Planting Methodism in DC

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln donated $100 to build a new Methodist church in Washington, DC. He attended a Presbyterian church, but he knew that the nation’s capital needed good churches from all denominational traditions.

What Lincoln knew has, sadly, been forgotten. Solid Methodism has largely disappeared from the nation’s capital. Let’s bring it back.

Often across the past 30 years friends and donors have contacted me about finding a theologically solid, vibrant United Methodist church in Washington. Typically, they’re asking on behalf of their child or grandchild who has just moved to the area to work in government. For years I tried to think of possible options but I long ago gave up. I recommend thriving Anglican, Presbyterian, or nondenominational churches. To my knowledge, there are no vital, robustly theologically orthodox United Methodist churches in the nation’s capital. And there have not been for years. I’m unfamiliar with any robust churches in DC from any Wesleyan denomination. The options aren’t much better in the suburbs.

There are many wonderful churches in Washington, including scores of new church plants in the nation’s capital. Many of these churches are full of young people in their twenties and thirties. None of them are Methodist or even Methodist adjacent.

No churches that have exited United Methodism are close to Washington. There are a few in the outer suburbs, mostly small. For most of the five million people who live in the greater Washington area, there are no robust orthodox Methodist options. There are several United Methodist churches in Northern Virginia with orthodox pastors but whose congregations did not exit. After these pastors leave, these churches will fully liberalize or close. Washington and the surrounding area have perhaps a couple hundred mostly dying churches, scores of which will close in the coming years.

Here’s a revealing story that illustrates the demise of United Methodism. Several years ago the United Methodist Virginia Conference planted a new church in Arlington, Virginia, my hometown, just outside Washington. They spent several hundred thousand dollars on this church plant, which touted liberal political themes. Arlington is a politically liberal community, so it was assumed that such a church would be popular. But it never attracted more than a few people. After a couple of years, it closed. What a waste! We know what does not work. Here’s what does work: Gospel proclamation with authority and holiness that changes lives.

Methodism at its best proclaims the Gospel with authority and power. Currently, the new Global Methodist Church has no plans to plant a new church in Washington. This denomination is still busily organizing and has no extra resources for church planting. How sad that traditional Methodism is unrepresented in what is arguably the world’s most powerful city full of people making decisions that affect the globe.

Meanwhile, we’ve entered a new age for Methodism in America! By December, over 7,000 churches will have exited The United Methodist Church. Most are joining the new Global Methodist Church. One year ago, we didn’t dream that so many would exit. We thought maybe 5,000. Imagine what God can do now with so many Methodist congregations freed from a sinking and dysfunctional denomination, liberated to preach the Gospel boldly!

But the absence of traditional Methodism in Washington is not unusual. Many regions of America, especially our great cities, will lack any significant presence of traditional Methodism.

Many churches in Washington are booming. Thousands of young people attend these thriving churches. Many of these young people work or attend events at IRD. Their churches are Anglican, Presbyterian Church in America, Southern Baptist, Assemblies of God, and nondenominational. Shouldn’t there be traditional Methodism in the most powerful city in the world?

Leaders of the new Global Methodist Church are busy starting a new denomination. Its first General Conference will meet Fall 2024 in Costa Rica. Nobody else has time to start a new Methodist church here in Washington.

So, we here at IRD will start the new Methodist church in Washington, if we can get the help we need. Here’s the advantage of IRD starting the new Methodist church. We already have plentiful space in downtown Washington, just a few blocks from the White House, by a metro (subway) station and a multitude of office buildings, blocks away from apartments buildings, condominiums, and houses full of tens of thousands of people.

IRD already has a chapel in our office, with a beautiful stained-glass window showing the baptism of Jesus. We have church pews and a pulpit from the Methodist church where I grew up, which was recently demolished. We can seat up to 60 people in our public space.

So we at IRD are ready for church. But no new church plant can emerge without leadership from a pastor. I have no doubt there are dozens if not scores of young seminary graduates who are itching to plant a new church. But they need a salary.

IRD can house and nurture this new Methodist church in Washington until it gains strength to move forward on its own. What a blessing that it could meet in our office, and be administered by our staff, without worrying about overhead expenses and staff needs! And we can help provide the core of the initial congregation.

But we need funds to cover the new church plant’s pastor and other related expenses for its first two years. I’m trying to raise $200,000 by end of this year to plant this new Methodist church in 2024.

We will collaborate with the Global Methodist Church. And we will collaborate with Asbury Theological Seminary, which is training young people for ministry and is itself making grants to new church plants. They can help, but we must take the lead and raise the bulk of funds.

Planting a new Methodist church could be among IRD’s most important projects ever.  Washington is full of mostly empty Methodist buildings. They once were filled with people and Gospel preaching until their light faded. Now we are in a new season, and God has called us to build anew.

IRD already attracts many young DC-area Christians to our many events in our office. Planting and hosting a new Methodist church will amplify our appeal to young people and strengthen IRD’s Christian witness in Washington.

Baptists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and non-denominationals are strong in DC. We need some strong Methodism in the nation’s capital. We will operate this church through IRD’s John Wesley Institute, which is fostering Methodist theological renewal. Potentially we can bring great Methodist theologians to preach and teach at the new congregation!

This new Methodist church in DC is thrilling to ponder! I believe the Lord has called us to it. But this dream can only be realized with your help. IRD’s years of United Methodist renewal through UMAction are successfully concluding. Now we are opening a new chapter of building a new Methodism firmly grounded in traditional Wesleyan beliefs. This new church will be central to it.

We are seeking help towards raising $200,000 by year’s end so the church can launch in 2024. I’m hopeful that hundreds of traditional Methodists across the country will want to help plant a new Methodist church in the nation’s capital. Perhaps even congregations will collectively support this initiative. This new church could even, with time, and God’s guidance, evolve into a national church for Global Methodism, showcasing the best of Methodism before the nation!

You can give online at https://theird.org/donate/. Please designate for “New DC Methodist Church.” Please picture it: a new Methodist church in Washington, attracting young people and many others, forming a new Christian community guided by Wesleyan principles and serving as light and salt in a city of great influence.

President Lincoln, who regularly attended a Presbyterian church, cared enough about Methodism in Washington to donate $100 for a new Methodist church. Whatever your own religious tradition, please consider his example. And remember, $100 in his time equals $3,000 now! We’re grateful for any help. And I hope you can attend this new church when you visit Washington next year!