Methodists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of Christians belonging to a denomination that emphasizes social justice, personal piety, and the importance of grace in salvation
2. Members of a Protestant branch that originated in the 18th century, focusing on evangelism and a methodical approach to religious practice
3. An ecclesiastical body characterized by its commitment to community service, theological study, and a distinctive use of hymns in worship

Etymology: "Methodists" is the plural of "methodist," and the story behind the plural is really the story of the group. The name was a mocking nickname first. In the 1730s, students at Oxford's Christ Church, including John and Charles Wesley, followed a strict schedule of prayer, Bible study and charity work, and fellow students mockingly called them "Methodists" because of their methodical habits. The label was later embraced by the movement itself. The word is built from "method," meaning a systematic way of doing something, plus the suffix "-ist," which marks a person who follows or practises a particular system or doctrine. So a methodist is, quite literally, someone who follows a method, here a disciplined pattern of religious practice.