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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.
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.
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.
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.
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