Who are United Methodists?

The church now called "The United Methodist Church" was founded in 1968, when The Evangelical United Brethren and The Methodist Church joined hands, hearts, and mission. This merger brought together two parts of the Christian community that shared deep theological, historical, and governmental structures that were shaped by over 200 years of common history.

This common history began with John Wesley (1703-1791), an Anglican (Church of England) priest, who sought a renewal and revival in the church of his birth. His leadership, with the help of his brother, Charles Wesley, and others also seeking such renewal, brought about a revival movement that inadvertently founded a church. The Wesleys were known as "Methodists" because of their regular practice of spiritual disciplines, including the study of Holy Scripture, worship, partaking of the sacraments, and engagement with "the least of these."