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Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials
John Wesley distinguished between essential doctrines on which agreement or consensus is critical and opinions about theology or church practices on which disagreement must be allowed. Though today few people join churches based on doctrinal commitments, once a person has joined a church it becomes important to know the historic teachings of that church's tradition.
In Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials, Ted Campbell outlines historical doctrinal consensus in American Episcopal Methodist Churches in a comparative and ecumenical dialogue with the doctrinal inheritance of other major families of Christian tradition. In this way, the book shows both what Methodist churches historically teach in common with ecumenical Christianity and what is distinctive about the Methodist tradition in its various contemporary forms. Documents examined include The Twenty-Five Articles of Religion, The General Rules, Wesley's Standard Sermons and Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, The Methodist Social Creed, and the Apostles' Creed.
In Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials, Ted Campbell outlines historical doctrinal consensus in American Episcopal Methodist Churches in a comparative and ecumenical dialogue with the doctrinal inheritance of other major families of Christian tradition. In this way, the book shows both what Methodist churches historically teach in common with ecumenical Christianity and what is distinctive about the Methodist tradition in its various contemporary forms. Documents examined include The Twenty-Five Articles of Religion, The General Rules, Wesley's Standard Sermons and Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, The Methodist Social Creed, and the Apostles' Creed.
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First published April 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 7, 2026
Ted A. Campbell’s
Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials
is an accessible, well-organized presentation of historic Wesleyan theology. It clearly explains the doctrinal framework of orthodox Methodism and placing it within the broader Christian tradition.
Campbell presents Methodist theology as fundamentally historic and orthodox rather than doctrinally isolated. Scripture remains supreme, while tradition, reason, and experience serve as interpretive aids within the Wesleyan framework. Classical Arminianism, prevenient grace, justification, sanctification, assurance, the means of grace, and the sacraments are presented as parts of a coherent theological system. His treatment of Christian perfection is especially clear and consistent with John Wesley's A Plain Account of Christian Perfection , presenting sanctification as a serious and defensible doctrine rather than the caricature of moral flawlessness often associated with the term.
Campbell also distinguishes historic Methodist doctrine from later denominational developments. His comparisons with other Christian traditions are fair, accurate, and useful, and he consistently grounds Methodist identity in its historical sources rather than contemporary practice. This is especially important because Wesleyan theology is more traditional, liturgical, and historically rooted than much of modern Methodism often reflects.
That distinction is particularly important following the separation of many traditional Methodists from The United Methodist Church and the formation of the Global Methodist Church. The GMC is not another name for the UMC, nor is it merely a faction; it is a distinct Methodist denomination. The GMC represents a deliberate effort to preserve and renew the orthodox, scriptural, Wesleyan tradition described in this book. My substantial disagreements with the present direction of the UMC were among the reasons I found Campbell’s presentation of historic Methodist doctrine so valuable.
The book did not change my theological convictions, but it strengthened them by presenting familiar doctrines with exceptional clarity and cohesion. Its greatest contribution is accessibility: it provides a concise reference for understanding what Methodists have historically believed and why those beliefs form a coherent theological tradition.
Every Methodist should read Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials, especially anyone who cannot give a clear answer to the question, “Why Methodism?” I particularly recommend it to those trying to understand the theological identity of the Global Methodist Church and why its distinction from The United Methodist Church matters.
Campbell presents Methodist theology as fundamentally historic and orthodox rather than doctrinally isolated. Scripture remains supreme, while tradition, reason, and experience serve as interpretive aids within the Wesleyan framework. Classical Arminianism, prevenient grace, justification, sanctification, assurance, the means of grace, and the sacraments are presented as parts of a coherent theological system. His treatment of Christian perfection is especially clear and consistent with John Wesley's A Plain Account of Christian Perfection , presenting sanctification as a serious and defensible doctrine rather than the caricature of moral flawlessness often associated with the term.
Campbell also distinguishes historic Methodist doctrine from later denominational developments. His comparisons with other Christian traditions are fair, accurate, and useful, and he consistently grounds Methodist identity in its historical sources rather than contemporary practice. This is especially important because Wesleyan theology is more traditional, liturgical, and historically rooted than much of modern Methodism often reflects.
That distinction is particularly important following the separation of many traditional Methodists from The United Methodist Church and the formation of the Global Methodist Church. The GMC is not another name for the UMC, nor is it merely a faction; it is a distinct Methodist denomination. The GMC represents a deliberate effort to preserve and renew the orthodox, scriptural, Wesleyan tradition described in this book. My substantial disagreements with the present direction of the UMC were among the reasons I found Campbell’s presentation of historic Methodist doctrine so valuable.
