Features Methodism, How? Why? When? and Where? It's often said that you don't have to know or understand how the banking system works, in order to belong and have an account. In many ways, belonging to a church is very similar! ALL are welcome to attend services and take Holy Communion However, in time, regular attendees start wondering why Methodists do this, or don't allow that, and will wonder why other denominations have different ideas. There is nothing wrong in having these queries, in fact queries like these mean that we are beginning to think about worship and are hungry for answers. Why do we need Rules? Much of nature works to rules and structure. We are part of Nature and have to conform or else! For example, if we put our hand in the colourful fire, we get burnt, whether we like it or not! Without rules and structure there would be chaos. One of the basic rules is that Nature 'learns' from itself, and changes all the time. Nothing stays still for long and changes occur from time to time. Another word that is often used instead of 'change' is 'evolve', meaning progressive change. How did Methodism come shout? Methodism evolved. It evolved out of the Anglican Church. John Wesley was an Anglican Minister to his dying day, as was his brother Charles. In the early 18th Century, the Industrial Revolution was at its height, with thousands of people moving from small communities in the open countryside, into towns and slum dwellings in areas they did not know. There was a crying need from the population for a purpose in life, which John Wesley felt that the Established Church was not providing. His new type of open air preaching was frowned upon by the authorities, and eventually he was banned from preaching in the pulpits of the Church. So he took to the open road with his horse, and preached in the open air all over Great Britain. As John Wesley moved on from place to place, he left behind men to lead the local new converts by forming small classes to meet weekly for bible study in people's homes (and pay a weekly small sub!), but he still expected them to attend the local Parish Church for worship. After a while, he felt that there was a need to meet with the local leaders annually, to connect them together for discussion, consultation and guidance. Hence the origin of the Methodist term 'The Connection', which today, is the authoritative body of the Methodist Church. What were Methodist Societies? Eventually classes were joined together into 'Societies' for the purposes of communication. The people attending these weekly classes gradually ceased to attend the local Parish Church and instead met together for the purpose of worship, either in the open air, or in homes. Eventually, premises were built to accommodate Worship and so Methodism (for that is now what these people were being called), evolved out of the Anglican Church, rather that broke away. The buildings became known as Methodist Churches. These groups of Classes became known as Methodist Societies and that is what we are today. The Church leaders were known as Society Stewards until 1974, when the name was changed to Church Stewards. The local Methodist Church (or Society as it was called) was, and still is, the foundation stone of the Church, and all officials and organisations throughout worldwide Methodism are there to provide help, guidance and assistance to these local Societies. Without Methodist Societies i.e. the local church, there would be no worldwide Methodist Church organisation. Our Responsibilities Today, the community in the UK seem to know all about their 'Rights'. But there are 2 "R's" in life, (apart from the 3 "R's" we learnt at school). The second "R" is for Responsibility, which 'oils' the wheels of life. These 2 "R's", 'Rights and Responsibility' are complimentary, but the second R. is little talked about in the media, although without it, society would break down into anarchy just as an engine eventually breaks down without oil). Similarly, a Church Membership needs to use this second "R." to help the Church steer through ever evolving change. Did you know? The Methodist Church is the fourth largest Christian Church in Britain after the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and the Church of Scotland. There are 6100 Methodist Churches in Britain with a total membership of about 330,000 people. There are 70 million people across the world who in ant way or another have a connection with the Methodist Church.