United Methodist Churches

Worship in the United Methodist Church draws from both the Catholic and Protestant heritage. The denomination contains both strong liturgical and charismatic movements. Worship today is characterized by emphasis on the Christian year, frequent Communion, use of the arts, and commitment to inclusive language and women in liturgical leadership. The United Methodist Church has a complex heritage that has predisposed it toward an eclectic style of worship and given it an openness to influences from many Christian traditions and contemporary worship renewal movements. The denomination was formed in 1968 by the union of the Methodist Church with the much smaller Evangelical United Brethren Church, the latter having been formed in 1946 by the union of the Evangelical Church and the United Brethren in Christ. Formative Influences on Worship The Methodist Church arose from a movement within the Church of England led by a priest named John Wesley (1703-1791). When this movement took root in…