As we saw in a previous article the
history of Methodism in America began with Wesley's own lack-luster ministry in
Georgia. However, as English migration
to the Colonies increased, many Methodists were among them.
In the late 1760s Methodist lay preachers
began Methodist societies. Phillip
Embury began a society in New York, Thomas Webb, also a British Army Captain,
began one in Philadelphia, and Robert Strawbridge started one in Maryland. Soon, Wesley found that the Methodist work in
America was not as organized and regulated as he might have liked and so in
1770 he sent some his English preachers, including Francis Asbury, to put
things in better order.
The Methodist work in America continued
to grow until the Revolution. The
Revolution, and American independence which followed it, was a huge challenge
for Methodism. First of all, Wesley was
opposed to American independence and wrote to American Methodists encouraging
them to remain loyal to England, thankfully, they did not listen and yet
remained Methodists.
After the Revolution
most of the Anglican ministers fled America leaving the Methodists, who, if you
will remember, attended the Anglican Church to receive the sacraments, without
sacramental ministry. This prompted
Wesley to take to the bold step of ordaining Thomas Coke as a
"superintendent" of the Methodist work in America and send him with
instructions to ordain Asbury as a superintendent. Coke and Asbury (this is where the name
Cokesbury comes from) were to organize a separate Methodist Church in America
and to ordain other elders for sacramental ministry. (Methodists in England
remained part of the Church of England until after Wesley's death.)
On December 24th 1784
Coke and Asbury called the Methodist preachers to Baltimore for what has become
known as the "Christmas Conference."
At the Christmas
Conference a new independent church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was
formed. Asbury insisted that he and Coke
be elected by the Conference and they took the title bishop, rather than
superintendent.
Meanwhile, back in
England, Wesley was growing old. On
March 2nd 1791, John Wesley died. His
last words were, "Best of all God is with us, farewell." When he died, John Wesley had only six pounds
to his name, he had always lived simply and generously. Per his instructions, they were given to the
poor men who served as his pall bearers.
Methodism in America
and England continued to grow as separate churches after Wesley's death. We will continue the story of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in two months. But next
month we need to pick up with the story of some other folks who make up the
history of the United Methodist Church.
Next month we will tell the story of the Evangelical United Brethren
Church.
