The first Methodist church was established in 1784 in the USA. The United States of America had been founded the previous year, creating the first modern state in which the separation of the church and state was defined constitutionally.

 
The original intention had not been to start a new church. The Anglican clergyman John Wesley (1703-1791) was deeply concerned about the situation of the poor within society in 18th century England. The beginning of the industrial revolution had caused serious social problems: unemployment, child labor, exploitation of workers, alcoholism and more. Together with several like-minded people, John Wesley founded a revival movement within the Church of England which stood up for these people and their problems. They were mockingly named ‘Methodists’ because of the way in which they tried to live out their beliefs, consistently and ‘with method.’

As more and more people emigrated to the English colonies in North America, so the Methodist movement spread there, too. Following American Independence, the Church of England withdrew from the secessionist colonies as it was, after all, the church of the  English crown, and the Methodists began to organize their own church in the vacuum left behind. The Methodist Church did not arise from differences in teaching, but rather from the need to provide pastoral care for the people in this new country.

 Teachings

The Methodist Church has kept the Articles of Religion and the worship service of the Anglican Church, although both have been shortened and amended in keeping with the changing needs of the modern world. Today, there are Methodist churches throughout the world with approximately 70 million members. While the Methodists are not directly a product of the reformation, we nevertheless belong to the family of Protestant churches and profess together the Protestant beliefs, which are based on the love of God for all people, and God’s unconditional acceptance of us despite our sinful nature as human beings. The Bible forms the foundation of our beliefs and Jesus Christ is the central focus of our faith and our lives. Baptism and communion are our sacraments - God’s promise of His love made visible!

 All offices and posts within the Church are open to both men and women equally. Pastors make decisions with regard to teachings and church discipline.

Everyone is welcome in the United Methodist Church. We profess to be all-inclusive and so we invite all the people, in all their diversity, to take part in our worship and our church life. For this reason, all those searching for God are invited to join us in taking Holy Communion.

 Today’s United Methodist Church has been a presence in this region for more than 150 years. The United Methodist Church in the Republic of Macedonia, as an international church, is involved not only in the church activities in the Methodist Church in the world, but also in church activities on the world level (ecumenism). Our Church is a member of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, the European Council of Churches (Brussels) and in many other organizations of churches throughout the world. There are delegates from our Church at all these meetings where they represent not only our Church, but also the Republic of Macedonia.

 The United Methodist Church has always been open to cooperation with another churches and religious communities. As a Church, we have very good relationships with the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, the Islamic Community and the Jewish Community.

 The United Methodist Church in the R. Macedonia has 13 churches, 4 residences for pastors (apartments) and one center for social outreach.

Like most Christian churches, we celebrate Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Mother’s Day and Women’s World Day of Prayer.

For more information, please contact us at the following address:

Secretariat of the UMC in RM
Zagrebacka 4
MK-2400 Strumica
tel./fax 00389(0) 34 322 662