The Hidden History of Methodist Schism
As United Methodists face General Conference 2020 and the potential of forming new church bodies, it feels as though the denomination is at a significant crossroad. It’s as if we are doing something we have never done before. If only that were true. Let’s talk about the history of Methodist Schism.
The truth is, Methodist history is fraught with conflict. Two centuries of it. It’s part of our DNA. It’s who we are. Splitting and reforming are woven into our very being. Historically, there are more divided Methodists than there are United Methodists.
I recently led a session on Productive Conflict with Bishop Jimmy Nunn of Oklahoma. In preparation for our time together, he pulled together two centuries worth of Methodist tussles—theological and organizational—that have resulted in splits. Splits in the 1800s produced the following new denominations: African Methodist Episcopal, the Methodist Protestant, the Primitive Methodist, the Methodist Episcopal Church North and Methodist Episcopal Church South, Free Methodist, Salvation Army, Christian Methodist Episcopal, and Nazarene.
Splits in the 1900s produced these movements:
- Pentecostal Holiness
- Social Gospel
- Methodist Church
- Southern Methodist Church
- Evangelical Methodist
- Association of Independent Methodist Churches
- United Methodist Church
- Autonomous Methodist Churches
- The Autonomy of Methodists in South and Central America
It turns out schism is nothing new. It’s in our blood. It’s right there in the history books.
Hidden History of Methodist Schism
Twenty years ago, I mapped my family genogram. I was startled to realize that I wasn’t the only person in my family to have changed their name. Decades earlier, my Italian Catholic grandfather had changed his surname from Scozzafava to Scott. On the other side of my family, my Orthodox Jewish uncle had changed his first name from Harold to Hillel. My cousin Todd became Adlai. All of a sudden, my unique and significant history wasn’t so unique or meaningful. It was almost predictable, in my DNA, a part of my hidden history.
Similarly, the people called Methodist have been doing schism for a very long time. Perhaps what is different this time is that we haven’t split YET over this issue. In the past, splits took place every 20 years on average.
Methodist schism falls into three distinct categories: theology, inclusion, and polity. Our present conflicts have roots in all three areas. Read more here: Click To Tweet
It’s not like the previous issues were less significant. As Bishop Nunn reminded us: “Methodist schisms fall into three distinct categories: theology, inclusion, and polity. Our present conflicts have roots in all three areas.”
“This realization should lead us to ask these three questions,” Bishop Nunn believes. “What do we believe, and how do we live out our beliefs? Who is fully included in the life and ministry of the church? What is the balance between connection and autonomy?”
Today’s Methodists
As we well know, today’s United Methodists respond differently to these questions. Our varied responses give rise to another dynamic that is at play. Historically, when a reform movement happened, it was followed by a restorationist movement. And vice versa. Often these counter-splits happened the very next year.
Our current issues have all the makings of a historical split. It’s a good drama. We have restorationists and reformers. We have the urge and precedent for splitting.
I wonder if we are freer when we split. After all, specific energy comes with a divorce—a sudden burst of freedom of independence. However, this new energy must not be sustainable because we continue to divide.
Perhaps it’s time to split once again. Maybe the genetic/cultural temptation is too strong to withstand, and the call of the times too strong to ignore. On the other hand, perhaps we’ll decide to do something different and find a way to work together—reformers and restorationists under one big tent. If so, we would finally have the opportunity to live out John Wesley’s aspirational thought, “Though we may not all think alike, can we not love alike?”