The Methodist Church treats alcohol as a recreational drug. Members of the church should minimize their use, if not fully cut it out, in order to maximize their experience of God's grace.

What do Methodists believe about alcohol?

The United Methodist Church, in its Book of Resolutions in 2004 and 2008, stated its current position on drinking alcohol: The church "a) accepts abstinence in all situations; (b) accepts judicious consumption, with deliberate and intentional restraint, in low-risk situations; (c) actively discourages consumption for ...

Can Methodist pastors drink alcohol?

Today the United Methodist Church states that it "affirms our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol as a faithful witness to God's liberating and redeeming love for persons." In fact, the United Methodist Church uses unfermented grape juice in the sacrament of Holy Communion, thus "expressing pastoral ...