Methodism

==Membership==
Traditionally, Methodist [[connexionalism|connexions]] descending from the tradition of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] have a probationary period of six months before an individual is admitted into [[church membership]] as a full member of a congregation.<ref name="Scott2016">{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=David W. |title=Mission as Globalization: Methodists in Southeast Asia at the Turn of the Twentieth Century |date=2016 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-1-4985-2664-7 |page=65 |language=English}}</ref> Given the wide attendance at Methodist [[revival meeting]]s, many people started to attend Methodist services of worship regularly, though they had not yet committed to membership.<ref name="Scott2016"/> When they made that commitment, becoming a probationer was the first step and during this period, probationers "receive additional instruction and provide evidence of the seriousness of their faith and willingness to abide by church discipline before being accepted into full membership."<ref name="Scott2016"/> In addition to this, to be a probationary member of a Methodist congregation, a person traditionally requires an "earnest desire to be saved from [one's] sins".<ref name="Scott2016"/> In the historic Methodist system, probationers were eligible to become members of [[Cell group#Methodism|class meetings]], where they could be further discipled in their faith.<ref name="Scott2016"/>

[[Catechism]]s such as ''[[The Probationer's Handbook]]'', authored by minister [[Stephen O. Garrison]], have been used by probationers to learn the Methodist faith.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kirby |first1=James E. |last2=Rivera |first2=Feliciano |last3=Kirby |first3=James |last4=Richey |first4=Russell E. |last5=Rowe |first5=Kenneth E. |title=The Methodists |date=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-22048-7 |page=223 |language=English}}</ref> After six months, probationers were examined before the Leaders and Stewards' Meeting (which consisted of [[Class meeting#Methodism|Class Leaders]] and [[Steward (Methodism)|Stewards]]) where they were to provide "satisfactory assurance both of the correctness of his faith and of his willingness to observe and keep the rules of the church."<ref name="Scott2016"/> If probationers were able to do this, they were admitted as full members of the congregation by the [[pastor]].<ref name="Scott2016"/>

Full members of a Methodist congregation "were obligated to attend worship services on a regular basis" and "were to abide by certain moral precepts, especially as they related to substance use, gambling, divorce, and immoral pastimes."<ref name="Scott2016"/> This practice continues in certain Methodist connexions, such as the Lumber River Conference of the Holiness Methodist Church, in which probationers must be examined by the pastor, class leader, and board for full membership, in addition to being [[baptism|baptized]].<ref name="SandersonScottHuntBelcherWoods2011">{{cite book |last1=Sanderson |first1=Jimmy |last2=Scott |first2=Stanley |last3=Hunt |first3=Elton B. |last4=Belcher |first4=Dianne B. |last5=Woods |first5=James H. |title=Doctrines and Discipline of the Lumber River Conference of the Holiness Methodist Church |date=2011 |pages=17–18 |language=English}}</ref> The same structure is found in the [[African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church]], which teaches:<ref name="AMEZ2012"/>

{{Blockquote|In order that we may not admit improper persons into our church, great care be taken in receiving persons on probation, and let not one be so received or enrolled who does not give satisfactory evidence of his/her desire to flee the wrath to come and to be saved from his/her sins. Such a person satisfying us in these particulars may be received into our church on six months probation; but shall not be admitted to full membership until he/she shall have given satisfactory evidence of saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.|¶89, ''The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church''<ref name="AMEZ2012"/>}}

The pastor and class leader are to ensure "that all persons on probation be instructed in the Rules and Doctrines of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church before they are admitted to Full Membership" and that "probationers are expected to conform to the rules and usages of the Church, and to show evidence of their desire for fellowship in the Church".<ref name="AMEZ2012"/> After the six-month probation period, "A probationer may be admitted to full membership, provided he/she has served out his/her probation, has been baptized, recommended at the Leaders' Meeting, and, if none has been held according to law, recommended by the Leader, and, on examination by the Pastor before the Church as required in ¶600 has given satisfactory assurance both of the correctness of his/her faith, and of his/her willingness to observe and keep the rules of our Church."<ref name="AMEZ2012">{{cite book |title=The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church |date=2012 |publisher=[[African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church]] |isbn=978-1-4969-5704-7 |language=English}}</ref> The [[Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection]] admits to associate membership, by vote of the congregation, those who give affirmation to two questions: "1) Does the Lord now forgive your sins? 2) Will you acquaint yourself with the discipline of our connection and earnestly endeavor to govern your life by its rules as God shall give you understanding?"<ref name="AWMC2014"/> Probationers who wish to become full members are examined by the advisory board before being received as such through four vows (on the [[Born again#Methodism|new birth]], [[entire sanctification]], [[outward holiness]], and assent to the [[Articles of Religion (Methodist)|Articles of Religion]]) and a [[Covenant (religion)#Methodism|covenant]].<ref name="AWMC2014">{{cite book|title=The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Original Allegheny Conference)|year=2014|publisher=[[Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection]]|location=[[Salem, Ohio|Salem]]|language=en|pages=42–47}}</ref> In the [[United Methodist Church]], the process of becoming a professing member of a congregation is done through the taking membership vows (normatively in the rite of [[confirmation]]) after a period of instruction and receiving the sacrament of baptism.<ref name="Manskar">{{cite web |last1=Manskar |first1=Steve |title=The Meaning of Membership in The United Methodist Church |url=https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/blog/the-meaning-of-membership-in-the-united-methodist-church |publisher=[[The United Methodist Church]] |access-date=4 June 2021 |language=English |date=2012}}</ref> It is the practice of certain Methodist connexions that when people become members of a congregation, they are offered the [[Right Hand of Fellowship]].<ref name="AWMC2014"/><ref name="Emmanuel2002">{{cite book |title=Guidebook of the Emmanuel Association of Churches |date=2002 |publisher=[[Emmanuel Association]] |location=[[Logansport, Indiana|Logansport]] |pages=25–28 |language=English}}</ref> Methodists traditionally celebrate the [[Covenant Renewal Service]] as the [[watchnight service]] annually on New Year's Eve, in which members renew their [[Covenant (religion)#Methodism|covenant]] with God and the Church.<ref name="Manskar2012">{{cite web |last1=Manskar |first1=Steve |title=Covenant Renewal |url=https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/blog/covenant-renewal |publisher=[[Discipleship Ministries]] |access-date=4 June 2021 |language=English |date=2012}}</ref>