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History of the United Methodist Church
"I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." --John 6:47
Roots, 1736-1816
The United Methodist Church shares a common history and heritage with other Methodist and
Wesleyan bodies.  The lives and ministries of John Wesley (1703-1791) and of his brother, Charles
(1707-1788), mark the origin of their common roots. Both John and Charles were Church of England
missionaries to the colony of Georgia, arriving in March 1736. It was their only occasion to visit
America. Their mission was far from an unqualified success, and both returned to England
disillusioned and discouraged, Charles in December 1736, and John in February 1738.
Both of the Wesley brothers had transforming religious experiences in May 1738. In the years
following, the Wesleys succeeded in leading a lively renewal movement in the Church of England. As
the Methodist movement grew, it became apparent that their ministry would spread to the American
colonies as some Methodists made the exhausting and hazardous Atlantic voyage to the New
World.
Organized Methodism in America began as a lay movement. Among its earliest leaders were Robert
Strawbridge, an immigrant farmer who organized work about 1760 in Maryland and Virginia, Philip
Embury and his cousin, Barbara Heck, who began work in New York in 1766, and Captain Thomas
Webb, whose labors were instrumental in Methodist beginnings in Philadelphia in 1767.
To strengthen the Methodist work in the colonies, John Wesley sent two of his lay preachers,
Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmore, to America in 1769. Two years later Richard Wright and
Francis Asbury were also dispatched by Wesley to undergird the growing American Methodist
societies. Francis Asbury became the most important figure in early American Methodism. His
energetic devotion to the principles of Wesleyan theology, ministry, and organization shaped
Methodism in America in a way unmatched by any other individual. In addition to the preachers sent
by Wesley, some Methodists in the colonies also answered the call to become lay preachers in the
movement.
 The first conference of Methodist preachers in the colonies was held in Philadelphia in 1773. The ten
who attended took several important actions. They pledged allegiance to Wesley's leadership and
agreed that they would not administer the sacraments because they were laypersons. Their people
were to receive the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper at the local Anglican parish
church. They emphasized strong discipline among the societies and preachers. A system of regular
conferences of the preachers was inaugurated similar to those Wesley had instituted in England to
conduct the business of the Methodist movement.
The American Revolution had a profound impact on Methodism. John Wesley's Toryism and his
writings against the revolutionary cause did not enhance the image of Methodism among many who
supported independence. Furthermore, a number of Methodist preachers refused to bear arms to aid
the patriots.
When independence from England had been won, Wesley recognized that changes were necessary
in American Methodism. He sent Thomas Coke to America to superintend the work with Asbury.
Coke brought with him a prayer book titled The Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America,
prepared by Wesley and incorporating his revision of the Church of England's Thirty-Nine Articles of
Religion. Two other preachers, Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey, whom Wesley had ordained,
accompanied Coke. Wesley's ordinations set a precedent that ultimately permitted Methodists in
America to become an independent church.
In December 1784, the famous Christmas Conference of preachers was held in Baltimore at Lovely
Lane Chapel to chart the future course of the movement in America. Most of the American preachers
attended, probably including two African Americans, Harry Hosier and Richard Allen. It was at this
gathering that the movement became organized as The Methodist Episcopal Church in America.
In the years following the Christmas Conference, The Methodist Episcopal Church published its first
Discipline (1785), adopted a quadrennial General Conference, the first of which was held in 1792,
drafted a Constitution in 1808, refined its structure, established a publishing house, and became an
ardent proponent of revivalism and the camp meeting.
As The Methodist Episcopal Church was in its infancy, two other churches were being formed. In
their earliest years they were composed almost entirely of German-speaking people. The first was
founded by Philip William Otterbein (1726-1813) and Martin Boehm (1725-1812). Otterbein, a
German Reformed pastor, and Boehm, a Mennonite, preached an evangelical message and
experience similar to the Methodists. In 1800 their followers formally organized the Church of the
United Brethren in Christ. A second church, The Evangelical Association, was begun by Jacob
Albright (1759-1808), a Lutheran farmer and tilemaker in eastern Pennsylvania who had been
converted and nurtured under Methodist teaching. The Evangelical Association was officially
organized in 1803. These two churches were to unite with each other in 1946 and with The Methodist
Church in 1968 to form The United Methodist Church.
By the time of Asbury's death in March 1816, Otterbein, Boehm, and Albright had also died. The
churches they nurtured had survived the difficulties of early life and were beginning to expand
numerically and geographically.
Developments and Changes Since 1968
On April 23, 1968, The United Methodist Church was created when Bishop
Reuben H. Mueller, representing The Evangelical United Brethren Church, and
Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke of The Methodist Church joined hands at the constituting
General Conference in Dallas, Texas. With the words, "Lord of the Church, we
are united in Thee, in Thy Church and now in The United Methodist Church," the
new denomination was given birth by two churches that had distinguished
histories and influential ministries in various parts of the world.
Theological traditions steeped in the Protestant Reformation and Wesleyanism,
similar ecclesiastical structures, and relationships that dated back almost two
hundred years facilitated the union. In the Evangelical United Brethren heritage,
for example, Philip William Otterbein, the principal founder of the United
Brethren in Christ, assisted in the ordination of Francis Asbury to the
superintendency of American Methodist work. Jacob Albright, through whose
religious experience and leadership the Evangelical Association was begun, was
nurtured in a Methodist class meeting following his conversion.
When The United Methodist Church was created in 1968, it had approximately
11 million members, making it one of the largest Protestant churches in the
world.
Since its birth, United Methodism has experienced a number of changes in its
life and structure. It has become increasingly aware of itself as a world church
with members and conferences in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
While its membership in Europe and the United States has declined noticeably
since 1968, membership in Africa and Asia has grown significantly.
An increasing number of women have been admitted to the ordained ministry,
appointed to the district superintendency, elected to positions of denominational
leadership, and consecrated as bishops. In 1980 Marjorie Matthews was the first
woman elected to the Church's episcopacy.
The Church has endeavored to become a community in which all persons,
regardless of racial or ethnic background, can participate in every level of its
connectional life and ministry
From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2000. Copyright 2000 by The United
Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.
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