Methodist beliefs: what the Methodist tradition teaches

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “The Bible comes first, read together with the church's historic creeds and with reason and experience.”

Some hold: “The Bible alone has the final word. Creeds, councils and teachers are all tested by it.”

Source: Book of Discipline ¶105, Theological Guidelines: Scripture, ¶105“While we acknowledge the primacy of Scripture in theological reflection, our attempts to grasp its meaning always involve tradition, experience, and reason.”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “The Bible comes first, read together with the church's historic creeds and with reason and experience.”

Some hold: “The Bible alone has the final word. Creeds, councils and teachers are all tested by it.”

Source: Global Methodist Church, Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2025 text, after the Costa Rica General Conference), ¶ 104“are the primary rule and authority for faith, morals, and service, against which all other authorities must be measured.”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “The Bible comes first, read together with the church's historic creeds and with reason and experience.”

Some hold: “The Bible alone has the final word. Creeds, councils and teachers are all tested by it.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. 5

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “The historic creeds matter, and our confessions guide us, but they leave room to read some things differently.”

Makes room for: “A short statement of faith keeps us united, and the Bible itself is what we really stand on.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “The historic creeds matter, and our confessions guide us, but they leave room to read some things differently.”

Makes room for: “A full confession of faith binds our pastors and teachers, because it faithfully sums up what Scripture teaches.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “The historic creeds matter, and our confessions guide us, but they leave room to read some things differently.”

Makes room for: “A short statement of faith keeps us united, and the Bible itself is what we really stand on.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “The Bible is fully trustworthy in everything it teaches about God, salvation and how to live.” or “The Bible is God's word through human writers. It tells the truth about Christ, and careful scholarship helps us read it.”

Makes room for: “The Bible is without error in everything it affirms, including what it says about history and the world.” or “The Bible holds God's word alongside its writers' own views, and we discern which parts speak for God today.”

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB), Art. IV, Confession of Faith Art. IV (BoD para. 104)“We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice.”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “The Bible is fully trustworthy in everything it teaches about God, salvation and how to live.”

Some hold: “The Bible is without error in everything it affirms, including what it says about history and the world.” or “The Bible is God's word through human writers. It tells the truth about Christ, and careful scholarship helps us read it.”

Source: Global Methodist Church, Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2025 text, after the Costa Rica General Conference), ¶ 104“the primary rule and authority for faith, morals, and service”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “The Bible is fully trustworthy in everything it teaches about God, salvation and how to live.”

Some hold: “The Bible is without error in everything it affirms, including what it says about history and the world.”

Makes room for: “The Bible is God's word through human writers. It tells the truth about Christ, and careful scholarship helps us read it.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. 5“The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “God forgives us and counts us righteous for Christ's sake, crediting His righteousness to us. We receive this by faith alone.”

Makes room for: “God forgives us and makes us truly righteous within by His grace, which grows as faith works through love.” or “God brings us into a right relationship with Him, and that new life means following Jesus every day with His people.”

Source: Articles of Religion (UMC), Art. IX“that we are justified by faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “God forgives us and counts us righteous for Christ's sake, crediting His righteousness to us. We receive this by faith alone.”

Makes room for: “God forgives us and makes us truly righteous within by His grace, which grows as faith works through love.”

Source: Articles of Religion (GMC doctrinal standard, BDD ¶106.1; text as published by umc.org), Art. IX“that we are justified by faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “God forgives us and counts us righteous for Christ's sake, crediting His righteousness to us. We receive this by faith alone.”

Makes room for: “God forgives us and makes us truly righteous within by His grace, which grows as faith works through love.” or “God brings us into a right relationship with Him, and that new life means following Jesus every day with His people.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. IX“that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Through His Word preached and the sacraments, which the Holy Spirit uses to create and strengthen faith.”

Some hold: “When a person hears the gospel and personally trusts Christ. Baptism and the Lord's Supper then show it.”

Makes room for: “Mainly through the sacraments of the church, starting with baptism, received with faith.”

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB), Art. VI“They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in him.”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Through His Word preached and the sacraments, which the Holy Spirit uses to create and strengthen faith.”

Some hold: “When a person hears the gospel and personally trusts Christ. Baptism and the Lord's Supper then show it.”

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB) (GMC doctrinal standard), Art. VI“They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Through His Word preached and the sacraments, which the Holy Spirit uses to create and strengthen faith.”

