Saints in Methodism

The title Saint in Methodist churches is commonly bestowed to those who had direct relations with Jesus Christ, or who are mentioned in the Bible. Occasionally, some esteemed, pre-Reformation Christians are accorded the title Saint—for example, the British Methodist Church addresses the British national patron saints as Saint George, Saint David, and so on.{{cite web |title=Saint George - more than dragons |url=https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/singing-the-faith-plus/posts/saint-george-more-than-dragons/ |website=www.methodist.org.uk |access-date=30 December 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Saint David - who was he? |url=https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/singing-the-faith-plus/posts/saint-david-who-was-he/ |website=www.methodist.org.uk |access-date=30 December 2020 |language=en}} However, there is no established rule as to the use of the title. Some Methodist churches are named for historic heroes and heroines of the faith such as the Twelve Apostles (excluding Judas Iscariot), Saint Timothy, Saint Paul, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Mary Magdalene, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph.

File:St. Mark United Methodist Church.jpg church dedicated to Saint Mark, in Atlanta, Georgia]]

John Wesley's belief was that Christianity should be Christ-centered. Article XIV of the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church states that {{cquote|The Romish doctrine concerning...worshiping, and adoration, as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the Word of God.{{cite web|url = http://www.crivoice.org/creed25.html|title = The Twenty-Five Articles of Religion (Methodist)|publisher = CRI / Voice, Institute|access-date = 2009-04-11|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081122004854/http://www.crivoice.org/creed25.html|archive-date = 2008-11-22|url-status = live}}}}

Accordingly, Methodism formally rejects relics and prayer to saints, considering them to be distractions from the Christ-focused life and unfounded in Scripture.

While Methodists as a whole do not practice the patronage or veneration of saints, they do honor and admire them. Methodists observe All Saints' Day, following the liturgical calendar, in which the Church Universal, as well as the deceased members of a local congregation, are honored and remembered.{{cite web|author=The Rev. J. Richard Peck|title=Do United Methodists believe in saints?|url=http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=4746355&ct=3166373|quote=We also recognize and celebrate All Saints' Day (Nov. 1) and "all the saints who from their labors rest". United Methodists call people "saints" because they exemplified the Christian life. In this sense, every Christian can be considered a saint.|publisher=The United Methodist Church|year=2011|access-date=31 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718063201/http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=4746355&ct=3166373|archive-date=18 July 2012}}

File:Madonna of the Child with votive candle rack and kneeler (United Methodist Church of the Saviour).jpg with a votive candle rack and kneeler in a Methodist church]]

The Virgin Mary is honored as the Mother of God (Theotokos) in the United Methodist Church.{{Cite web |title=Who Is Mary? |url=https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/who-is-mary |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Discipleship Ministries |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Daniel Isaiah |title=Do Methodists Pray To Mary? |url=https://christianityfaq.com/methodists-pray-mary/ |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Christianity FAQ |date=18 May 2021 |language=en-US}} Methodist churches teach the doctrine of the virgin birth,{{cite web |url=http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1430 |title=What does The United Methodist Church teach about the Virgin Mary? |publisher=Archives.umc.org |date=2006-11-06 |access-date=2013-09-30 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701112647/http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1430 |archive-date=2012-07-01 |url-status=dead}} although they, along with Orthodox Christians and other Protestant Christians, reject the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.{{cite web |url=http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1431 |title=What does The United Methodist Church teach about the Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Birth? |publisher=Archives.umc.org |date=2006-11-06 |access-date=2013-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729023105/http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1431 |archive-date=2013-07-29 |url-status=dead}}

