WB Christmas Conference 2
This December, we’re exploring the events leading up to the 1784 Christmas Conference, the founding of the Methodist Episcopal denomination in America. Methodism began as a revivalist movement within the Church of England, with no real intention of breaking off from the mother church. Methodism was spread predominantly by lay preachers with no formal training, and no ordination to administer the sacraments. This system worked fine as long as the Anglican Church was there to provide weekly worship and the sacraments for the people. But the American Revolution resulted in the divestment of the Church of England from the colonies, and American Methodists suddenly found themselves without the sacraments.
From England, John Wesley became frustrated that the Church refused to ordain Methodist laity or send bishops to organize a church in America. He had been reading Edward Stillingfleet’s Irenicum, a book on the nature of church law, and became convinced that holy orders could be passed on by a regular priest, and not just by bishops. It is believed that this gave Wesley the theological proof that he needed to take matters into his own hands. He told Charles that theologically, he was already “a scriptural episcopos, as much as any man in England or in Europe.” If the bishops weren’t going to ordain Methodists, John would.
A side note: Wesley had built a friendship with a Greek Orthodox bishop, Gerasimos Avlonites, also known as Erasmus of Arcadia. There is record of Erasmus ordaining some Methodist lay preachers for Wesley, but there is speculation that he also ordained John to the episcopacy in 1763, making John Wesley a secret bishop. Most scholars believe this to be nothing more than a legend.
As John became convinced that he had the theological authority to ordain, his brother Charles adamantly disagreed. Charles declared boldly, “Ordination is separation,” meaning John would be separating himself and the Methodists from the Anglican church if he chose to take matters into his own hands. Nevertheless, in 1784, John made Thomas Coke a superintendent (he didn’t use the word bishop, but that is what was implied), and ordained Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vassey as presbyters (or elders). He then sent them to America for the purpose of establishing a Methodist church, supplying them with resources to start a new denomination in America. Wesley would reflect on his action and say, “In so peculiar a case I believed it my duty to take an extraordinary step in order to send them all the help I could.” This action was considered a serious breach of the Anglican episcopacy.
New Charlie Baber
The Rev. Charlie Baber, author of Wesley Bros cartoon.
Creator of the Wesley Bros cartoon, the Rev. Charlie Baber, a United Methodist deacon, serves at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh, N.C. His cartoon appears on United Methodist Insight by special arrangement.