Methodist vs. Anabaptist / Mennonite
A side-by-side comparison of Methodist and Anabaptist / Mennonite teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.
Methodist
Methodism began in the 18th century as a renewal movement within the Church of England under John and Charles Wesley. It emphasizes God’s grace offered to all, holiness of heart and life, and practical care for the poor.
Anabaptist / Mennonite
The Anabaptists began in Zurich in 1525 and spread to Germany and the Netherlands as the “radical” wing of the Reformation. Mennonites, the Amish and the Hutterites descend from them. They stress adult baptism, following the Sermon on the Mount, and separation of church and state.
At a glance
Where they differ: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Church government; Style of worship.
Varies within one or both: Clergy and women in ministry; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
Where they agree: Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Methodist | Anabaptist / Mennonite |
|---|---|---|
| Authority: Scripture and traditionDiffer | Scripture is primary, and is understood in light of tradition, reason and Christian experience. This fourfold method is called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. | Scripture is the authority, read together by the congregation with special weight on the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, especially the Sermon on the Mount. |
| Books of the BibleAgree | 66 books. The Apocrypha is not part of the canon. | 66 books. |
| The TrinityAgree | One God in three persons, in the historic creeds and in Wesley’s Articles of Religion. | One God in three persons. Early Anabaptists were not uniform, but the Mennonite confessions are Trinitarian. |
| How a person is savedAgree | Justified by grace through faith. Wesley also taught that God’s grace goes before conversion (prevenient grace) and leads to sanctification, growth in holiness that may be called “Christian perfection,” meaning perfect love. | Saved by grace through faith. Faith is expected to show itself in obedience and discipleship, and baptism marks a conscious commitment to follow Christ. |
| Can a saved person fall away?Agree | Yes. Wesley taught that a believer can fall from grace by persistent unbelief or sin, though he held that God is eager to restore. | Generally yes. Mennonite teaching holds that faith must be lived out and that a person can turn away, though God is patient with those who return. |
| Predestination and free willAgree | Rejects Calvinist predestination. Grace is offered to everyone, and each person is free to accept or resist it, which is the Arminian position. | Emphasizes free will and a personal decision to follow Christ. Anabaptists rejected Calvinist predestination from the start. |
| BaptismDiffer | A sacrament and sign of God’s grace. Both infants and adult believers are baptized, and the mode may be sprinkling, pouring or immersion. | Baptism is given only to those who make a mature confession of faith. The mode varies (pouring or immersion), and infant baptism is rejected. The name “Anabaptist” means “rebaptizer.” |
| Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Differ | Christ is truly present, but the manner is a holy mystery. The United Methodist Church rejects transubstantiation and does not define a theory. | A memorial meal and a sign of the unity of the congregation. Some groups pair it with foot washing. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer | Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Many groups also practice foot washing. |
| Church governmentDiffer | A “connectional” system in which churches are bound in districts and conferences. The United Methodist Church has bishops, and some Methodist bodies do not. | Local congregations decide matters together and select their own ministers. Some groups have regional conferences and bishops with a limited role. |
| Clergy and women in ministryVaries | Women are ordained as pastors and bishops in the United Methodist Church and most other Methodist bodies. Clergy may marry. | Varies. Conservative groups reserve ministry for men, and more progressive Mennonite conferences ordain women. |
| Mary and the saintsAgree | Mary and the saints are honored as models of faith. Methodists do not pray to them. | Mary is respected as Jesus’ mother, and the church emphasizes following Christ. There is no prayer to saints. |
| Death, purgatory and hellAgree | Purgatory is rejected. Believers are with Christ at death and await the resurrection, and unbelievers face judgment. | Purgatory is rejected. Believers rest in Christ awaiting the resurrection, and the final judgment decides eternal destiny. |
| Style of worshipDiffer | A mixture. Worship generally follows a set order with hymns (many by Charles Wesley), Scripture and preaching, and styles range from traditional to contemporary. | Simple worship centered on singing, Scripture and preaching. Many groups sing without instruments. |
| The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsVaries | The Spirit’s work is stressed in assurance and holiness. Attitudes to tongues and healing vary, and the Wesleyan holiness movement gave rise to Pentecostalism. | The Spirit is understood to guide the congregation in discernment and daily life. Miraculous gifts are not emphasized. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday. | Sunday. |
| Best known for | Warm-hearted evangelism, hymnody, holiness of life and social outreach through hospitals, schools and missions. | Peace witness and refusal of violence, adult baptism, simple living, mutual aid and service through relief organizations. |
“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.
Learn more on this site
- The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture
- The Reliability of Scripture
- Baptism
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- The Canon
- Textual Variants and "Lost Books" (Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha)
- The Trinity
- The Deity of Christ
- Grace
- Justification
- Free Will, Predestination, and Divine Sovereignty
- Catholic Church
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
- What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
- What Does the Bible Say About Judgment Day?
- Sabbath
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