The Primitive Methodist is a resource for recovering the Anglican and sacramental heart of the Methodist tradition. Rooted in the evangelical faith, disciplined piety, and liturgical inheritance that formed early Methodism, we seek a renewed pan-Methodist identity—one shaped by Scripture, the historic Church, holy communion, baptismal life, and the pursuit of holiness.
In the 21st century, Methodism need not choose between evangelical conviction and catholic depth, personal conversion and sacramental grace, or mission and worship. We believe its original witness calls for all of these: a people formed at the altar, nourished by the means of grace, committed to holiness of heart and life, and sent into the world to proclaim Christ.
Want to Pray?
Primitive Methodist Prayer: Prayer in the Free Methodist Tradition invites you into the ancient rhythm of praying morning, midday and evening, rooted in the Wesleyan way. Each day follows the Revised Common Lectionary, offering psalms and Scripture readings from the Berean Standard Bible alongside meditations from Rev. Tyler Boyer’s Free Methodist prayer books. Pray alone or lead a group with the Solitude and Community versions, listen for the voices of John Wesley, Francis Asbury, B. T. Roberts and the saints of the Church, and close the day with the Daily Examen. Holy Communion can be added to morning or evening prayer, and the Services page includes a Sunday order of worship, Holy Communion, and Baptism and Confirmation. With Psalms you can sing, a collection of prayers from across the centuries, and a simple tracker to mark each time of prayer, it’s a companion for learning to live each day before God, free to use on any phone or computer at pray.theprimitivemethodist.com.
Recent Blog Posts
World Communion Sunday
Today is World Communion Sunday—a day I honestly hadn’t paid much attention to until this week. I saw a church I follow on social media post that they would be celebrating Communion today because of the occasion. I paused for a moment and thought, That’s wonderful. A...
My Journey to the Unseen Realm
I remember I was standing at the counter of a gun store in Athens, PA talking to the owner. At the time I was attending a Bible school in the Southern Tier of New York, and there wasn't really anything to do. This particular store was the closest location to the...
The Need For Weekly Creeds
I grew up in Canada, so I didn’t get the experience of saying the pledge of allegiance every day. But as in the US we did sing the national anthem every morning, facing the national flag in the room as part of our daily routine. Every morning we sang the words, “God...
Book Review: Liturgical Mission by Winfield Bevins
Book Review: Liturgical Mission, Winfield Bevins The last 3 years as I have made my journey into a historic approach to Christian worship, Winfield Bevins has been one of the most influential writers, especially as I started the journey. His book Liturgical Mission:...
Book Review: Ashes to Ashes
For most of my life I have been a non-fiction reader. I have read lots of fiction, but my primary diet is a healthy mix of history, theology, politics & theology. Recently I have been making more of a concerted effort to add more fiction into my reading diet that...
Anglo-Methodist
Something that I have said almost dogmatically the last several years is that, “everyone has a tradition, the question is do they recognize it or not.” Part of this is because I grew up in a theological landscape where there was usually an outright denial of any...
Intellectualism or Fool?
Recently I was accused on intellectualism by someone I have always looked up to.In the background/tradition I was raised, one of the worst things to be called was intellectual. It meant that you were now, rather than "relying on the Holy Spirit to be revealed truth",...
Bible Study before Theology
nce becoming a lead pastor I have been working on and developing my sermon preparation process. It’s important like anything to work on. Between having a family, working another job and other activities life is busy, so laying out my process has become an essential...
The Book of Common Prayer, the FMW & Love-Driven Justice
Justice is the concept of things being right, or as they should be. This means ultimately that things are aligned with God’s character and intention for that thing. One time when I was driving my car it all of a sudden lost all electrical power. The engine still ran,...
Church Isn’t For You
I’m going to say something unpopular. Church isn’t for you (or me). Yes, it certainly is beneficial and essential for us. But what happens at service is not ultimately about us. It is about Christ. While we are instructed by the word, encouraged by the worship, and...
Hi, my names is Joel
Joel Webb is an ordained Elder of the Shoreline Conference in the Free Methodist Church, and as a pastor, theologian, and writer, he explores the intersection of Scripture, historic worship, and spiritual formation through a sacramental worldview. He is committed to helping the Church recover theological depth and faithful worship practices as a means of shaping disciples in a polarized age. Through his preaching, published writings, and podcasts, Joel emphasizes the importance of Scripture in its historical context (both Biblical background and Patristic commentary), the formative power of liturgical tradition, and the call of the Gospel to transform both individuals and communities. Joel is co-chair of the Coordinating Council for the Free Methodist Liturgical Network.
Joel lives with his family in the Thumb of Michigan
Lead Pastor – Croswell FMC
Joel is lead pastor at Croswell Free Methodist Church. A liturgical and sacramental expression of Free Methodism that seeks to bring the beauty of Christian worship to the modern world.
