Since the beginning of Methodism, bishops have ordained Methodist clergy after asking John Wesley’s 19 Historic Questions for ordination. These questions are traditionally “yes or no” questions, but in preparation for my ordination as an elder in the Global Methodist Church, I had to explain my “yes or no” responses to these questions.
I appreciated the opportunity to explore deeply why I was answering “yes” or “no” and how these various aspects of pastoral ministry and everyday life would not just affect me, but my family, my church, and all I minister alongside.
Since being ordained on May 5, 2025, I’ve been sharing my responses to these 19 questions here on my blog. I’ve linked each of these responses below.
Whether you’re pursuing a call to ordained ministry in the Methodist movement, or just interested in learning more about the Wesleyan articulation of faith, I hope these guide you to greater understanding of our faith, encouragement to live it out, and love for the One who calls all of us to follow Him.
What are John Wesley’s 19 questions?
The origins of Wesley’s 19 historic questions are relatively unknown, a rarity for a leader who was meticulous about recording nearly everything. But we do know that they appeared in writing as early as 1766, 260 years ago.
I marvel at the fact that for 260 years, a Methodist bishop has asked each and every ordinand these questions and they have responded to her or him with lots of “yeses” and much fewer “nos” (you’ll see why ordinands want to answer “no” to question 18).
Deacons, in the Global Methodist Church, are “to witness to the Word in their words and actions, and to embody and lead the community’s service in the world for the sake of enacting God’s compassion and justice.” Elders, in addition to participating in the work of deacons, “bear authority and responsibility to proclaim God’s Word fearlessly, to teach God’s people faithfully, to administer the sacraments, and to order the life of the church so that it may be both faithful and fruitful” (Book of Doctrines and Discipline, ¶503).
With such responsibilities, particularly the responsibility of leading the church in so many of the Church’s central tasks, Methodists have always wanted to ensure that those entering ordained ministry have the character, doctrine, and the intentionality to continue to lead the Methodist movement. These 19 historic questions are one of the ways the Methodist Church have ensured that.
Why these questions still matter today
We often call these questions “Wesley’s 19 Questions” or “The Historic Questions.” I think that’s a fair and accurate label, but my fear is that they indicate that these were the questions of a man that lived in the 1700s or that by being “historic,” they’re outdated.
Quite the opposite! These aren’t just Wesley’s questions, they’re Methodism’s questions. Rather than being outdated, they’re as relevant today as they’ve ever been as new movements of Methodism emerge and and old movements catch new wind in their sails.
These questions matter today because ensuring that the faith is being entrusted to faithful stewards of it matters more than ever. We live in a world where ordinations can be obtained online in a matter of minutes and where churches can be led by people who have no training or experiences. All of this is happening in a culture and context where trust in pastors is at an all-time low, denominations are adopting an “anything goes” stance on doctrine, questions of faith are being answered by artificial intelligence rather than humans entrusted with such a task, and young adults are entering churches with curiosities, questions, and challenges that only the gospel can answer.
More than ever, we need faithful ministers called, equipped, and examined for the task of vocational ministry. These 19 questions are one way of ensuring that we ordain such ministers.
So without further adieu, here are the 19 questions and my responses to each of these questions.
- Have you faith in Christ?
- Are you going on to perfection?
- Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?
- Are you earnestly striving after perfection in love?
- Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and to God’s work?
- Do you know the General Rules of our Church?
- Will you keep the General Rules of our Church?
- Have you studied the doctrines of the Global Methodist Church?
- After full consideration do you believe that our doctrines are in harmony with the Holy Scriptures?
- Have you studied our form of church discipline and polity?
- Do you approve our church government and polity?
- Will you support and maintain them?
- Will you exercise the ministry of compassion?
- Will you diligently instruct the children in every place?
- Will you visit from house to house?
- Will you recommend fasting or abstinence, both by precept and example?
- Are you determined to employ all your time in the work of God?
- Are you in debt so as to embarrass you in your work?
- Will you observe the following directions?
(a) Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. Never trifle away time; neither spend any more time at any one place than is strictly necessary.
(b) Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but for conscience’ sake.
If you’re interested in more about Methodism, I write a lot of blog posts about Methodism, particularly about the Global Methodist Church. I’ve also written a review of Bishop Carolyn Moore’s book The 19: Questions to Kindle a Wesleyan Spirit.
And if you’re curious about why we ordain, I have an article about that too!
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