The Methodist movement is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity which derive their inspiration from the life and teachings of John Wesley (1703-1791). It originated as a revival movement within the 18th-century Church of England and became a separate Church following Wesley's death. Due to vigorous missionary activity, the movement spread throughout the British Empire, the United States, and beyond, today claiming approximately 70 million adherents worldwide.

Methodism is characterized by its emphasis on helping the poor and the average person, its unlimited salvation aspect, its very systematic approach to building the person, and the "church" and its missionary spirit. These ideals are put into practice by the establishment of hospitals, universities, orphanages, soup kitchens, and schools to follow Jesus' command to spread the Good News and serve all people. The Methodist movement is also known for its rich musical tradition. John Wesley's younger brother Charles was instrumental in writing much of the hymnody of the Methodist Church, and many other eminent hymn writers come from the Methodist tradition.

Methodists are convinced that building loving relationships with others through social service is a means of working towards the inclusiveness of God's love which, it is held, can reform a person to a state of perfection. They teach that Christ died for all of humanity, not just for a specific group, and thus everyone is entitled to God's grace. Theologically, this view is known as Arminianism, which denies that God has pre-ordained an elect number of people to eternal bliss whilst others perished eternally. Methodism has a wide variety of forms of worship, ranging from high church to low church in liturgical usage. John Wesley himself greatly valued the Anglican liturgy and tradition, and the American Methodist worship in The Book of Offices was based on the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.