In addition to organizing his preachers John Wesley built a structure that would sustain Methodism's unique evangelistic approach. It must first be said that Wesley did not believe in solitary religion. Religious practice was social. One could not be an isolated Christian. In his Works, Vol. V, "Sermon on the Mount," Wesley said, Christianity is essentially a social religion, and to turn it into a solitary religion is indeed to destroy it." This philosophy led him to organize his Societies in ways that would enhance the social context for worship and service.

1. Societies appeared first in London at Fetter Lane Society, and a sub-society at Aldersgate. Wesley employed laymen as preachers. Simple preaching services were held at 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Societies also held love-feasts. They were free from state control and governed by the Conference.

   Wesley's mission to preach God's love and to call people to a new life of holiness created a "connexion" of 'societies' with the church. They were a common devotional device, not a substitute for the Church, but a supplement, providing a disciplined framework for religious devotion. "Society" became the universal term for a local group of Methodists. A "connexion" united such societies under a common banner of doctrine and discipline. They were rigorously disciplined bodies with intimate fellowship in society and class meetings. There was considerable uniformity which appealed mainly to minorities. These small groups were not unlike small groups of other Pietists. However, John Wesley held fast to the concept of keeping these societies within the Church of England, even though his ordinations for the North American Methodist societies were clearly beyond the boundaries of the Anglican Church (ecclesia anglicana). Class leaders and Stewards managed the societies.

   During Susanna Wesley's long stays alone while Samuel was away at Convocation, she extended her family Bible study to include others. In time as many as 200 would come to her home for Bible study and prayer. These home sessions may have been the precursor of John Wesley's religious societies. It is certainly reasonable to assume that Susanna had "a mother's way" of suggesting this meeting format to her attentive son, John.

2. Classes -In many ways, the class, consisting usually of twelve members, was at the heart of the Methodist system. Beginning at New Room in Bristol, they initially were established to help raise funds to pay for construction of New Room. However, finances were not the primary purpose of Classes. Here the powerful, intimate relationships between recent converts and experienced practitioners were established. The emphasis was on fellowship, discipline and the basics of Christian living in daily life. In time, however, the meetings became formalized.

3. Bands usually consisted of five members. They were a bit more elitist in their make-up. Each band was under the care of a pastoral leader. They were adults or adolescents with class tickets who had a desire to flee from the wrath to come. Traveling and local preachers ministered.

4. Conferences - John Wesley dreamed of a far-reaching scheme - a national union of evangelical clergy who would keep in touch with each other by correspondence and occasional itinerancy, and who could both serve Methodism and be served by it, assuring a continuing evangelical witness within the established church. From 1744 on, an annual conference of "Methodist" preachers was held, which would later become the focus of oversight in the movement. Both in terms of Methodist tradition and the law of the land, supreme authority is vested within the Conference, which meets annually , and which contains equal numbers of lay and ministerial representatives. The Conference is the final arbiter on matters of policy and doctrine. In the British Methodist system the annual Conference has ultimate oversight in Districts and Circuits. Chairmen and Superintendents respectively exercise that ministry. In American Methodism, Bishops and the local and general Conferences complement each other in this work.