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Summary
- Lutherans began with Martin Luther’s reform in Germany, from 1517; Methodism began in England in the early 1700s under John and Charles Wesley, and in 1738 John Wesley felt his heart “strangely warmed” while hearing Luther’s preface to Romans.
- Both confess justification by faith. Lutherans teach that conversion is the Holy Spirit’s work alone; Methodists teach that prevenient grace frees every person to accept or refuse God’s offer.
- Both baptize infants. Luther’s Small Catechism says baptism “works forgiveness of sins”; the United Methodist By Water and the Spirit calls it the means of entry into new life but says new birth may not coincide with the water.
- Both teach that a believer can fall from grace. Methodists seek Christian perfection, perfect love rather than sinlessness; the LCMS lists that teaching among its main differences with Methodists.
- Lutherans confess Christ’s true body and blood “under the bread and wine,” received by all who eat; Methodists teach that Christ is really present and received by faith.
- The ELCA and the United Methodist Church have been in full communion since 2009. The LCMS practices close communion, and the Global Methodist Church, formed in 2022, is not part of the agreement.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (Romans 3:28; Matthew 26:26), BibleGateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A28%3BPhilippians+2%3A12-13%3BMatthew+26%3A26%3BMatthew+5%3A48&version=ESV
- The Augsburg Confession (1530), Articles IV, IX and XII. Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/
- Martin Luther. The Small Catechism, “The Sacrament of the Altar.” Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/small-catechism/the-sacrament-of-the-altar/
- Martin Luther. The Small Catechism, “The Sacrament of Holy Baptism.” Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/small-catechism/the-sacrament-of-holy-baptism/
- The United Methodist Church. By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism. https://www.umc.org/en/content/by-water-and-the-spirit-a-united-methodist-understanding-of-baptism
- The United Methodist Church. “Glossary: doctrinal standards.” https://www.umc.org/en/content/glossary-doctrinal-standards
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- The United Methodist Church. “The Basic Pattern of Worship,” from The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992). https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/book-of-worship/the-basic-pattern-of-worship
- Martin Wells, Bishop of the Eastern Washington and Idaho Synod, ELCA. “Some Questions and Answers Regarding the Human Sexuality decisions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” (2009). https://www.reconcilingworks.org/images/stories/downloads/resources/019_FAQsSexualityDecisionsMartinWells2.pdf
- Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. “Why doesn’t the WELS have women pastors?” https://wels.net/faq/why-no-women-pastors/
- Formula of Concord, Epitome, Article II, “Free Will.” Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/epitome/free-will/
- Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article II, “Free Will.” Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/solid-declaration/free-will/
- Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VII, “The Holy Supper.” Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/solid-declaration/the-holy-supper/
- Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI, “Election.” Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/solid-declaration/election/
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Use of the Means of Grace. https://cdn.elca.org/cdn/wp-content/uploads/The_Use_Of_The_Means_Of_Grace.pdf
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- John Wesley. Journal, “I Felt My Heart Strangely Warmed” (1738). Christian Classics Ethereal Library. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/journal.vi.ii.xvi.html
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- The United Methodist Church. “Ask The UMC: Why do United Methodist pastors change churches?” https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-why-do-united-methodist-pastors-change-churches
- United Methodist Council of Bishops. 2024 Ecumenical and Interreligious Handbook. https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/files/websites/www/2024+Ecumenical+and+Interreligious+Handbook.pdf
- Linda Bloom. “United Methodists, Lutherans approach historic moment.” UM News, 18 August 2009. https://www.umnews.org/en/news/united-methodists-lutherans-approach-historic-moment
- Heather Hahn. “40-year ban on gay clergy struck down.” UM News, 1 May 2024. https://www.umnews.org/en/news/40-year-ban-on-gay-clergy-struck-down
- UM News. “Marriage decision sparks protest, celebration” (May 2024). https://www.umnews.org/en/news/marriage-decision-sparks-protest-celebration
- UM News. “Why the 1956 women clergy vote matters.” https://www.umnews.org/en/news/why-the-1956-women-clergy-vote-matters
- Kate Shellnutt and Daniel Silliman. “United Methodists Down 7,659 Churches As Exit Window Ends.” Christianity Today, 18 December 2023. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/12/united-methodist-church-split-total-umc-disaffiliation-lgbt/
- Global Methodist Church. “Our Beliefs & Governance.” https://www.globalmethodist.org/our-beliefs—governance
- Global Methodist Church. “Our Formation.” https://www.globalmethodist.org/launch-information
- Global Methodist Church. The Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2024), ¶¶ 106-107 (standards), the Communion liturgy, ¶ 610 (appointments) and the Social Witness on marriage. https://storage2.snappages.site/ZW35F3/assets/files/2024-Book-of-Doctrines-Discipline-FINAL–68.pdf
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