Woodbury, CT United Methodist Church

The Woodbury, CT United Methodist Church is a local congregation of the United Methodist Church, a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination with roots tracing back to John Wesley's spiritual renewal movement in the 18th century.

Overview

As part of the United Methodist Church (UMC), the Woodbury congregation shares the broader denomination's mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The UMC is known for its emphasis on social holiness, grace, and the love of Jesus Christ.

Beliefs and Practices

The UMC, and thus its local congregations like the Woodbury church, adhere to a set of core beliefs that include salvation through Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible interpreted through reason, tradition, and experience, and a commitment to personal holiness and social action. The church practices connectionalism, which emphasizes a network of relationships among its members and congregations.

Structure

Local United Methodist churches, such as the Woodbury, CT congregation, are organized into districts, which are then grouped into annual conferences. In the United States, these annual conferences are further divided into five jurisdictions. At the highest level, the General Conference serves as the legislative body for the entire UMC, setting official policy for the church.

Community Engagement

United Methodist churches are often involved in local and global missions, advocating for social justice and supporting community development. This engagement reflects the church's belief in actively demonstrating God's love through service and compassion.

History

While specific historical details about the Woodbury, CT United Methodist Church are not widely documented, it has likely been part of the broader Methodist tradition that began with John Wesley's teachings in England and evolved into the UMC in 1968 through the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

[1] https://matthewsumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Introduction-to-The-UMC-copy-from-NBUMC.pdf [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Methodist_Church [3] https://pittmanpark.org/news/the-structure-of-the-united-methodist-church/ [4] https://www.umcjustice.org/who-we-are/the-united-methodist-church [5] https://sacjumc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-06_umc-structure_by-ryland.pdf