Must have a CLEAR THESIS that makes an argument and provide well-researched evidence to support thesis . Explain the state of the Methodist church today, both in the US and globally. In what significant ways has this tradition changed over time? Explore whether it has been faithful to its founding traditions or not. What major challenges does it face for the future? How might the history of its own tradition (founders, theology, movements) help clarify the way forward as it meets the challenges it faces?
THE METHODIST CHURCH
The Methodist tradition today has changed in its fundamental views because of controversial challenges, such as: evolutanary theory, racial issues, homesexuality, and interpretation of scriptures.
The Methodist Church was chartered in 1784 by John Wesley in the United States. John Wesley created the Methodist church when he saw the need to provide his followers with structure after the Anglican Church abandoned its American believers. Since then, the Methodist church has changed its traditions to enhance its fitness in the modern society. The Church has encountered various challenges, which have both helped and hindered clarifying the way forward.
John, his brother Charles, and several other students at oxford formed a group which was based on three pillars which enhanced the formation of Methodist church. These pillars include; devotion in their studies, prayers, and helping the underprivileged; these formed the pillars of Methodist church. However, the Methodism started facing challenges due to varied view from the people which at last led to its formation as a separate church (Southey 1925, 67). Three branches of American Methodism included the following; the Methodist protestant church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Episcopal Church. Yet, in 1939, the three joined to form one church, resulting in a stepping stone which ensured that the Methodist Church would eventually be able to solve the ideological differences that lead to its separation (Harper 2008, 115). The issue of togetherness was extended further to unite the America Methodist and the newly reunited evangelical united Brethren church. The combination of the two formed the second largest protestant denomination in America, the United Methodist church. The United Methodist branch has around eleven millions members today and has spread to different parts of the world.
The Methodist denomination is primarily American; there are about 37,000 congregations in the US and about 5,200 elsewhere in the world. "The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church" regulates the activities of the denomination world-wide. It is updated periodically by the General Conference of Methodist Churches.
Wesley clearly enforced a global outreach. One of the first bishops of the American Methodist Church, Francis gave 16,000 sermons over thousands of miles. “In the early 1990s more than one million members lived outside the United States (800,000 members in Africa, 80,000 in Europe, and 60,000 in Philippines)” (AM in merica). The 1992 General Conference proposed one global general conference.
Controversial challenges threaten the original Methodist tradition.
The main challenge that the Methodist church faced in America at this time is several divisions and schisms. Originally the Methodist church was characterized by a rigid conservative congregation unable to accept change in tradition.

The Methodist administrators and elites were at the forefront in the liberalization of the country. Questions surrounding the origin of humankind brought about controversial issues. The theory of evolution was not accepted by an array of denominations. Later the church embraced a modernist mindset accepting the concepts of evolutionary theory. Since then the church has been accommodating the liberal thoughts both in its seminaries and schools of higher learning (Harper 2008, 78).
Since its establishment, the ideology of Wesley has spread in many countries where they are still based on initial pillars of this church. In order to win the future of its ideology, the Methodist church has targeted the youth, the largest portion of the global population. In Europe, the youth council has been formed which comprises of young people, youth leaders, and the Methodist council that work with youths, sharing ideas and resources. This has formed the network that encourages young people in their moves; in addition, this has formed an international link in their journeys of faith (Nashville 2004, 43). Regular meetings are held in various countries in order to network, to build relationship, and to discuss issues which may be affecting the church in Europe.
Also, the Methodist church has also spread to Africa. The continent of Africa was characterized by inhabitants who believed in tradition supernatural such as mountains and certain personalities; therefore, it was very easy for the Methodist church to establish itself in the region (Southey 1925, 327). For instance, in the last South Africa national census, about 7.3% of the national population recorded their religious affiliation as Methodist. Since its establishment in the continent it has spread in many countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Kenya. In the later country, the Methodist church has managed to establish various learning institutions such as Kenya Methodist University in Nairobi, the capital city (Harper 2008, 135). This shows that, it is not only in United States, the Methodist church has carried on its tradition regardless of the global changes and it has made to spread in many parts of the world.
“More than half the United Methodist congregations established since 1981 were Korean” (UM in America). However other Asian groups were not as successful.
After 1980 the Hispanic community grew five times faster than the Anglo community. A Hispanic bishop, Elias Galcan was elected in 1984 because “Hispanic United Methodist Churches grew at less than 3 percent each year” (UM in America). The general conference created a national Hispanic Ministries Committee to develop clergy recruitment, deployment of lay missionaries, and new missional structures.
In general, the Methodism tradition has significantly changed in that the church is able to accommodate the changes in the globe. By the use of internet, the church is able to reach out many people who are made to understand what the Methodist is all about and how to live according to its teachings. | |
During the period from 1939 to 1968, five Methodist churches merged to form the United Methodist Church (UMC). They were the Evangelical Association; Methodist Episcopal Church; Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Methodist Protestant Church, and the United Brethren in Christ. The church has been a strong supporter of the ecumenical movement. Although predecessor denominations to the UMC did ordain women, it was not until 1956 the UMC ceased being a sexist denomination. In that year, Maud K. Jensen became the first woman to receive full clergy rights and conference membership in the UMC. 2

