United Methodist Church Evangelical And Mainline

The largest Methodist denomination having both evangelical and mainline elements is the United Methodist Church. It has been ranked as the biggest mainline church and the second largest Protestant church, in the United States. In 2007, their numbers of worldwide members were estimated to be approximately 12 millions, among which 3.5 million are in Asia, Europe and Africa while 8.1 million in the Unite States. The United Methodist Church (UMC) traces its origin from the Methodist Movement of John Wesley in the 1700s in England.

The foundation of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the Christmas conference with leaders like Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury, led to the occurrence of the first official organization in Baltimore, United States, in 1784. The Methodist Protestant Church divided itself from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1820 over the fact of laity having the control in the administration of the church. In 1939, Methodist Episcopal Church of northern and southern region and Methodist Protestant Church, united together to form The Methodist Church. Finally, in 1968, Evangelical United Brethren merged with The Methodist Church to form United Methodist Church.

The United Methodist Church has been intentionally decentralized. Its governing structure consists of General Conference, the legislative branch which holds the decision making power; the Judiciary Council, the judicial branch who have power relating to constitutionality of the church practice and law; and the Council of Bishops, the executive branch whose duty is to have a word with the church and represent it to the whole nation and to lead in the quest for interreligious relationships and Christian unity. A President chosen for a term of two years is the head of the Council of Bishops, but he does not possess any official authority.

Within the United Methodist Church, the Annual Conference is its main unit of organization. Although the biggest administrative offices of UMC are located in Nashville in Tennessee and is physically situated near Vanderbilt University region, it does not have any official headquarter. On the denominational level, it operates many boards, agencies, councils and commissions although its only organization which has the legal power to speak for any matter relating to the church, is the General Conference. Through out the United States, these organizations discuss with administrative offices particular cases which are of denomination-wide concern.

The United Methodist Church has two types of lay membership and they are Professing Members and Baptized Members. Adult and infant baptism is practiced by it. Triune God, Sacraments, Grace, Scripture, Free Will and Inclusivity are the basic beliefs of The United Methodist Church. The Doctrinal standards of United Methodism which have been established officially are Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the Standard Sermons of John Wesley, explanatory notes of John Wesley on the New Testament, general rules of the Methodist Societies and Methodist Churchs Articles of Religion. United Methodist Church