The Wesleyan Church
The Wesleyan Church was formed in 1968 by the merger of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection and the Pilgrim Holiness Church. It holds to Wesleyan-Arminian theology, emphasizing free grace, the necessity of personal conversion, entire sanctification as a second work of grace enabling the believer to love God and neighbor fully, and the witness of the Spirit. The denomination ordains women to all levels of ministry and has a strong tradition of social engagement. It maintains that salvation can be forfeited through willful apostasy.
Theology
Christology
Soteriology
Salvation
Affirms
Justification by faith alone; entire sanctification as second work of grace
Atonement & Ransom
Affirms
Penal substitution and governmental theory; unlimited; Christ's suffering vicarious
Predestination
Nuanced
Conditional election; God foreknows free responses; Arminian framework; no double predestination
Original Sin
Affirms
Inherited depravity from Adam; inbred sin; cleansed through entire sanctification
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Affirms
Immortal soul; conscious intermediate state; bodily resurrection at final judgment
Hell
Affirms
Eternal conscious separation and punishment; consequence of rejecting God's grace
Heaven
Affirms
Eternal life; bodily resurrection; glorification; direct presence of God
Second Coming
Affirms
Literal, bodily return of Christ; future; bodily resurrection of all people follows
Millennium
Nuanced
Premillennial common; amillennial minority; no official binding position on end-times
Ecclesiology
Church Authority
Nuanced
General Conference; Scripture supreme; Discipline guides; women ordained at all levels
Clergy & Priesthood
Affirms
Ordained clergy; all believers are priests; no sacerdotal priesthood or mediatorial authority
Sacraments & Ordinances
Nuanced
Two ordinances: baptism (mode flexible) and Lord's Supper (memorial/spiritual presence)
Scripture
Biblical Canon
Affirms
66-book Protestant canon; Old and New Testament authority equal and complete
Biblical Inerrancy
Affirms
Inerrancy in original writings; infallible rule of faith and practice
Extra-biblical Revelation
Nuanced
Scripture primary; Spirit continues to guide; cessationist on formal prophecy; inner witness affirmed
Scripture Interpretation
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Affirms
The Word is God; affirms Jesus' full divinity; grounds redemptive work and sanctification
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Denies
Denies papal interpretation; rock is faith-confession; Jesus alone is Church's foundation and head
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Denies
Denies Calvinist predestination; God's election conditional on foreseen faith; prevenient grace enables choice
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Affirms
Justified by faith perfected in works; entire sanctification produces works of love and holiness
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Affirms
Baptize in the Name; Trinitarian formula affirmed; baptism as means of grace and public commitment
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Affirms
Hebrews 1:8 affirms Christ's divinity and eternal throne; grounds redemptive work and return
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Nuanced
Amillennial; spiritual reign of Christ present in Church; Satan limited but active in present world
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Affirms
God created all things; creation is good; humans are created in God's image with moral responsibility
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Nuanced
Mark 16:9-20 textually disputed; included in canon but recognized as likely later addition to Mark
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
John 7:53–8:11 textually disputed but theologically sound; included in canon with scholarly notation
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Denies
1 John 5:7-8 (Comma Johanneum) textually disputed; not included in most modern translations; authentic text shorter
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Denies
Deuterocanonical books not canonical; Protestant 66-book canon affirmed; apocrypha excluded from Scripture
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas non-canonical; post-apostolic Christian writing; excluded from Scripture
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophecy of virgin birth; attests Christ's sinlessness and unique redemptive work
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Nuanced
Sunday as Lord's Day; no Sabbatarian obligation; rest principle affirmed
Blood Transfusions
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no scriptural prohibition; medical prudence encouraged
Military Service
Nuanced
Just war permitted; conscientious objection honored; individual conscience guides
Holidays
Affirms
Christmas and Easter observed; liturgical flexibility; no legalism over observance