Some hold: “When a person hears the gospel and personally trusts Christ. Baptism and the Lord's Supper then show it.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. 16“by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in Him”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Christ died for every person, so that anyone who turns to Him can be saved.”

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB), Art. VIII“the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Christ died for every person, so that anyone who turns to Him can be saved.”

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB) (GMC doctrinal standard), Art. VIII“the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Christ died for every person, so that anyone who turns to Him can be saved.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. XX“satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “God's grace goes before everyone and frees us to respond. God chooses in Christ those He knows will believe.”

Some hold: “God calls everyone and gives His grace first. We freely cooperate with it, and it never forces us.”

Makes room for: “God's choosing and our free choice are both true in Scripture, and I don't think we need a system to fit them together.”

Source: Articles of Religion (UMC), Art. VIII“without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “God's grace goes before everyone and frees us to respond. God chooses in Christ those He knows will believe.”

Some hold: “God calls everyone and gives His grace first. We freely cooperate with it, and it never forces us.”

Source: GMC Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2024), ¶102.3“preventing grace enables genuine response to the continuing work of God's grace”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “God's grace goes before everyone and frees us to respond. God chooses in Christ those He knows will believe.”

Some hold: “God calls everyone and gives His grace first. We freely cooperate with it, and it never forces us.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. VIII“by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Yes. A believer can turn away from Christ and be lost, but while we live His grace keeps calling us back.”

Makes room for: “No. Everyone God truly saves, He keeps, and they will go on in faith to the end.” or “Yes. Grace can be lost through serious sin, and God restores it through repentance and confession.”

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB), Art. IX“it is possible to depart from grace and fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of God, be renewed in righteousness”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Yes. A believer can turn away from Christ and be lost, but while we live His grace keeps calling us back.”

Makes room for: “Yes. Grace can be lost through serious sin, and God restores it through repentance and confession.”

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB) (GMC doctrinal standard), Art. IX“it is possible to depart from grace and fall into sin”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Yes. A believer can turn away from Christ and be lost, but while we live His grace keeps calling us back.”

Makes room for: “Yes. Grace can be lost through serious sin, and God restores it through repentance and confession.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. 12“After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “The Spirit gives an inner witness that I'm God's child, and I keep walking with Him so I don't drift away.”

Makes room for: “Every true believer can be certain now of being saved in the end, because it rests on God's promise.” or “I trust God's mercy today and hope for heaven, as I keep holding to Christ to the end of my life.” or “We trust God and follow Jesus together, and certainty isn't something we spend much time on.”

Source: Ask The UMC: Where does the Rapture fit?“the assurance of salvation that God pours out in our hearts”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “The Spirit gives an inner witness that I'm God's child, and I keep walking with Him so I don't drift away.”

Some hold: “Every true believer can be certain now of being saved in the end, because it rests on God's promise.”

Source: Global Methodist Church, Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2025 text, after the Costa Rica General Conference), ¶ 102.5“ordinarily results in the direct assurance of “God’s Spirit witnessing with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:16)”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “The Spirit gives an inner witness that I'm God's child, and I keep walking with Him so I don't drift away.”

Makes room for: “Every true believer can be certain now of being saved in the end, because it rests on God's promise.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “God calls us to perfect love in this life. We press on toward it, and for most of us it's a lifelong path.”

Makes room for: “After conversion God can, in a moment, cleanse the heart from the sin within and fill it with perfect love.” or “Holiness grows over a whole lifetime. Sin remains in us until we die, though it no longer rules us.” or “Holiness is following Jesus in daily obedience, with a church that encourages and corrects us.”

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB), Art. XI“this gracious gift may be received in this life both gradually and instantaneously, and should be sought earnestly by every child of God”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “God calls us to perfect love in this life. We press on toward it, and for most of us it's a lifelong path.”

Some hold: “After conversion God can, in a moment, cleanse the heart from the sin within and fill it with perfect love.”

Makes room for: “Holiness grows over a whole lifetime. Sin remains in us until we die, though it no longer rules us.”

Source: GMC Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2024), ¶101.5“the fullness of salvation, otherwise known as entire sanctification or Christian perfection”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “God calls us to perfect love in this life. We press on toward it, and for most of us it's a lifelong path.”

