The Church Emerges

Pioneer Development: Part One

Annual Conference of 1785

Upholds the Christmas Conference Establishes the Episcopacy Establishes the role of “presiding

elder”, what will become the District Superintendent

18,000 members recognized

Church vs. Society

“Church” tends to suggest an ecclesiastic structure and polity

“Society” suggest a voluntary organization of local members

The Episcopal Methodist Church keeps both configurations

The potential conflict between identities continues into present time

Recognizing Government

Coke and Asbury meet with Washington on two separate occasions

Article 23 addresses the “Rulers of the United States of America”

Article XXIII

“The President, the Congress, the general assemblies, the governors and the councils of state, as delegates of the people, are the rulers of the United States of America…. A sovereign and independent nation” subject to no foreign jurisdiction.

Parting Such Sweet Sorrow

Many former Anglicans separate from the Methodist societies to form the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States

William White fashions this denomination, that maintained communion with The Church of England.

Organizational Problems

What should be the relationship of bishops to all itinerate pastors?

What should be the relationship of itinerate pastors to the general membership of the church?

What should be the role and status of the laity?

1786 Issue

Wesley sends Dr. Coke back to the States with instructions to appoint Richard Whatcoat as the third General Superintendent.

But Annual Conference dates and agendas had already been set

Further, why would Annual Conferences accept a Wesley appointment?

1786 Issue

As a result, the minutes of the Christmas Conference amended, removing mention of the Methodist Episcopal Church’s agreement to follow the direction of Wesley

Whatcoat not elected bishop Issue settled in 1788 with

replacement of John Wesley's name as one of Episcopal authority.

O’Kelly Schism

Colonial Methodism succeeded because of the efforts of circuit riders, lay preachers, class leaders, and band leaders.

But the question of authority and freedom never found resolution.

Does authority rest with the Episcopacy, laity, or both?

O’Kelly Schism

First General Conference, November of 1792, in Baltimore

Wesley died one month prior to Conference

O’Kelly advocates a permanent General Conference to limit the authority of the General Superintendents (esp. Asbury)

O’Kelly Schism

“After the bishop appoints the preachers at conference to their circuits, if anybody thinks himself injured by the appointment,”… one can appeal to their conference, who may overrule the appointment and request that the bishop make a new one.

O’Kelly Schism

While the motion ultimately fails, it did raise the question of the authority of the bishop.

O’Kelly leaves and forms the Republican Methodist Church, which later becomes the Christian Church.

Many pastors and laity leave the Methodist Episcopal Church

Traveling vs. Local Preacher

Traveling Preachers held full membership in an Annual Conference and was ordained either as deacon or elder.

Local Preachers were authorized to work only with a specific location. Often local preachers trained to become a traveling preacher.

Traveling vs. Local Preacher

Local Preachers, in certain circumstances, given permission to administer the Sacraments.

Handled the day-to-day ministries of a local community while the Circuit Riders attended to many communities.

Traveling vs. Local Preacher

So only Traveling Preachers were itinerates.

Many traveling preachers surrender membership to an Annual Conference and become a local preacher (settling down, raising a family, etc)

Traveling vs. Local Preacher

The large difference: membership to an Annual Conference.

Four Characteristics of Traveling Preacher (Brunson, 1856)ConversionFruitsCalling of GodSeals from the Church

Traveling vs. Local Preacher

The intineracy kept traveling preachers on the move in a specific region for a determined length of time.

A circuit often composed of numerous preaching points

The combination of these two systems, however, well suited for Western expansion.

Traveling vs. Local Preacher

Problems raised with itineracy No chance to acquire property Difficult to raise family No retirement plans Poor salaries Health problems common Imposed an involuntary celibacy Would not know of appointment until

Bishop read the list at end of the Annual Conference

Presiding Elders vs. Presiding Bishops

Presiding Elders (District Superintendents) originally designated to provide leadership and sacraments to the unordained preachers. Also, Assisted in communication between

Annual Conferences (esp. appointments)

Aided the Bishop in administrative duties

Duties of a General Superintendent

Fix the Appointments Preside in Conferences Change, receive and suspend

preachers Oversee spiritual and temporal

business Ordain deacons, elders and bishops

Early General Superintendents

Francis Asbury Dr. Thomas Coke Richard Whatcoat William McKendree Enoch George Robert R. Roberts