All are welcome
Methodists have always been clear that no-one is beyond the reach of God’s love. Salvation is there for everyone who turns to God, and not just for a chosen few.
Our place in the Methodist family
The Methodist Church in Scotland is part of the Methodist Church in Britain and the worldwide Methodist Movement -see the World Methodist Council.
History
The first Methodist societies were formed in the 18th Century by those who heard John Wesley and his preachers. John Wesley and his preachers were itinerant; they travelled almost incessantly. John Wesley believed that no preacher should stay with a society for more than 6-8 weeks; after that the people would no longer be attracted by the preaching.
Methodist Structures
The Scotland Circuit and the Scotland District are the main structures that support the Methodist Church in Scotland.
The role of the Circuit is to facilitate mission and support local churches. Preachers, deacons and presbyters are shared across the Circuit. The Circuit Meeting is chaired by the Superintendent Minister of the Circuit.
Representatives from the Circuit attend the Scottish Synod, over which the Chair of the District presides. The Synod sets policy for the Methodist Church in Scotland, acting as a link between the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain and the Circuit (and local churches). The Scotland District sends representatives to the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain, over which the President of the Conference presides.
Ecumenical Relations
The Methodist Church in Scotland belongs to the EMU partnership between the Scottish Episcopal, Methodist and United Reformed Churches in Scotland. The Methodist Church in Scotland is also represented on the Scottish Church Leaders’ Forum.
Local Methodist churches have many connections with other denominations; in some places, they belong to Local Ecumenical Partnerships or United Churches.