Makes room for: “After conversion God can, in a moment, cleanse the heart from the sin within and fill it with perfect love.” or “Holiness grows over a whole lifetime. Sin remains in us until we die, though it no longer rules us.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “By bishops or superintendents who oversee a connection of churches and help place their pastors.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “By bishops or superintendents who oversee a connection of churches and help place their pastors.”

Source: Global Methodist Church, Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2025 text, after the Costa Rica General Conference), ¶ 209; ¶ 520“an appointment to ministry from the bishop”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “By bishops or superintendents who oversee a connection of churches and help place their pastors.”

Source: AME Church, Church Structure (ame-church.com), Church Structure“Pastors receive a yearly appointment to a charge (church), on the recommendation of the Presiding Elder and with the approval and final appointment of the Bishop.”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Both men and women may be called by God and ordained as pastors.”

Source: Ask The UMC: Why does the UMC ordain women?“the May 4, 1956 General Conference vote for full clergy rights”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Both men and women may be called by God and ordained as pastors.”

Makes room for: “Only men may serve as pastors or elders, and women serve in many other vital ministries.”

Source: Global Methodist Church, Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2025 text, after the Costa Rica General Conference), ¶ 610.2“Open itinerancy means appointments are made without regard to race, tribal or ethnic origin, gender, disability, marital status, or age.”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Both men and women may be called by God and ordained as pastors.”

Source: AME Council of Bishops, "The Passing of Bishop Sarah Frances Taylor Davis" (ame-church.com news), news release“Bishop Davis was the third woman elevated to episcopal service in our Zion.”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “What matters is that ministers hold to the apostles' teaching and are rightly called and ordained by the church.”

Some hold: “It's a precious gift the church should keep, though God also works through churches without it.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “What matters is that ministers hold to the apostles' teaching and are rightly called and ordained by the church.”

Some hold: “It's a precious gift the church should keep, though God also works through churches without it.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “What matters is that ministers hold to the apostles' teaching and are rightly called and ordained by the church.”

Some hold: “It's a precious gift the church should keep, though God also works through churches without it.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Christians should work for peace, and each believer may follow conscience about serving in the military.”

Makes room for: “Jesus' followers should not fight in war or use violence, and should give a plain yes or no instead of oaths.” or “Christians may serve in the military for a just cause and may take an oath when the law asks for one.” or “Christians should not fight in war or use violence, but taking an oath in court is fine.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB), Art. XVI

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Christians should work for peace, and each believer may follow conscience about serving in the military.”

Makes room for: “Jesus' followers should not fight in war or use violence, and should give a plain yes or no instead of oaths.” or “Christians may serve in the military for a just cause and may take an oath when the law asks for one.” or “Christians should not fight in war or use violence, but taking an oath in court is fine.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Source: Confession of Faith (EUB) (GMC doctrinal standard), Art. XVI

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Christians should work for peace, and each believer may follow conscience about serving in the military.”

Some hold: “Christians may serve in the military for a just cause and may take an oath when the law asks for one.”

Source: Articles of Religion (Our Beliefs page), Article 25, Of a Christian Man’s Oath“we judge that the Christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Believers and their children. Babies of Christian families should be baptized and raised in the faith.”

Makes room for: “Believers, and young children too when their parents ask for it. Either is fine, by the family's choice.”

Source: Articles of Religion (UMC), Art. XVII“The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Believers and their children. Babies of Christian families should be baptized and raised in the faith.”

Makes room for: “Believers, and young children too when their parents ask for it. Either is fine, by the family's choice.”

Source: Articles of Religion (GMC doctrinal standard, BDD ¶106.1; text as published by umc.org), Art. XVII“The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Believers and their children. Babies of Christian families should be baptized and raised in the faith.”

Makes room for: “Believers, and young children too when their parents ask for it. Either is fine, by the family's choice.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. XVII“The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “God truly washes away sin and gives new birth in baptism, joining the person to Christ.” or “A sign and seal of God's promise. God uses it to mark us as His, though grace isn't tied to that moment.”

Makes room for: “It's a believer's pledge before God and the church to follow Jesus, and a sign of being cleansed from sin.”

Source: Articles of Religion (UMC), Art. XVII“it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “A sign and seal of God's promise. God uses it to mark us as His, though grace isn't tied to that moment.”

Some hold: “God truly washes away sin and gives new birth in baptism, joining the person to Christ.”

Source: Articles of Religion (GMC doctrinal standard, BDD ¶106.1; text as published by umc.org), Art. XVII“it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “A sign and seal of God's promise. God uses it to mark us as His, though grace isn't tied to that moment.”

