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Many of the Methodist churches have merged together, including the 1939 merger of the north and south churches, and the 1968 union of the Evangelical Untied Brethern Church and the Methodist Church. Conversations continue between sister denominations, looking for that day when all Methodists worship under one Wesleyan name! "The World is my Parish" (John Wesley): From our beginnings, the world has been the concern of Methodists. John Wesley preached in the coal mines and ghettos of the Britain of his day, taking the word of God to common people in common places. He encouraged Bible study, small group meetings and fellowships to make God's word alive for people. He supported social outreach and justice as an equally important part of the Methodist movement as conversion and salvation. |
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United Methodist Church Today: There are over 9 million UM's worldwide, with 1 million outside of the United States. To reach this world that is our parish, The United Methodist Church is organized as a connectional structure, with mutual responsiblities and acountabilities that allow us to make a tremendous impact in ministry and mission. We have over 42,000 local churches, all working together to make God's love and justice real. Approximately 39,000 pastors serve our congregations, though we affirm that the ministers of our churches are its members. Laity and clergy guide the church through our basic geographic area called the annual conference. The 66 annual conferences in the U.S. and 51 international conferences form the international General Conference, which meets once every four years. This is the only body that can speak for our denomiantion, our highest legislative assembly with up to 1000 clergy and lay delegates. United Methodists do our work through many boards and agencies, including the General Board of Global Ministries. We are also ecumenically minded, as part of the National Council of Chuches in Christ in the U.S.A., the World Council of Churches, the World Methodist Council and other international groups. United Methodism touches every continent on our earth. We continue to try to make real John Wesley's reminder that the world is our parish. For more information, contact http://www.umc.org. Trinity Church is part of the California-Nevada Annual Conference. www.cnumc.org  |
| 2362 Bancroft at Dana |
| Berkeley, California |
| Phone: 510-548-4716 |
| Fax: 510-548-4717 |