Elder (Methodist)

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, in the ordination rite, supplanted the Book of Common Prayer's term "priest" for "elder", although the rest of the liturgy remained the same.

[4] The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection states that:[5] An elder is a preacher of the gospel, fully invested with all the functions of the Christian ministry.

It is the duty of an elder to preach the gospel, to administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to perform all parts of divine worship, and to solemnize the rite of matrimony.

[6]The Discipline of the Primitive Methodist Church states that: An Elder shall have met all the requirements of the School of Theology and the Conference, and shall have received the rite of ordination.

When presiding at a service of worship, Methodist elders are often seen wearing church vestments, namely the pulpit robe or alb, and to a lesser extent, the chasuble.

In most cases, United Methodist elders must have graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in liberal education or equivalent degree in a college or university listed by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church and must have a Master of Divinity or equivalent degree in a school of theology (seminary).