Methodism in Kiravia
Methodism in Kiravia is the largest denominational family among the country's Protestant minority.
Isolated Protestant congregations adhering to Arminian theology appeared in Eshavian-speaking areas of Northeast Kirav not long after the Reformation had spread to northern Levantia, but their influence was limited and it is unclear how long they survived. The first successful Methodist mission in Kiravia was led by the Caerish Rev. [Welshname ap Welshmynn] in western Etivéra. Other important centres of Methodist evangelism were the Sostórpalan Meadowlands in southern Hiterna and parts of the Western Highlands.
Much of the growth of the Methodist churches in Kiravia is attributable to their involvement in addiction recovery ministries and other social justice and relief work. In a cultural context where a drinking problem was (and still is) barely recognised as a problem to begin with and alcoholic beverages are central to social life, traditional foodways, and cultural rites outside of the Islamic sector, Methodist churches provided recovering alcoholics with community support and alternative social activities not available from mainstream Kiravian society. Methodism experienced a second surge of growth on the Kiravian mainland during the post-Kirosocialist market liberalisation, as economic disruption and sweeping social changes brought renewed importance to Methodist Social Gospel initiatives. The Methodist churches and charities associated with them remain at the forefront of alcohol, drug, and other addiction recovery efforts.
Kiravian Methodists are known for their camp meeting revivals and retreats. Numerous settlements established as Methodist camp meeting sites can be found across the Kiravian countryside, especially in the Highlands and along the seashore, many are now home to permanent populations and church-affiliated retreat centres, rehabilitation clinics, retirement homes, health spas, seminaries, and resorts.
The major Methodist church bodies in Kiravia are the Federated Methodist Church (broad church), Association of Free Churches of Kiravia (Caerish-form worship), New Nazarean Church (low church), and Coscivian Methodist Episcopal Church (high church). Roughly half of the Ekxõ people, a National Minority living on the predominantly Catholic coast of Farravonia, are Methodists, as are many Pretannic Celtic-Kiravians. Kirav Methodist University in Valēka is the largest Protestant university in the country. CMEC pastor Rev. W. Piran Trevelyan was the first - and to date, only - Protestant to serve as Chaplain to the Federal Stanora.