Some Methodists, including John Wesley, have held that Mary was a perpetual virgin,{{citation | url = http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleyrsquos-letters-1749 | publisher = The Wesley Center Online | title = Wesley's Letters | year = 1749 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111105150155/http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1749/ | archive-date = 2011-11-05 }} which is the belief that Mary was ever-virgin for the whole of her life and Jesus was her only biological son.{{cite web |url=http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/mary_perpetual_virgin.htm |title=Mary's Perpetual Virginity |publisher=Davidmacd.com |access-date=2013-09-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825160944/http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/mary_perpetual_virgin.htm |archive-date=2012-08-25 }} Contemporary Methodism does hold that Mary was a virgin before, during, and immediately after the birth of Christ.{{cite web |url=http://christianity.about.com/od/denominationscomparison/ss/comparebeliefs1_9.htm |title=Comparing Christian Denominations – Beliefs: Nature of Mary |publisher=Christianity.about.com |date=2013-07-30 |access-date=2013-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404182522/http://christianity.about.com/od/denominationscomparison/ss/comparebeliefs1_9.htm |archive-date=2015-04-04 |url-status=live }} A small number of Methodists hold the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary as a pious opinion.{{citation|title=Theotokos; Mary, Mother of God|last=Stepp|first=Todd|date=23 December 2009|publisher=Wesleyan/Anglican Society|language=en|quote=We Protestants (for the most part) tend to say something to the effect that, if it is not found in Scripture it is not held to be required as an article of faith. Thus, the assumption of Mary would not be held as an article of faith (i.e., as a required doctrine). However, in as much as the Scripture does not say that Mary was not assumed into heaven, and, in as much as we do have other instances of some sort of "assumption" in Scripture (e.g., Elijah, as mentioned, before), there seems to be nothing that would require that a Protestant Christian could not have a private "opinion" (in the Wesleyan sense of the term) that agrees with Rome or Constantinople (at least regarding Mary's assumption).}}

The title is used to refer to historical martyrs, especially dating before the Reformation. The General Conferences of the United Methodist Church voted to officially recognize Dietrich Bonhoeffer in 2008 and Martin Luther King Jr. in 2012 as modern-day 'martyrs'. The vote recognized people who died for their faith and stand as Christian role models.{{cite web |first=Maidstone |last=Mulenga |publisher=United Methodist Church |url=http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/blogs-commentaries/post/united-methodists-declare-mlk-jr.-a-modern-day-martyr |title=United Methodists declare MLK Jr. a modern-day martyr |date=1 May 2012 |access-date=22 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923004030/http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/blogs-commentaries/post/united-methodists-declare-mlk-jr.-a-modern-day-martyr |archive-date=23 September 2017 |url-status=live }} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120514051450/http://www.gc2012conversations.com/2012/05/01/united-methodists-declare-mlk-jr-a-modern-day-martyr/ Archive] from General Conference 2012 website.{{cite news |last=Bloom |first=Linda |date=18 June 2008 |title=Dietrich Bonhoeffer first martyr officially recognized by United Methodists |work=Dallas News |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/life/faith/2008/06/18/dietrich-bonhoeffer-first-mart |access-date=22 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923050848/https://www.dallasnews.com/life/faith/2008/06/18/dietrich-bonhoeffer-first-mart |archive-date=23 September 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=2 May 2008 |title=Recognition of Bonhoeffer (FO32-NonDis-A) |website=General Conference 2008 Legislation Tracking |publisher=United Methodist Church |url=http://calms.umc.org/2008/Menu.aspx?type=Petition&mode=Single&number=110 |access-date=22 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112155428/http://calms.umc.org/2008/Menu.aspx?type=Petition&mode=Single&number=110 |archive-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Combs |first=Alan |date=9 August 2011 |title=Why Should United Methodists Have a Season of Saints? |website=Equipping Disciples |publisher=Discipleship Ministries (United Methodist Church) |url=https://blog.umcdiscipleship.org/why-should-united-methodists-have-a-season-of-saints/ |access-date=22 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923002054/https://blog.umcdiscipleship.org/why-should-united-methodists-have-a-season-of-saints/ |archive-date=23 September 2017 |url-status=live }}

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