"Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.”

This quote from John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement back in the 18th century, is a good way to begin thinking about what Methodists believe. "But he isn't saying what he believes, is he?" you may ask. Precisely. While Wesley himself held doggedly to particular traditional doctrines of the Christian faith, he was not "dogmatic" in the sense that he did not leave us with one once-and-for-all statement of faith. He was a smart guy who knew that people encounter God in many ways throughout life, and that faith is useless if it doesn't lead to changed lives. The denomination that today carries on his legacy knows this, too.

The United Methodist Church is a worldwide connection of over 11 million believers. It is part of the long line of Christian churches throughout the world, witnessing to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The links below provide access to information on the denomination's website, umc.org. Enjoy learning something of the rich history and theology of this still evolving and growing faith community!