Methodism

One of the biggest differences between these two denominations is, to put it succinctly, "how wet you get" at baptism. Baptists accept only baptism by immersion, while Methodists tend towards the "sprinkling" method of baptism.

Both Baptist and Methodist denominations have similar governing organizations and methods of worship.

I asked that question to a Methodist pastor and scholar and he said, "the quantity of water... Or like the other responder said, how wet do you want to get? The answer is they are similar. Having experienced both, the body we usually call Methodists are United Methodists, the largest group of Methodists in the US. We usually refer to Southern Baptists---which are both national and international---when we speak of "Baptists". The United Methodist Church is organized both nationally and regionally with centralization through area conferences. Baptists are largely independent churches affiliated through the Southern Baptist Convention. They have independence in their own governance. They hire and fire pastors and make decisions concerning their church at the local church level. Methodists have a hierarchy and pastors are given appointments, usually according to their experience. Big urban churches go to senior pastors, typically. Small, country churches go to new/younger preachers. Here are what I believe are the main differences: 1. Methodists may be baptized through sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Sprinkling is the most common form. Baptists believe in immersion. Both believe this is symbolic and does not grant you a pardon or entrance into heaven. It is simply a gesture of faith. Profound for some, not so much for others. But it is a public profession of your faith and belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Methodists baptize infants and young people. Baptists only baptize adults or young "believers" . Thet have to be at an age that they understand what they are doing and its meaning 2. Methodists ordain women. Baptists typically, do not. 3.Methodists have a more formal, ritualistic form of worship in traditional services. Baptists tend to be less stringent and a bit more casual in worship style (NOT IN SCRIPTURE). 4.Methodists accept the Nicene and Apostle's Creeds as core tenets of the faith, often reciting these creeds at their worship service. Baptists tend to shy away from such statements of faith as well as liturgical elements of worship. No processionals, acolytes, cross bearers or other formal acts of worship; typically, no wearing of robes/vestments by the clergy, etc. There is "The Baptist Faith and Message" which for Southern Baptists is generally accepted by members of the Convention.5. Most Methodist churches recite the Lord's prayer during services ;most Baptist churches do not. 6.Methodists come forward to the altar to receive communion. Baptists are usually served in their seats. Methodists call the Eucharist "communion". Baptists call it the Lord's Supper.7. Methodists have an altar. Baptist churches typically have no formal altar. The reason, I am told, is because it was traditionally viewed as a place of sacrifice and was a Catholic church feature representing Christ's sacrifice for us. Its use was not adopted by the Baptists. 8. Methodist churches observe Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, Lent, Pentecost, Advent and every Holy season and day imaginable. Baptists typically do not. 9. Methodists use communion as a sort of "altar call" to get people to come up front and become part of the service and the church. Baptists have an "altar call" in which they invite people to come forward and confess publicly their need for Christ and invite him to become part of their lives(part?). Sometimes they may confess publicly their sins or give a testimony.10. Methodists worship in a style that is historically more quiet, subdued and contemplative. Baptists are louder, tend to sing louder, praise louder and close their bibles louder than Methodists. Maybe a little livelier in STYLE. those are the differences I have experienced. Here are the similarities: BOTH pray. Both praise and sing.. Both love the Bible..Both encourage missions. Both Evangelize. Both help the poor. Both believe in a democratic, full and open salvation for EVERYONE. Both believe in the TRINITY. Both believe in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Both believe in faith. Both believe in GRACE. And Both meet several times a week---especially on Sundays.

A good friend of mine who grew up in the Methodist Church told me that the difference between a Methodist and Baptist is that Methodists are Baptist with brains!!! My parents are life-long Methodists and I am an Episcopalian but I do know there are far more differences between Southern Baptists then the UMC.

American Baptists are much more moderate and have been openly courted by the UMC since the SBC grew increasingly more conservative and fundamentalist.

The UMC has historically aligned itself with the other great liberal mainline denominations like the Presbyterians, United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church and the the Evangelical Lutherans. The Southern Baptists, unlike the Methodists do not recognize any sacraments, adhere to the Apostolic Succession, liturgical worship, rituals, Nicene and Apostles Creeds, ecumenicalism or ordination of deacons, elders and bishops, like the UMC.

The Methodists are much more apt to be socially more progressive, open-minded about theological matters and doctrine, and better educated. The Methodists like my church, are certainly not fundamentalists when it comes to the Bible. The UMC does not believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible like the Baptists. In the Baptist churches, they call their sanctuaries auditoriums. When it comes to abortion rights the United Methodist Church has been a strong defender and advocate of allowing women to make that private decision. The SBC is fervently pro-life and condemns abortion with o exceptions whatsoever! When it comes to sexual orientation the UMC despite its unwillingness to approve of gay ordination and marriage, is still more accepting than the Southern Baptists. Most of the Bishops and clergy in the UMC are supportive of allowing gays to serve openly as ministers and to perform marriages. You won't find that in the SBC at all.