Some hold: “God truly washes away sin and gives new birth in baptism, joining the person to Christ.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. XVII“it is also a sign of regeneration, or the new birth”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Pouring, sprinkling or immersion are all fine. The water and the name of the Trinity are what matter.”

Makes room for: “By immersion only, going fully under the water, as a picture of burial and rising with Christ.” or “Usually by pouring water on the head, as a sign of the Holy Spirit poured out.”

Source: UMC Glossary: baptism“may choose any of the traditional ways baptism is administered: sprinkling, pouring, or immersion”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Pouring, sprinkling or immersion are all fine. The water and the name of the Trinity are what matter.”

Some hold: “Usually by pouring water on the head, as a sign of the Holy Spirit poured out.”

Source: Global Methodist Church, Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2025 text, after the Costa Rica General Conference), ¶ 415“Holy Baptism may be performed by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Pouring, sprinkling or immersion are all fine. The water and the name of the Trinity are what matter.”

Makes room for: “By immersion only, going fully under the water, as a picture of burial and rising with Christ.” or “Usually by pouring water on the head, as a sign of the Holy Spirit poured out.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Christ is truly present by His Spirit, and believers feed on Him by faith, while the bread stays bread.”

Makes room for: “The bread and wine truly become Christ's body and blood. How this happens is a holy mystery we don't define.” or “We remember Christ's death, proclaim it and look for His return, with the bread and cup as signs.”

Source: Articles of Religion (UMC), Art. XVIII“The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after a heavenly and spiritual manner.”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Christ is truly present by His Spirit, and believers feed on Him by faith, while the bread stays bread.”

Makes room for: “The bread and wine truly become Christ's body and blood. How this happens is a holy mystery we don't define.” or “We remember Christ's death, proclaim it and look for His return, with the bread and cup as signs.”

Source: Global Methodist Church, Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2025 text, after the Costa Rica General Conference), ¶ 421“we are invited into fellowship (koinonia) with the real, spiritual presence of Christ Jesus in the whole of the sacrament”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Christ is truly present by His Spirit, and believers feed on Him by faith, while the bread stays bread.”

Makes room for: “The bread and wine truly become Christ's body and blood. How this happens is a holy mystery we don't define.” or “We remember Christ's death, proclaim it and look for His return, with the bread and cup as signs.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. XVIII“only after a heavenly and spiritual manner”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Regularly, perhaps monthly or quarterly. It's special, but it isn't part of every service.”

Some hold: “Every Sunday, as the high point of worship, and on many other days too.”

Makes room for: “A few times a year, with careful preparation and self-examination in the days before.”

Source: Ask The UMC: How often do we have communion?“Many churches celebrate communion once a month, often on the first Sunday.”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Regularly, perhaps monthly or quarterly. It's special, but it isn't part of every service.”

Some hold: “Every Sunday, as the high point of worship, and on many other days too.”

Makes room for: “Every Sunday, because the first Christians broke bread on the first day of each week.”

Source: Global Methodist Church, Book of Doctrines and Discipline (2025 text, after the Costa Rica General Conference), ¶ 421“Local congregations are urged to ensure regular opportunities for the congregation to commune.”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Regularly, perhaps monthly or quarterly. It's special, but it isn't part of every service.”

Makes room for: “A few times a year, with careful preparation and self-examination in the days before.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper, through which God gives His grace.”

Source: Articles of Religion (UMC), Art. XVI“There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper, through which God gives His grace.”

Source: Articles of Religion (GMC doctrinal standard, BDD ¶106.1; text as published by umc.org), Art. XVI“There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper, through which God gives His grace.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. XVI“There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord, in the Gospel”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “They can still happen, but the church should test them with care, and they aren't the focus of church life.”

Some hold: “All the gifts in the New Testament are for today, and churches should seek them and make room for them.” or “The Spirit gives gifts to every believer for building up the church, and I don't sort them into kinds.”

Makes room for: “The miraculous sign gifts were for the apostles' time and ended when Scripture was complete.”

Source: Book of Resolutions: Guidelines: The UMC and the Charismatic Movement, Guidelines for All“Recognize that although spiritual gifts may be abused in the same way that knowledge or wealth or power may be abused, this does not mean that they should be prohibited.”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “They can still happen, but the church should test them with care, and they aren't the focus of church life.”

