A Methodist is a Christian who belongs to the Methodist Church, a Protestant group that follows the teaching of John Wesley, a preacher in 18th-century England. Wesley and his friends were so regular about prayer, Bible study, and helping people that others nicknamed them “Methodists,” as if they had a method for living their faith. The joke became the real name of the church.

A Methodist衛理公會教徒 is是 a Christian一位基督徒 who belongs to屬於 the Methodist Church衛理公會, a Protestant group一個新教教派 that follows遵循 the teaching of John Wesley約翰・衛斯理的教導, a preacher一位傳道人 in 18th-century England十八世紀英國的。Wesley衛斯理 and his friends和他的朋友們 were so regular非常規律 about prayer, Bible study, and helping people在禱告、讀經與幫助人這些事上, that以至於 others別人 nicknamed them戲稱他們 “Methodists,”「衛理宗」 as if彷彿 they他們 had a method for living their faith信仰生活還有一套方法似的。The joke這個玩笑話 became後來變成了 the real name真正的名稱 of the church這個教會的。

You can use it as a noun (She is a Methodist) or as an adjective (a Methodist church, Methodist beliefs). It is an ordinary, neutral label, like Catholic or Baptist — not secret, not slang, and not an insult. In many English-speaking countries it names a large, well-known church; in Taiwan you will meet it mainly as the name of that church family.

You你 can可以 use it把它 as a noun當名詞用 (She is a Methodist她是一位衛理公會教徒) or as an adjective或當形容詞用 (a Methodist church衛理公會的教堂, Methodist beliefs衛理宗的信仰)。It它 is是 an ordinary, neutral label一個普通、中性的稱呼, like Catholic or Baptist就像天主教徒或浸信會教徒一樣——not secret不是隱語, not slang不是俚語, and而且 not an insult也不是罵人的話。In many English-speaking countries在許多英語系國家, it它 names指的是 a large, well-known church一個龐大知名的教會; in Taiwan在台灣, you你 will meet it遇到的主要就是 mainly as the name of that church family這個教會體系的名稱。