Editing Methodism (section)

===Sacraments===
Methodists hold that [[sacrament]]s are sacred acts of divine institution. Methodism has inherited its liturgy from [[Anglicanism]], although Wesleyan theology tends to have a stronger "sacramental emphasis" than that held by [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical Anglicans]].<ref name="Kennedy2016">{{cite book|last=Kennedy|first=David J.|title=Eucharistic Sacramentality in an Ecumenical Context: The Anglican Epiclesis |access-date=16 March 2017 |date=2016|publisher=Routledge|language=en |isbn=978-1317140115|page=75|quote=Evangelical Anglicans in the main did not follow the sacramental emphasis of the Wesleys but tended to be Cranmerian in their eucharistic theology, rejecting any notion of an objective presence of Christ in the elements.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6twuk5c8OSYC}}</ref>

In common with most Protestants, Methodists recognize two sacraments as being instituted by Christ: [[Baptism]] and [[Holy Communion]] (also called the Lord's Supper).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=David Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9xyaPnbtYkC |title=Protestant Nonconformist Texts: The twentieth century |last2=Dix |first2=Kenneth |last3=Ruston |first3=Alan |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Limited |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7546-4013-4 |page=98 |language=en |access-date=21 April 2021}}</ref> Most Methodist churches practice [[infant baptism]], in anticipation of a response to be made later ([[confirmation]]), as well as [[believer's baptism|baptism of believing adults]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FAQs about Baptism, Membership, and Salvation |url=https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/faqs-about-baptism-membership-and-salvation |website=Discipleship Ministries |publisher=United Methodist Church |access-date=23 January 2021}}</ref> The ''Catechism for the Use of the People Called Methodists'' states that, "[in Holy Communion] Jesus Christ is [[Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist|present]] with his worshipping people and gives himself to them as their Lord and Saviour."<ref name="Catechism"/>{{rp|26}} In the United Methodist Church, the explanation of how [[Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist|Christ's presence is made manifest]] in the elements (bread and wine) is described as a "Holy Mystery".<ref>{{cite web|title=This Holy Mystery|url=http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=4951419&ct=11623561|publisher=The United Methodist Church|access-date=23 June 2013|year=2004}}</ref>

Methodist churches generally recognize sacraments to be a [[means of grace]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Means of Grace|url=http://www.irishmethodist.org/sites/default/files/pdf/manualoflaws/Chapter%2003.pdf|publisher=Methodist Church in Ireland|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002407/http://www.irishmethodist.org/sites/default/files/pdf/manualoflaws/Chapter%2003.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> John Wesley held that God also imparted [[Grace in Christianity|grace]] by other established means such as public and private [[prayer]], Scripture reading, [[Bible study (Christian)|study]] and [[preaching]], [[Christian worship|public worship]], and [[fasting]]; these constitute the works of piety.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wesleyan Means of Grace |url=https://www.umc.org/en/content/the-wesleyan-means-of-grace |publisher=United Methodist Church|access-date=30 April 2022}}</ref> Wesley considered means of grace to be "outward signs, words, or actions ... to be the ordinary channels whereby [God] might convey to men, preventing [i.e., preparing], justifying or sanctifying grace."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wesley Center Online: Sermon 16 – The Means Of Grace |url=http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-16-the-means-of-grace/ |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=wesley.nnu.edu}}</ref> Specifically Methodist means, such as the [[cell group|class meetings]], provided his chief examples for these prudential means of grace.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=L. Edward |date=2014 |title=The Holy Communion as a Means of Grace and the Question of On-line Communion |url=http://www.gbhem.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/online_communion/Means-of-Grace-and-the-Question-of-Online-Communion.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001700/http://www.gbhem.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/online_communion/Means-of-Grace-and-the-Question-of-Online-Communion.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2017 |access-date=20 October 2016 |publisher=United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry}}</ref>