Connectionalism

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John Wesley

George Whitefield
Background Christianity Protestantism Pietism Anglicanism Arminianism Calvinism
Doctrinal distinctives Articles of Religion Prevenient Grace Governmental Atonement Imparted righteousness Christian perfection
People Richard Allen Francis Asbury Thomas Coke Albert C. Outler Charles Wesley Bishops · Theologians
Largest groups World Methodist Council United Methodist Church AME Church Church of the Nazarene British Methodist Church
Related movements Holiness movement Salvation Army Personalism Pentecostalism This box: view • talk • edit

Connectionalism is the theological understanding and foundation of Methodist polity. It basically means that all local congregations are interrelated through the larger church.

In the United Methodist Church, this translates in several ways. All local church buildings are owned by the local church, but held "in trust" for the whole denomination. All local churches are expected to participate in the annual conferences and the denomination's ministries through shared ministries payments. In addition, pastors only serve a congregation when they are appointed by their bishop.