Quick and Easyguide to United Methodist Polity

This Quick and Easy Guide to United Methodist Polity (hereafter referredto as "e;this guide"e;) addresses these and many other questions relatedto the practices of United Methodist ministry.

Written with lay andclergy practitioners in mind, this guide rises out of several convictionsthat give shape and form to what we mean by United Methodist polity. First, United Methodist polity is, as described by Dr. Thomas E. Frank in his seminal text, Polity, Practice and the Mission of The UnitedMethodist Church, characterized by discipline and community.

In referenceto the use of the term "e;discipline,"e; Frank describes how in ourhistory, "e;discipline"e; and "e;methods"e; were "e;peculiarly related."e; "e;Disciplinesof growth in the Christian life"e; were directly related to "e;practicesof love in Christian community."e; Discipline was exercised in the early PrefaceMethodist societies, classes, and bands through self-examination andmutual accountability.

In 1743, John Wesley published the pamphlet onthe "e;Nature, Design, and General Rules of the United Societies"e; with anemphasis upon the means of grace and holy living (Frank, 46)