Some hold: “The Spirit gives gifts to every believer for building up the church, and I don't sort them into kinds.”

Makes room for: “All the gifts in the New Testament are for today, and churches should seek them and make room for them.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “They can still happen, but the church should test them with care, and they aren't the focus of church life.”

Some hold: “The Spirit gives gifts to every believer for building up the church, and I don't sort them into kinds.”

Makes room for: “All the gifts in the New Testament are for today, and churches should seek them and make room for them.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Every believer receives the Spirit on coming to faith, and we can be filled again and again.”

Makes room for: “It's an empowering experience distinct from conversion, but tongues aren't its required sign.” or “It's a second work of grace after conversion that cleanses the heart and fills it with perfect love.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Every believer receives the Spirit on coming to faith, and we can be filled again and again.”

Makes room for: “It's an empowering experience distinct from conversion, but tongues aren't its required sign.” or “It's a second work of grace after conversion that cleanses the heart and fills it with perfect love.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Every believer receives the Spirit on coming to faith, and we can be filled again and again.”

Makes room for: “It's an empowering experience distinct from conversion, but tongues aren't its required sign.” or “It's a second work of grace after conversion that cleanses the heart and fills it with perfect love.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “God heals, sometimes by miracle and often through medicine. We pray, use both and trust His will.”

Makes room for: “Healing is provided for in Christ's death, and believers can pray in faith expecting God to heal.” or “Praying for the sick with laying on of hands is part of every believer's ministry, as Jesus did when He announced the kingdom.” or “The church anoints the sick in a sacrament that gives grace for body and soul, and sometimes healing.” or “God heals as He wills, usually through ordinary means. We pray, but we don't expect miracles as a pattern.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “God heals, sometimes by miracle and often through medicine. We pray, use both and trust His will.”

Makes room for: “Praying for the sick with laying on of hands is part of every believer's ministry, as Jesus did when He announced the kingdom.” or “God heals as He wills, usually through ordinary means. We pray, but we don't expect miracles as a pattern.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “God heals, sometimes by miracle and often through medicine. We pray, use both and trust His will.”

Makes room for: “Healing is provided for in Christ's death, and believers can pray in faith expecting God to heal.” or “Praying for the sick with laying on of hands is part of every believer's ministry, as Jesus did when He announced the kingdom.” or “God heals as He wills, usually through ordinary means. We pray, but we don't expect miracles as a pattern.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “We thank God for the saints and follow their example, but we pray to God alone.”

Some hold: “Every believer, living or dead, is a saint. We remember faithful Christians without special honor for some.”

Makes room for: “The saints in heaven pray for the church, but Scripture doesn't teach us to ask them to.”

Source: Articles of Religion (UMC), Art. XIV“invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “We thank God for the saints and follow their example, but we pray to God alone.”

Some hold: “Every believer, living or dead, is a saint. We remember faithful Christians without special honor for some.”

Makes room for: “The saints in heaven pray for the church, but Scripture doesn't teach us to ask them to.”

Source: Articles of Religion (GMC doctrinal standard, BDD ¶106.1; text as published by umc.org), Art. XIV“invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “We thank God for the saints and follow their example, but we pray to God alone.”

Some hold: “Every believer, living or dead, is a saint. We remember faithful Christians without special honor for some.”

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. XIV“invocations of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “She was a godly woman God chose to bear Jesus, and an example of faith like other believers.”

Some hold: “She is blessed among women. We honor her as a model of faith, without the later dogmas of her Immaculate Conception and Assumption.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “She was a godly woman God chose to bear Jesus, and an example of faith like other believers.”

Some hold: “She is blessed among women. We honor her as a model of faith, without the later dogmas of her Immaculate Conception and Assumption.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “She was a godly woman God chose to bear Jesus, and an example of faith like other believers.”

Some hold: “She is blessed among women. We honor her as a model of faith, without the later dogmas of her Immaculate Conception and Assumption.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead, and I don't think we need a timeline.”

Some hold: “The thousand years is the present age of Christ's reign. He will return once, to raise the dead and judge.”

Makes room for: “Christ will take His church to Himself before a time of great trouble, then return to reign on earth for a thousand years.” or “After a time of great trouble, Christ will return and reign on earth for a thousand years before the final judgment.” or “The gospel will spread through much of the world in a long age of peace before Christ returns.”

