What is United Methodist Church?
[[File:Logo of the United Methodist Church.svg|thumb|right|120px|{{Center|[[Logo]] of the United Methodist Church}}]] The '''United Methodist Church''' ('''UMC''') is a [[Methodist]]–[[Christian]] [[Christian denomination|denomination]] that is one of the largest [[Protestant]] churches in the [[United States]]. It was [[wikt:found|found]]ed in 1968 by the union of the [[Methodist Church (USA)]] and the [[Evangelical United Brethren Church]].<ref name=Djupe449>Paul A. Djupe; Laura R. Olson, ''Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics'' (New York: Facts On File, 2003), p. 449</ref> The UMC traces its roots back to the [[Teacher|teachings]] of [[John Wesley|John]] and [[Charles Wesley]] in England.<ref>Achim Nkosi Maseko''Church Schism & Corruption'' (Durban, South Africa, Achim N. Maseko, 2008), p. 513</ref> With over 8 [[million]] members and 35,000 churches it is second only to the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] among Protestant denominations.<ref name=Djupe449/> As of 2009, worldwide membership was about 12 million. It is a member of the World Council of Churches, the World Methodist Council, and other religious associations. == References == {{commons}} {{reflist}} {{religion-stub}} [[Category:Methodism]] [[Category:Christian organizations based in the United States]] [[Category:1968 establishments in the United States]] [[Category:1960s establishments in Texas]] [[Category:Religious organizations established in the 20th century]]