Isaiah,
My church claims a lineage from the apostles no less direct than yours. History teaches that Peter was never a bishop of Rome and even Catholic scholars are redefining the meaning of apostolic succession in the light of this.
My church as councils to guide us and of course we are under the Holy Spirit.
Peace, JohnR
As less direct than the Catholic church’s? Where do you get this idea?
Can you produce a list like this…
newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
also POPE, PAPAL ELECTIONS, ELECTION OF THE POPE.
1.St. Peter (32-67)
2.St. Linus (67-76)
3.St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88)
4.St. Clement I (88-97)
5.St. Evaristus (97-105)
6.St. Alexander I (105-115…
262.Blessed John XXIII (1958-63)
263.Paul VI (1963-78)
264.John Paul I (1978)
265.John Paul II (1978-2005)
266.Benedict XVI
And attested to by Ireneus…
newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm
Against Heresies (Book III, Chapter 3)
- The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric
.
All pastors and bishops who take on the tasks of the apostles are successors of the apostles.

This is another protestant innovation…didn’t the Reformers deny or did not see the necessity of apostolic succession…and now you are claiming this?
Let me cite the example of St. Paul for you…
Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
Galatians 2:2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.
Paul had a direct revelation from Christ. Yet, from the two passages above, he goes to visit Cephas/Peter and submits himself to Peter. Gal 2: 2 states his purpose…to present his gospel/message to make sure it is in line with the Apostles and what they were handed down from Christ.
This is as per this passage…from 1John 4…6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood
Let me ask you then…by which authority stemming from the Apostolic lineage did the founder of Methodists submit himself, following the example of St. Paul?
Can you be absolutely sure, following the exhortation of 1John4?
Now look at Acts 13:
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Romans 10:
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[g]
Before Paul and Barnabas went on their first missionary journey, he submits himself to Church authority and are ordained by laying of hands.
Let me ask you another question…who sent the methodist founder to preach? Can you trace his apostolic lineage? Did he follow the example of St. Paul? Submitting to an apostle…and being ordained before being sent?