Become a Religious Entrepreneur
How to Start a Methodist Church
Opening a Methodist church is an excellent opportunity but it's important to plan out the startup process in detail before you start. We provide nuts-and-bolts information on the essential elements for success.
Thinking about opening a Methodist church? We tell you what you need to know to get started.
Choosing a Methodist Church Option
Modern Methodism is derived from the work of John Wesley, an 18th century Anglican revivalist who separated from the Church of England to launch what has become one of the largest mainline Protestant denominations in the world.
As a potential Methodist church planter, you'll need to thoroughly understand Wesley's theological understanding (particularly in the area of grace) as well as the more practical aspects of Methodism, including which branch of Methodism is best suited to your pursuits.
- United Methodist. The United Methodist Church (UMC) is one of the most recognized mainline denominations in America. The church currently boasts nearly 8 million members in the U.S. The UMC is known for encompassing a broad range of ideological viewpoints; while some churches tend to be conservative to moderate, others take a more liberal approach to faith.
- Free Methodist. The Free Methodist Church is smaller and more conservative than its UMC cousin. With approximately 75,000 members and 950 congregations in the U.S., the Free Methodist tradition is highly evangelical and open to church planting efforts from qualified religious entrepreneurs.
The Benefits of Facebook for Methodist Church Planters
The Digital Age has completely changed the way large segments of the American public connect with each other and with the organizations they value. The idea of Facebook for churches has been a boon to many religious communities as well as a valuable tool for forging more meaningful relationships within specific congregations.
Facebook is especially useful for Methodist church planting because it provides a virtual resource that parallels Methodism's historic emphasis on the connections between clergy and congregations. In the old days, Methodist preachers were known as "circuit riders" because they would preach at multiple churches on any given Sunday, providing ministerial services to a circuit of churches.
Today, many Methodist church pastors continue to serve multiple congregations and church planters are often bi-vocational, making it more important than ever for Methodist leaders/entrepreneurs to use Facebook as a tool to stay connected with their congregation.
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