In the United Methodist Church and Free Methodist Church, where bishops provide church leadership, connexionalism is a variety of episcopal polity. Many Methodist churches, such as the British Methodist Church, do not have bishops.[2] In world Methodism, a given connexion (that is, denomination) is usually autonomous.
In the history of Christianity in England, a connexion was a circuit of prayer groups who would employ travelling ministers alongside the regular ministers attached to each congregation. This method of organizing emerged in 18th-century English nonconformist religious circles; this is why the otherwise old-fashioned spelling (connexion rather than connection) is retained in the British church. The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, for instance, was founded by Selina, Countess of Huntingdon. Over time, as Methodism became a separate church, this structure of connexions came to form a new system of polity, separate from episcopal polity.
British and Irish Methodismedit
Connexional polity in Britain has always been characterized by a strong central organization which holds an annual conference.[3] The connexion is divided into districts in the charge of a chairperson. Methodist districts often correspond approximately, in geographical terms, to counties – as do Church of England dioceses. The districts are divided into circuits governed by the circuit meeting and led and administered principally by a superintendent minister. Ministers are appointed to circuits rather than to individual churches. Most notably, there are no bishops in the British connexion.[4] The term full connexion is used in Great Britain and in Ireland to refer to presbyters and deacons being "subject to the rules and discipline of the Conference of the Methodist Church", and specifically that they are subject to being stationed (i.e. appointed to ministry in a local circuit) at the direction of the conference.[5]
Free Methodist churches and United Methodist churches are generally organized on a connexional model, related but not identical to that used in Britain. Pastors are assigned to congregations by bishops, distinguishing it from presbyterian government. Methodist denominations typically give lay members representation at regional and national meetings (conferences) at which the business of the church is conducted,making it different from most episcopal government.[citation needed] This connexional organizational model differs further from the congregational model, for example of Baptist and Congregationalist churches.
See alsoedit
Look up connexion in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Doe, Norman (2013). Christian Law: Contemporary Principles. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-1-107-00692-8.
Law and Polity Committee of the Methodist Church (2017). (PDF). Vol. 2 (rev. 7th ed.). London: Methodist Publishing. ISBN978-1-85852-440-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
Methodist Conference (1999). Called to Love and Praise: The Nature of the Christian Church in Methodist Experience and Practice(PDF). Retrieved 18 June 2018.
Further readingedit
Richey, Russell E. (2013). "Episkopé and Connexionalism: Ecclesiology and Church Government in Methodism". In Gibson, William; Forsaith, Peter; Wellings, Martin (eds.). The Ashgate Research Companion to World Methodism. Abingdon, England: Routledge (published 2016). pp. 251–268. ISBN978-1-317-04099-6.
November 19, 2023
connexionalism, also, spelled, connectionalism, theological, understanding, foundation, methodist, ecclesiastical, polity, practised, methodist, church, britain, methodist, church, ireland, united, methodist, church, free, methodist, church, african, methodist. Connexionalism also spelled connectionalism is the theological understanding and foundation of Methodist ecclesiastical polity as practised in the Methodist Church in Britain Methodist Church in Ireland United Methodist Church Free Methodist Church African Methodist Episcopal Church African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Bible Methodist Connection of Churches Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas and many of the countries where Methodism was established by missionaries sent out from these churches It refers to the way in which Methodist churches and other institutions are connected and work together to support one another share resources and carry out mission and ministry The United Methodist Church defines connection as the principle that all leaders and congregations are connected in a network of loyalties and commitments that support yet supersede local concerns 1 Accordingly the primary decision making bodies in Methodism are conferences which serve to gather together representatives of various levels of church hierarchy In the United Methodist Church and Free Methodist Church where bishops provide church leadership connexionalism is a variety of episcopal polity Many Methodist churches such as the British Methodist Church do not have bishops 2 In world Methodism a given connexion that is denomination is usually autonomous Contents 1 History 2 British and Irish Methodism 3 American Methodism 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Footnotes 5 2 Bibliography 6 Further readingHistory editIn the history of Christianity in England a connexion was a circuit of prayer groups who would employ travelling ministers alongside the regular ministers attached to each congregation This method of organizing emerged in 18th century English nonconformist religious circles this is why the otherwise old fashioned spelling connexion rather than connection is retained in the British church The Countess of Huntingdon s Connexion for instance was founded by Selina Countess of Huntingdon Over time as Methodism became a separate church this structure of connexions came to form a new system of polity separate from episcopal polity British and Irish Methodism editConnexional polity in Britain has always been characterized by a strong central organization which holds an annual conference 3 The connexion is divided into districts in the charge of a chairperson Methodist districts often correspond approximately in geographical terms to counties as do Church of England dioceses The districts are divided into circuits governed by the circuit meeting and led and administered principally by a superintendent minister Ministers are appointed to circuits rather than to individual churches Most notably there are no bishops in the British connexion 4 The term full connexion is used in Great Britain and in Ireland to refer to presbyters and deacons being subject to the rules and discipline of the Conference of the Methodist Church and specifically that they are subject to being stationed i e appointed to ministry in a local circuit at the direction of the conference 5 American Methodism editSee also Bishops in Methodism Free Methodist churches and United Methodist churches are generally organized on a connexional model related but not identical to that used in Britain Pastors are assigned to congregations by bishops distinguishing it from presbyterian government Methodist denominations typically give lay members representation at regional and national meetings conferences at which the business of the church is conducted making it different from most episcopal government citation needed This connexional organizational model differs further from the congregational model for example of Baptist and Congregationalist churches See also edit nbsp Look up connexion in Wiktionary the free dictionary nbsp Methodism portalCircuit rider religious References editFootnotes edit Connection Sharing God s Gifts Glossary of United Methodist Terms United Methodist Church Retrieved 18 June 2018 Doe 2013 p 7 Methodist Conference 1999 p 52 The Connexion London Methodist Church Archived from the original on 11 May 2012 Retrieved 18 June 2018 Law and Polity Committee of the Methodist Church 2017 p 44 Bibliography edit Doe Norman 2013 Christian Law Contemporary Principles Cambridge England Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 1 107 00692 8 Law and Polity Committee of the Methodist Church 2017 The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church PDF Vol 2 rev 7th ed London Methodist Publishing ISBN 978 1 85852 440 5 Archived from the original PDF on 18 June 2018 Retrieved 18 June 2018 Methodist Conference 1999 Called to Love and Praise The Nature of the Christian Church in Methodist Experience and Practice PDF Retrieved 18 June 2018 Further reading editRichey Russell E 2013 Episkope and Connexionalism Ecclesiology and Church Government in Methodism In Gibson William Forsaith Peter Wellings Martin eds The Ashgate Research Companion to World Methodism Abingdon England Routledge published 2016 pp 251 268 ISBN 978 1 317 04099 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Connexionalism amp oldid 1176894136, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
