Mourner's bench explained

The mourner's bench or mourners' bench, also known as the mercy seat or anxious bench, in Methodist and other evangelical Christian churches is a bench located in front of the chancel.^{[1] [2] [3]} The practice was instituted by John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church.^[4]

Individuals kneel at the mourners' bench to experience the New Birth. Some of those who have already had the New Birth go there to receive entire sanctification. Others, especially backsliders,^[5] use the mourners' bench to confess their sins and receive forgiveness, in order to continue the process of sanctification.^{[6] [7]}

At the mourners' bench, individuals receive spiritual counsel from a minister.^[4] In keeping with the doctrine of the mortification of the flesh, penitents do not kneel on kneeler cushions but instead kneel on the floor.^[8]

Today many, but not all,^[9] Methodist churches supplant the mourners' bench with chancel rails,^[10] where Methodists, as well as other evangelical Christians receive Holy Communion, in addition to experiencing the New Birth, repenting of their sins, and praying.^[11]

See also

• Altar call
• Conditional preservation of the saints

External links

• Methodist History: The Mourners' Bench

Notes and References

1. Book: Winton, George Beverly. The Junaluska Conference: A Report of the Second General Missionary Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South . 1913. Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. English. 195.
2. Book: Campbell, Ted. Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials. 2011. Abingdon Press. English . 9781426727016. 43.
3. Book: Bradshaw, Paul F.. New SCM Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship. 24 April 2013. Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd. 9780334049326. 421.
4. Book: Streett, R. Alan. The Effective Invitation: A Practical Guide for the Pastor. 1984. Kregel Academic. English. 9780825494765. 92.
5. Book: Childress, Richard T.. A Historical Lottery: Europe to Appalachia and Beyond - A Ramsey Family Through 1500 Years of Social and Cultural Change. 22 December 2016. Dorrance Publishing. 9781480927926. 751.
6. Book: Heath, Elaine A.. Naked Faith: The Mystical Theology of Phoebe Palmer. 1 January 2009. Wipf and Stock Publishers. English . 9781630877170. 17. Penitents came forward to the "mourners' bench," a long bench near the pulpit where sins were confessed and forgiveness received..
7. Book: Atkin, Pippa. Flexi-RE Evaluation. 2003. Nelson Thornes. English. 9780748763542. 8. Their sermons done, revivalists like Caughey and Marsden, following time-honoured Methodist procedure, would urge people to the communion rail - called also the mourners' bench, a kind of Protestant confessional - in public acceptance of Christ..
8. Book: Clark, Davis W. . The Methodist Episcopal pulpit: a collection of original sermons from living ministers of the M.E. Church. 1856. Carlton & Phillips. English. 226.
9. Book: Upper Cumberland Country. University Press of Mississippi. English . 9781617035319. 91. When salvation comes, the seeker sits erect on the mourner's bench, either crying from joy or smiling, thus announcing to others present what has happened.. 1993.
10. Book: Methodist History. 2002. Commission on Archives and History, The United Methodist Church. English. 149. Methodist preachers invited them to come forward and kneel at the altar rail....
11. Book: Airhart, Phyllis D.. Serving the Present Age: Revivalism, Progressivism, and the Methodist Tradition in Canada. 26 February 1992. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. English . 9780773563193. 69.