More about the Wesleyans

Who we are : What we Believe : Today's Issues

A Simple Description
In the most inclusive connotation, a Wesleyan is not a member of a particular denomination, but one who adheres to a distinctive doctrinal teaching.

The core of the Wesleyan movement is the scriptural truth of personal holiness, a doctrine and experience referred to as "entire sanctification." Wesleyans emphasize the importance and reality of a holy heart as a provision of salvation through the finished work of Christ. A work received by faith. It was through the revival efforts of John Wesley that the message of Christian perfection and practical biblical holiness was prominently preached. This holiness revival which began in England in the eighteenth century has continued to the present.

The Disciples
It was never Wesley's intention to generate a following, found a church or establish a denomination, but the awakening began to spawn "societies" which grew to become the Methodist movement. The revival spread to America where Methodist immigrants began forming societies in the colonies and eventually organized The Methodist Episcopal Church in 1784. Circuit riding preachers, using John Wesley as their example, began taking the Gospel from village to village and the new church experienced phenomenal growth.

Numerous changes have occurred in the Methodist church since its early beginnings over two hundred years ago. As the holiness revival engulfed other groups, the number of people ascribing to its scriptural teaching have increased. The doctrine of entire sanctification and heart cleansing through personal holiness is now held by a variety of churches and denominations, each cataloged in the holiness movement. In addition to these, multitudes of believers who have discovered the truth and experienced God's sanctifying grace, maintain membership in denominations which do not officially teach the doctrine. All those affirming this holiness teaching as articulated by John Wesley, regardless of denominational affiliation, are called WESLEYAN.

A Strong Denomination
In a more limited context, a Wesleyan is anyone who is a member of The Wesleyan Church, an international denomination dedicated to reaching the world with the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The Wesleyan Church began in 1968 through a merger of the Pilgrim Holiness Church and the Wesleyan Methodist Church, two bodies very similar in doctrine, government and purpose.

The Development
John Wesley and the early Methodist leaders in America were uncompromising in their denunciation of slavery, and diligently sought its abolition. Many of the established church leaders struggled to silence them, exercising intolerable authority As a result, internal opposition increased, forcing some churches and ministers to withdraw from The Methodist Episcopal Church. Their small conference grew, leading them to form The Wesleyan Methodist Connection in 1843. This Connection became the first "denomination" to officially adopt an article of religion on sanctification. Late in the nineteenth century, following a season of spiritual revival, the Connection gave birth to The Wesleyan Methodist Church.

During the great spiritual awakening of the late nineteenth century, another movement was just beginning. Through the revival of scriptural holiness, many people of like faith and doctrine joined together to form unions, associations and independent churches. One of the earliest on record is The Holiness Christian Church, organized in 1889. Through the years subsequent to this revival, other groups formed organized churches and many of them began merging to create larger associations. The Holiness Christian Church was enlarged and became The International Apostolic Holiness Church. The Pilgrim Church of California was organized in 1917 and within five years had established a school and was publishing a periodical and sending missionaries. In 1922, The Pilgrim Church combined with The International Holiness Church and became The Pilgrim Holiness Church. Through the efforts of evangelism, campmeetings, and continuing mergers, The Pilgrim Holiness Church developed into a sizable denomination.

The Dimension
Since becoming The Wesleyan Church in 1968, the denomination has experienced substantial growth. It now registers a membership of nearly 270,000 people in over 3,600 churches located throughout 40 countries. The Church supports nearly 200 missionaries, who are responsible for coordinating and supervising evangelism, educational and medical ministries in Central and South America, Great Britain, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. Many of its pastors and local church leaders receive their higher education from one of the five colleges The Wesleyan Church maintains in North America. It also sponsors an international radio ministry, The Wesleyan Hour, which proclaims the gospel to over 100,000,000 people each week. The Wesleyan Church is an affiliate member of the National Association of Evangelicals and holds membership in the Christian Holiness Partnership. In the most restrictive sense it is these people, uniting their resources to form a distinctive denomination, who are THE WESLEYANS.

Who we are : What we Believe : Today's Issues