The study of the history of Methodism will result in the awareness that many denominations are related historically and theologically as spiritual descendants of John Wesley. Some denominations, though not related to Methodism from the point of their origins, are related theologically that is they are Arminian or Wesleyan-Arminian. Though some smaller groups or denominations may not be identified in the list below, what follows is an overview of the major descendants of the Methodist tradition in America.
American Descendants of Methodism
|
Year:
|
Event: |
|---|---|
|
1729
|
John Wesley and the birth of British Wesleyan Methodism (1795) |
|
1784
|
The Methodist Episcopal Church |
|
1792
|
Republican Methodists (the O’Kelly movement, later uniting with the Congregational Church) |
|
1800
|
Church of the United Brethren in Christ (later the E.U.B.) |
|
1803
|
The Evangelical Church (became the Evangelical Association in 1816, and in 1946 the Evangelical United Brethren) |
|
1805
|
The Union African Methodist Episcopal Church |
|
1814
|
Reformed Methodist Church (anti-episcopal) |
|
1816
|
African Methodist Episcopal Church |
|
1821
|
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church |
|
1829
|
Primitive Methodist Church, U.S.A. (from the British “camp meeting” Methodists) |
|
1830
|
Methodist Protestant Church (lay representation; reentered the Methodist Church in 1939) |
|
1843
|
Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America (abolitionist and anti-episcopal) |
|
1844
|
Methodist Episcopal Church, South (result of the North/South struggle; reentered the Methodist Church in 1939) |
|
1850
|
Union American Methodist Episcopal Church |
|
1852
|
Congregational Methodist Church |
|
1860
|
Free Methodist Church of North America (abolitionist, free pews) |
|
1864
|
United Christian Church (withdrawing from the United Brethren in Christ) |
|
1867:
|
National Camp Meeting Association for the Promotion of Holiness (NCAPH—emerging from various camp meeting associations; later the Christian Holiness Association) |
|
1869
|
Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church |
|
1870
|
Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (later the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church) |
|
1880
|
Salvation Army (founded in London, 1865) |
|
1880
|
Church of God (Anderson, Ind). Through Daniel S. Warner, the founder of the Church of God, classical Anabaptist beliefs were introduced into the holiness movement at an early stage in its institutional development. |
|
1880
|
The Holiness Church |
|
1885
|
Reformed Methodist Union Episcopal Church (withdrawing from the A.M.E. Church) |
|
1886
|
The Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn) |
|
1889
|
United Brethren in Christ (Old Constitution; stemming from the United Brethren) |
|
1890
|
The Fire- Baptized Holiness Church (Wesleyan) |
|
1894
|
United Evangelical Church (perfectionists withdrawing from the Evangelical Association) |
|
1890-95
|
Pentecostal Holiness Church, International |
|
1897
|
Pilgrim Holiness Church |
|
1898
|
The Pentecostal Alliance (later united with the Church of the Nazarene) |
|
1900
|
The Apostolic Faith Mission |
|
1901
|
Pillar of fire (withdrawing from the Methodist Church) |
|
1903
|
The Church of God (Huntsville, Ala.) |
|
1903
|
The Church of God of Prophecy |
|
1906
|
Independent Assemblies of God, International |
|
1906
|
The Church of God in Christ |
|
1907
|
International Pentecostal Assemblies |
|
1907
|
The Apostolic Faith |
|
1908
|
The Church of the Nazarene |
|
1924
|
Assemblies of God |
|
1917
|
Pentecostal Church of Christ (later united with the International Pentecostal Assemblies to form the International Pentecostal Church of Christ) |
|
1918
|
Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness Church |
|
1920
|
Holiness Church of God, Inc |
|
1939
|
The Methodist Church (a unification of the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the Methodist Protestant Church) |
|
1939
|
Southern Methodist Church (declined unification with the Methodist Church) |
|
1942
|
Fundamental Methodist Church, Inc |
|
1946
|
Evangelical United Brethren (a unification of the church of the United Brethren in Christ and the Evangelical Church) |
|
1959
|
Wesleyan Holiness Association of Churches |
|
1968
|
The Wesleyan Church (a unification of the Pilgrim Holiness Church and the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America) |
|
1968
|
Evangelical Church of North America (a unification of some congregations of the Evangelical United Brethren, with the Holiness Methodist Church) |
|
1969
|
Missionary Church (a unification of the Missionary Church Association and the United Missionary Church)[1] |
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[1] See Thomas C. Oden, Doctrinal Standards in the Wesleyan Tradition (Grand Rapids: Francis Asbury Press of Zondervan Publishing House, 1988), 129-31.
Written by Dr. Stephen FlickNumber of posts: 201
Stephen Flick heads Christian Heritage Fellowship, a national organization dedicated to reclaiming America’s Christian Heritage and celebrating the life-changing influence of the Gospel around the world.
Concerned with the cultural decay of America, Dr. Flick has sought to provide answers to fellow Christians (and unbelievers) concerning the questions and objections to Christianity often posed by secularists and the irreligious.
Dr. Flick is a writer and speaker and has authored numerous articles and books on America’s Christian heritage. He earned his Ph.D. from Drew University in history and Christian theology and has taught at the graduate level as full professor. He has been a licensed minster for nearly forty years and resides in East Tennessee with his wife, Beth. They have two grown, married children and five grandchildren.
