Our History

Who We Are ...

The Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand has grown out of a revival movement which has always given itself one mission - the spreading of Scriptural holiness throughout the land.

While aware of our heritage, we seek to be a contemporary Church with a passion to evangelise and disciple secular New Zealand. Our mission is primarily congregationally led with men and women empowered to lead holy and fully devoted lives for Jesus Christ. Our beliefs, practices and priorities are anchored in clear biblical teaching. We seek the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit for this work and invite others to join us.

Where We Came From ...

The Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand cherishes its place in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church promised by God in the Scriptures, birthed in history through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, and empowered by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

The name "Wesleyan" comes from the Rev John Wesley (1703-1791), a priest in the Church of England who was the inspiration behind the Methodist movement. It was the disciplined routine (or method) of spiritual devotion and social work which earned Wesley and a few of his friends in ministry the nickname "Methodists " beginning in 1735. Wesley said, "A Methodist is one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind and with all his strength."

The Wesleyan revival spread from England to America with the eventual formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1843 a group of Ministers and congregations left that denomination because of their own anti-slavery convictions and their preference for a more democratic form of government. They adopted the name "Wesleyan Methodist" and in 1881 the Church was a founder member of the World Methodist Council. The Church has continued to grow worldwide and now works in more than 70 countries through the Wesleyan World Fellowship.

In New Zealand the Wesleyan Methodist Church had its beginnings with the Wesleyan Methodist Movement which was formed in 1997 to coordinate the work of evangelicals who could not live with the increasingly radical liberal theology of the Methodist Church of New Zealand and acceptance of Ministers living in sexual sin.

The Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand was inaugurated on 2 July 2000 as a new national Church and is a partner (mission field) with the long-established Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia and linked to the Wesleyan World Fellowship.

Being Family ...

We are a multi-racial Church family which delights in the variety of cultures and languages God has given us. While we are local Church driven, when we gather together annually we celebrate the vibrancy of our faith in Jesus Christ through varied cultural expression. Multi-cultural New Zealand will only be effectively evangelised by a multi-cultural mission.

Wesleyan Methodist Churches are found in many parts of the North Island especially in the Auckland, Hawkes Bay regions and Palmerston North/Wanganui. Worship services are held in English, Fijian, Mandarin, Rotuman and Tongan. More congregations will be established as determined by our Vision and resources.

Persons are welcomed into the Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand who express a growing faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, seek to live a holy life in accordance with the scriptures and want to share in the mission and responsibilities of being the people of God in their community through the local congregation