United Methodist church

Logo of the United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a MethodistChristian denomination that is one of the largest Protestant churches in the United States. It was founded in 1968 by the union of the Methodist Church (USA) and the Evangelical United Brethren Church.[1] The UMC traces its roots back to the teachings of John and Charles Wesley in England.[2] With over 8 million members and 35,000 churches it is second only to the Southern Baptist Convention among Protestant denominations.[1] As of 2009, worldwide membership was about 12 million. It is a member of the World Council of Churches, the World Methodist Council, and other religious associations.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Paul A. Djupe; Laura R. Olson, Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics (New York: Facts On File, 2003), p. 449
  2. Achim Nkosi MasekoChurch Schism & Corruption (Durban, South Africa, Achim N. Maseko, 2008), p. 513