![[Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche]](../images/r/rel_emkde.gif)
Last modified: 2021-01-16 by rob raeside
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by Klaus-Michael Schneider and Tomislav Todorovic, 22 December 2020See also:
John Wesley (1703 – 1791) was an English cleric, theologian and evangelist,
who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as
Methodism. He was born as no. 15 of 19 children in a family of clergymen. His
father Sam Wesley had been also a graduate of the University of Oxford. In the
age of five the house of John’s parents burnt down and he was saved in the very
last minute. This experience had a deep influence onto his complete further
life.
Methodism teaches prevenient grace, which means that salvation is
initiated when one chooses to respond to God, who draws the individual near to
him. Methodism interprets Scripture as teaching that the saving work of Jesus
Christ is for all people (unlimited atonement) but effective only to those who
respond and believe, in accordance with the Reformation principles of sola
gratia (grace alone) and sola fide (faith alone). John Wesley taught a few key
points fundamental to Methodism:
A person is free not only to reject
salvation but also to accept it by an act of free will. As a result of
prevenient grace faith is a work of God and a decision of mankind as well.
All people, who are obedient to the gospel according to the measure of knowledge
given them, will be saved. Sanctification is considered to be more than mere
salvation, more than this it is the complete renovation of the follower. More
important than Scripture and doctrines are good action and the ethical attitude
of the faithful.
The Holy Spirit assures a Christian that they are justified
by faith in Jesus (assurance of faith).
Christians in this life are capable
of Christian perfection and are commanded by God to pursue it.
There are four
criteria, who help us, to understand the Scripture: 1) the Holy Bible, 2)
tradition, 3) experience and finally 4) the assistance of reason.
Methodism is organised in the World Methodist Council (WMC), established in
1881. It comprises denominations in 138 countries with 51,000,000 followers.
The salvation Army teaches Methodist virtues but is no member of the council.
The German branch is the Evangelish-methodistische Kirche (EmK), which had in
2008 nearly 35,000 followers (members). The branch has a central conference and
is organised by districts, led by super intendents.
The banner of the church
is light grey, with a bannerhead of red over a narrow stripe of white. In the
upper half the is the logo of the church, a black Latin cross, surrounded by red
and dark grey curvy elements, on the lower right end of the cross is the name of
the organisation in black letters:
“Evangelish-“(1st line)”methodistische”(2nd
line)”Kirche”(3rd line).
The red and grey elements are symbolising fire and
smoke and are a reminder on the saving of John Wesley as described above. The
cross is symbolising salvation.
Until 2008 Methodists in Germany, Austria and
Switzerland used a different logo, which jokers called the “cleft tablet” (“Spalt-Tablette”
had been a well known aspirin in Germany in the past. (see:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalt_(Marke) )
Klaus-Michael Schneider,
22 December 2020