Various small bodies such as free Methodist church, evangelical Methodist church, and other smaller denominations arose after some of the church members thought that the main stream was losing the faithfulness to scripture and Wesley’s original views.
Another significance of the tradition change is that, the move from the tradition conservativeness to liberalization has created a room for more ideas in Methodism. For instance, the accommodation of scientific research has helped in explaining various conditions in the globe. In this way, Methodism is able to incorporate spiritual, social, and economical aspects in its approach of human life (Marsh 2006, 58). War\
The Methodist church has deviated from the founding racial beliefs.
Racism has been a defining force in shaping the Methodist movement in the United States from its earliest days.

The United Methodist Church in 1990 “lagged behind other denominations in developing older black congregations and organizing new ones” (United Methodist Church in America). In 1968 the Methodist Church abolished racial segregation. 1990 two black clergy were appointed. Bishop Joseph Bethea was the first black bishop elected in the southeastern jurisdiction. 1956 Gereral conference condemned racial discrimination and until the 1970’s separate African American annual conferances continued.
Methodism has to some extent deviated from the founding tradition which has resulted in an array of problems in the church. A certain section of the church has adopted the ordination of the homosexual men and women into the ministry (Harper 2008, 45). The Methodist Church has accepted homosexuality in the church, which was not the original position of John Wesley. Although scripture is against homosexual marriages (genesis 1: 26-27). Many state that the bible is no longer a major authority in the ever growing liberal denomination of Methodism.
The conference of 1939 failed to grant woman’s rights until 1956. Unitl 1970 woman ministers were not popular.
Since 1972, the Book of Discipline has called same-gender relationships "incompatible with Christian teaching" The United Church of Christ began ordaining people with same-sex partners in the 1970s, and by 2005, had endorsed gay marriage. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/09/methodists-gay-marriage-_n_4756709.html In 1982 Bishop Melvin Wheatley appointed a gay pastor in Denver and “charges that Wheatley had undermined the Bible were filed by three Georgia Churches” (UM in America). In 1984 the General Conference allowed laity and clergy rights to homosexuals in the United Methodist Church.

Today, the United Methodist Church is confronting that past. It has repented for its racism, and launched efforts to fight racism in the denomination and society at large. It is also seeking reconciliation with African American Methodists. http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=664 The future of the Methodist church has to be taken into consideration by the council to ensure its future existence. Some of the issues that are affecting the church include the high decline rate of the members in the church. The clergy is seen to be less concerned with reaching young people although they are the future of the church.
The Methodist church struggles with illegal immigration. In a conference in New York, about 97% of the members called for the immigrants to receive equal opportunities as the citizens. Without specification of which kind of immigrant, the Methodism bleached the civil law which does not support illegal immigration. For instance, Bishop Sally Dyck was deported for being in the country illegally. The Methodist Church follows a plan for growth including economic and social aspects in order to win more people in the church.
The Connectional Process Team was established in 1996 to manage and guide a transformational direction for the UMC. This team was to study the connectional issues and the global nature of the Church.
A number of preachers have denied some of the founding initial basics in the traditions of scripture. Such as the virginal conception of Jesus Christ, sinless life of Jesus, the great judgment, existence of the hell among others. (Marsh 2006, 150).
The state of Methodism today has changed how it was initially formulated resulting in an array of current challenges which threaten the future of the church. The tradition of the Methodism should be reconsidered in today’s society for it to survive in future. The Methodist council needs to come up with solutions regarding the contentious issues which are affecting the church, such as interpretation of scriptures and its positions on the following issues evolutanary theory, racial issues, homosexuality, and interpretation of scriptures.
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Works Cited
Harper, Keith. American denominational history perspectives on the past, prospects for the future. Tuscaloosa, Ala.: University of Alabama Press, 2008.
Marsh, Clive. Methodist theology today. London: Continuum, 2006.
Southey, Robert, and Maurice Henry FitzGerald. The life of Wesley and the rise and progress of Methodism. London: Oxford University press, H. Milford, 1925. The book of discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2004. Nashville, Tenn.: United Methodist Pub. House, 2004.