What does it mean to be and live as a United Methodist? What is unique about a Wesleyan way of believing and practicing Christianity? United Methodists across the Dakotas describe how The United Methodist Church is welcoming, practices communion as a a table open to everyone, the place where everyone finds a home, and lives out the four elements of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral — scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. #BeDakotasUMC

THE WESLEYAN QUADRILATERAL EXPLAINED
Source: A Dictionary for United Methodists, Alan K. Waltz, Copyright 1991, Abingdon Press.

The phrase which has relatively recently come into use to describe the principal factors that John Wesley believed illuminate the core of the Christian faith for the believer. Wesley did not formulate the succinct statement now commonly referred to as the Wesley Quadrilateral. Building on the Anglican theological tradition, Wesley added a fourth emphasis, experience. The resulting four components or "sides" of the quadrilateral are (1) Scripture, (2) tradition, (3) reason, and (4) experience. For United Methodists, Scripture is considered the primary source and standard for Christian doctrine. Tradition is experience and the witness of development and growth of the faith through the past centuries and in many nations and cultures. Experience is the individual's understanding and appropriating of the faith in the light of his or her own life. Through reason the individual Christian brings to bear on the Christian faith discerning and cogent thought. These four elements taken together bring the individual Christian to a mature and fulfilling understanding of the Christian faith and the required response of worship and service.

VIEW Wesleyan Quadrilateral -- Chuck Knows Church