Source: Ask The UMC: Where does the Rapture fit into UM beliefs?“The short answer is, "It doesn't."”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead, and I don't think we need a timeline.”

Some hold: “The thousand years is the present age of Christ's reign. He will return once, to raise the dead and judge.”

Makes room for: “Christ will take His church to Himself before a time of great trouble, then return to reign on earth for a thousand years.” or “After a time of great trouble, Christ will return and reign on earth for a thousand years before the final judgment.” or “The gospel will spread through much of the world in a long age of peace before Christ returns.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead, and I don't think we need a timeline.”

Makes room for: “Christ will take His church to Himself before a time of great trouble, then return to reign on earth for a thousand years.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “They go straight to be with Christ, fully forgiven, and wait for the resurrection of the body.”

Makes room for: “They rest in Christ, and the church keeps praying for them as they wait for the resurrection.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Source: Articles of Religion, Articles of Religion Art. XIV“The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshiping, and adoration, as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the Word of God.”

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “They go straight to be with Christ, fully forgiven, and wait for the resurrection of the body.”

Makes room for: “They rest in Christ, and the church keeps praying for them as they wait for the resurrection.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Source: Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline (para. 106 shares the Articles of Religion and the EUB Confession with the UMC), para. 106.1, Articles of Religion Art. XIV“The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshiping, and adoration, as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the Word of God.”

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “They go straight to be with Christ, fully forgiven, and wait for the resurrection of the body.”

Makes room for: “They rest in Christ, and the church keeps praying for them as they wait for the resurrection.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Source: Articles of Religion (Our Beliefs page), Article 14, Of Purgatory“The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshipping, and adoration, as well as images, as of relics, and also invocations of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant of the Word of God.”

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “A set order from a prayer book or hymnal, with Scripture readings, confession, the creed and the Lord's Prayer.”

Some hold: “A long time of singing, then preaching, with freedom for spontaneous prayer and response.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “A set order from a prayer book or hymnal, with Scripture readings, confession, the creed and the Lord's Prayer.”

Some hold: “A long time of singing, then preaching, with freedom for spontaneous prayer and response.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “A set order from a prayer book or hymnal, with Scripture readings, confession, the creed and the Lord's Prayer.”

Some hold: “A long time of singing, then preaching, with freedom for spontaneous prayer and response.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Source: Articles of Religion (AME), Art. 22

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Hymns with organ or piano, and a choir.”

Some hold: “A worship band leading contemporary songs.”

Makes room for: “Gospel music, with choir, organ and drums, and freedom to respond.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Hymns with organ or piano, and a choir.”

Some hold: “A worship band leading contemporary songs.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Gospel music, with choir, organ and drums, and freedom to respond.”

Some hold: “Hymns with organ or piano, and a choir.”

Makes room for: “A worship band leading contemporary songs.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Some. We keep the main seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter.”

Makes room for: “A lot. The whole year follows the feasts and fasts, with readings set for each day.” or “A little. We mark Christmas and Easter and plan the rest around preaching series.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Some. We keep the main seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter.”

Makes room for: “A lot. The whole year follows the feasts and fasts, with readings set for each day.” or “A little. We mark Christmas and Easter and plan the rest around preaching series.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Some. We keep the main seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter.”

Some hold: “A little. We mark Christmas and Easter and plan the rest around preaching series.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

United Methodist Church

Teaches: “Clear preaching of God's Word that teaches and convicts, with heartfelt singing.”

Some hold: “Reverent, ordered beauty, with the Lord's Supper at the center.” or “A close church family sharing life, singing together and caring for one another.”

Makes room for: “Freedom in the Spirit, with raised hands, prayer for one another, and gifts like prophecy.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

Global Methodist Church

Teaches: “Clear preaching of God's Word that teaches and convicts, with heartfelt singing.”

Some hold: “Reverent, ordered beauty, with the Lord's Supper at the center.”

Makes room for: “Freedom in the Spirit, with raised hands, prayer for one another, and gifts like prophecy.” or “A close church family sharing life, singing together and caring for one another.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Teaches: “Freedom in the Spirit, with raised hands, prayer for one another, and gifts like prophecy.” or “A close church family sharing life, singing together and caring for one another.”

Some hold: “Clear preaching of God's Word that teaches and convicts, with heartfelt singing.”

Makes room for: “Reverent, ordered beauty, with the Lord's Supper at the center.”

Not yet checked against the primary text, so the quiz doesn’t score this.