The Methodist movement resulted from the machinations of one John Wesley who apparently felt the other movements were off track so he built his own, adopting Protestant basics as the primary vehicle. The Catholics came about through the efforts of Emperor Constantine, when he married a faction of the perverted true church and the idolatry of the Roman people and all the trappings, creating a socio-political organization without peer. Methodists do recognize God as supreme. The Catholic also do but are still lugging idolatry baggage in the form of saints, Mary etc.

The Methodist religion is base on the teachings of an English man name John Wesley. Wesley was an Anglican preacher who started perching in the early 18th century. Methodists recognize two Sacraments baptism and Holy Communion. Catholics recognize seven Sacraments. In addition, Methodists believe in personal salvation; while Catholics believe that the Church and God would lead to salvation. Methodist clergy could marry while Catholic clergy cannot get marry.

I would say that both the Roman Catholic Church and the United Methodist Church have been engaged for many years in ecumenical talks. They do share much in theology and doctrine. One must keep in mind that John Wesley was a "high church" Anglican Priest and strongly believed in celebrating the Eucharist and was very fond of the Book of Common Prayer. Most of the theology of the Methodist Church can be directly traced to the Church of England, which is Catholic in nature not Protestant.

There are some difference between both denominations. The Roman Catholic Church is headed by the Papacy. The RCC believes that the bread and wine are the actually body and blood of Jesus-called transubstantion! The RCC have priests that celebrate the Mass. They incorporate a greater amount of ritual and formality than the United Methodists do. The RCC is far more conservative on social issue than the Methodists, like abortion and sexual orientation. The United Methodists celebrate 2 sacraments as the Lutherans and Presbyterians:

baptism and Holy Communion. The United Methodist believe that Christ is present during the celebration of the Eucharist. They also share with the RCC the historic creeds, the Nicene and Apostle's creed. Both are not literalists when it comes to the Bible. The RCC and the UMC have been in a dialogue for many years, realizing that both have more similar beliefs than major differences. The UMC shares a strong and historic relationship with the Anglican Church which includes sharing both theological and doctrines of the Church of England. Because of that, it has been relatively easy for the UMC to hold ecumenical talks with the RCC.

Methodists are Protestant. Catholics submit to the Pope, where Protestants don't. Methodists don't have priests--I think they have pastors or ministers. Their ministers can marry, while Catholic priests cannot.

Not many, The Methodist Chuch is considered one of the "Catholic Protestant" churches, along with Lutheranism and Anglicanism. Basically Methodists do not necessarily believe in purgatory, at least in the same way catholics do. Methodists ordain women, Catholics do not. Methodist serve an open table for the Eucharist, Catholics do not. Methodists have two Sacraments: Eucharist & Holy Baptism. Catholcis have seven Sacraments: Eucharist, Holy Baptism, Confession, Penance, Holy Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick (Last Rites). The other Sacraments of the Catholic Church are considered Rites (less important than sacraments, unecessary but encouraged) in the Methodist Church.

Methodists are Protestant and do not recognize the authority of the Pope.

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A denomination, on the other hand, is any protestant group, or derivation from them, that originally broke away from the Church and started their own brand of Christianity. There have only been "denominations" since the 16th century, of which the Methodist are one, albeit one of the originals, from the 16th century.

Protestant Answer

The "Catholic" Church is the invisible Body of Christ that has existed since God extended grace to sinners : grace extended to the believers in Jehovah's Messiah preceding the Advent of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and to the believers in Jesus Christ --since the Day of Pentecost. " Catholic " means the universalchurch and it

is inclusive of all true believers (including those who are attached to the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic bodies) -- to all who have been born again by the Spirit of God and who are led of Him ( cf. John 3:3,6 ; Rom. 8:9,13,14)

Charles Wesley was the younger brother of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement of Protestantism, but he was also a leader of the Methodist movement in his own right. He was born on 18 December 1707, in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England. Whilst studying at Christ Church College, Oxford, Wesley formed the "Oxford Methodist" group among his fellow students in 1729, a group which his brother later joined. However, Charles did not wish to break away from the Church of England into which he and his brother were both ordained.

Charles Wesley is best known for writing up to six thousand popular and well-loved hymns, including Amazing Love; And Can It Be?; Hark, The Herald Angels Sing; Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling; and O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.

Charles Wesley's name is listed in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame for the enduring nature of his hymns. He died on 29 March 1788.