The book did not change my theological convictions, but it strengthened them by presenting familiar doctrines with exceptional clarity and cohesion. Its greatest contribution is accessibility: it provides a concise reference for understanding what Methodists have historically believed and why those beliefs form a coherent theological tradition.
Every Methodist should read Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials, especially anyone who cannot give a clear answer to the question, “Why Methodism?” I particularly recommend it to those trying to understand the theological identity of the Global Methodist Church and why its distinction from The United Methodist Church matters.
November 26, 2011
For years, Ted Campbell has been the voice of United Methodist orthodoxy. Without the political infighting, this book summarizes the basic beliefs of our denomination. This is a must-read for anyone who is thinking about joining the United Methodist Church, or anyone who has grown up without learning the basic beliefs of the denomination.
In this concise, accessible book, Dr. Ted Campbell provides a brief summary of the major doctrines shared in the Wesley family of denominations. Writing in concise and straightforward language, Campbell organizes the material into systematic categories: doctrine of revelation, doctrine of God, doctrine of Christ, doctrine of the Spirit, doctrine of humanity, doctrine of "the way of salvation" (conversion/justification/sanctification), doctrine of the church and means of grace, and doctrine of thing to come.
John Wesley distinguished between essential doctrines on which agreement or consensus is critical and opinions about theology or church practices on which disagreement must be allowed. Though today few people join churches based on doctrinal commitments, once a person has joined a church it becomes important to know the teachings of that church's tradition. In this way, the book shows both what Methodist churches historically teach in common with ecumenical Christianity and what is distinctive about the Methodist tradition in its various contemporary forms.
In this concise, accessible book, Dr. Ted Campbell provides a brief summary of the major doctrines shared in the Wesley family of denominations. Writing in concise and straightforward language, Campbell organizes the material into systematic categories: doctrine of revelation, doctrine of God, doctrine of Christ, doctrine of the Spirit, doctrine of humanity, doctrine of "the way of salvation" (conversion/justification/sanctification), doctrine of the church and means of grace, and doctrine of thing to come.
John Wesley distinguished between essential doctrines on which agreement or consensus is critical and opinions about theology or church practices on which disagreement must be allowed. Though today few people join churches based on doctrinal commitments, once a person has joined a church it becomes important to know the teachings of that church's tradition. In this way, the book shows both what Methodist churches historically teach in common with ecumenical Christianity and what is distinctive about the Methodist tradition in its various contemporary forms.
October 21, 2022
Explains the church doctrine well. It is easy to read and understand
November 11, 2024
I found this to be a great, short read/introduction to the Methodist tradition, which is exactly what I was looking for.
It has the 25 Articles of faith for the Methodists so you can read them at the end of the book as well in the Appendix.
If you want to learn what Methodists have traditionally believed, this is a great introduction!
It has the 25 Articles of faith for the Methodists so you can read them at the end of the book as well in the Appendix.
If you want to learn what Methodists have traditionally believed, this is a great introduction!
June 10, 2018
Dry but short. Good overview of what the Methodist church's essential teachings are, but the author purposely takes a historical perspective (helpful in many ways) and so avoids ethical issues that the church is struggling with today.
April 18, 2024
Good introduction.
August 5, 2010
This book is intended to be a "crash course" of sorts in Methodist doctrine (at least the key points); it does just that, and it does it very well. It juxtaposes the Books of Discipline for the United Methodist Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ or AME Zion) Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church, and my beloved African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Though the book is probably about 14 years old it's great to read!
Shout out to Richard Allen.
Shout out to Richard Allen.
June 30, 2009
Ted Campbell does an excellent job of spelling out the basics of Methodist Doctrine in layman's terms. If anyone else wants to know what Methodism is all about, this book is a good place to start. I know I'm really weird for reading it and liking it, but I was curious.
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January 17, 2012This is a great pocket reference book on United Methodist doctrine. It contains introductory information on topics such as baptism, way of salvation, and history. Perfect for a person looking for articulation of basic beliefs.
June 11, 2013
Quick and easy run-down of Methodist beliefs. Helpful in figuring out how Methodists differ from other denominations.
February 25, 2015
A really good introduction to Methodist doctrine.
April 29, 2015
Straightforward and clear look at the traditions, history, and doctrine of Methodist church.
January 17, 2016
Interesting
January 4, 2017
Great resource!👍
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews