United Methodist Church
Rooted in John Wesley's 18th-century revival. Formed by the 1968 merger of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches.
- U.S. size
- ≈ 4–5 million (U.S.) (GCFA data; membership fell sharply after 2019–2023 disaffiliations (approx, figure unverified for latest year))
- Founded
- 1968 merger; Methodist roots from 1784
- Church government
- Connectional, with bishops and conferences
- Ordains women as pastors
- Yes
- Official site / locator
- www.umc.org
Core beliefs
| Topic | What they teach | Scripture they cite |
|---|---|---|
| Scripture & authority | Scripture is primary, read with tradition, reason and experience (the 'Wesleyan Quadrilateral'). | 2 Tim 3:16 |
| Salvation | By grace through faith. Prevenient grace enables a free response. Holiness (sanctification) is pursued. | Titus 2:11; Eph 2:8; 1 Thess 5:23 |
| Baptism | A sacrament and sign of God's grace. Infants and adults are baptized, by any mode. | Acts 2:38-39; Col 2:12 |
| Lord's Supper | Christ is truly but spiritually present. Communion is open to all who seek Him. | 1 Cor 11:23-26; Luke 22:19 |
| Worship | Blended to liturgical, with a strong hymn tradition. | Col 3:16 |
| Mary & saints | Mary is honored. There is no invocation of saints. | Luke 1:48 |
| Spiritual gifts | The gifts continue, with emphasis on love and holiness. | 1 Cor 12-13 |
About these numbers: figures are approximate and come from each body's own most recent report or the National Council of Churches' Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. Bodies count members differently (baptized, confirmed, adherents, publishers), and some historically Black denominations have not published new figures in years. See also the Pew Religious Landscape Study and the ARDA. Belief summaries are our own short descriptions. Please read each church's own confession.