A History of the Origin and Development of the Governing Conference in Methodism: And Especially of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Thomas B. Neely

9780265239957: A History of the Origin and Development of the Governing Conference in Methodism: And Especially of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Classic Reprint)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0265239958 ISBN 13: 9780265239957

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

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Discover how Methodism organized itself from Wesley’s early conferences to the rise of an American superintendency.

This clear, carefully researched study traces the origins of the governing conference in Methodism, showing how John Wesley’s ideas about shared leadership, ordination, and accountability evolved into a formal system. It explains the shift from informal gatherings to a more structured body that shaped church governance in both England and America.

Drawing on contemporary records and Wesleyan writings, the book outlines key moments in the development of ministerial councils, the role of lay preachers, and the tensions between episcopal and congregational models. It reveals how decisions about ordination, supervision, and creed were crafted to fit changing political and religious landscapes, including the American context after the Revolution.

How early meetings foreshadowed the annual and quarterly structures of future conferences
The move from informal gatherings to a formal supervisory role over the American societies
Wesley’s use of ordination and a shared creed to shape church governance
The contrast between Anglican practices and the evolving Methodist polity

Ideal for readers of religious history and church governance, this work offers a balanced, accessible account of how a flexible idea became a lasting framework for Methodism.

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