What is a United Methodist?

A United Methodist is...

someone who drinks grape juice instead of wine on Sunday morning. United Methodists, like all other Christians, regularly participate in a ritualized meal known as “Holy Communion” or “the Lord’s Supper.” We believe that Christ is present with us by the power of the Holy Spirit whenever we gather around the table and share the bread and the cup.

This meal reminds us of the way in which Jesus gave his body and his blood for all humanity. It also gives us a vision of hope for the future – Jesus sometimes compared the kingdom of heaven to a wedding banquet. Depending upon the occasion, the Lord’s Supper can be a moment of solemnity or profound joy.

While all Christians participate in some form of this meal, different groups or denominations have developed unique practices. For example, some Christians use unleavened (flat) bread, while others use leavened (yeasty, puffy) bread. The United Methodist Church is distinct from most other Christian churches in that we use unfermented grape juice rather than wine when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. This practice came about due to historical events in the early twentieth century. In the early 1900s, Methodist women in particular became aware of the devastating effect alcohol was having on society. Many men would work all day in the factory, then drink away their wages at the tavern on the way home. Women and children were left starving and destitute due to rampant alcoholism. Many Methodists became involved in the temperance movement, which eventually resulted in the prohibition of alcohol.

One way Methodists took a stand against alcoholism was by making the change from wine to grape juice. In so doing, Methodists were both showing solidarity with women and children affected by alcoholism, and they were making it possible for recovering alcoholics to participate in worship without facing temptation. Although the prohibition was eventually repealed, American culture had changed so that alcohol abuse would never again be such a widespread societal problem. The United Methodist Church has continued the tradition of using grape juice for the Lord’s Supper, partly as a way of honoring the reformers who came before us, and partly because we recognize that there are still those among us who struggle with alcohol addiction.