Changes

The '''Methodist Episcopal Church, South''' or "Southern Methodist Church" split from the national body over the issue of slavery in the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] in 1844.  This body maintained its own polity until it reunited with the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] and the [[Methodist Protestant Church]] to form the [[The Methodist Church (USA)|The Methodist Church]] in 1939, which in turn later (1968) merged with the [[Evangelical United Brethren Church]] to form The [[United Methodist Church]].  Some more theologically conservative MECS congregations dissenting from the merger formed the [[Southern Methodist Church]] in 1940.

The '''Methodist Episcopal Church, South''' or "Southern Methodist Church" split from the national body over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844.  This body maintained its own polity until it reunited with the northern group as well as the small [[Methodist Protestant Church]] to form the "The Methodist Church (USA)" in 1939, which in turn later (1968) merged with the [[Evangelical United Brethren Church]] to form The [[United Methodist Church]].  Some more theologically conservative MECS congregations dissenting from the merger formed the small "Southern Methodist Church" in 1940.

==History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South==

==History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South==

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was appalled by American slavery. When the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] (MEC) was founded in the United States in 1784, the denomination officially opposed slavery. In the early nineteenth century the MEC stance on slavery was weakened by wealthy southerners.  Though clergy were still expected not to own slaves. Conflict arose in 1840 when the Rev. [[James Osgood Andrew]] of [[Oxford, Georgia|Oxford]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], a bishop, acquired a slave.  Fearing that she would end up with an inhumane owner if sold, Andrew kept her but let her come and go.  The 1840 [[Methodist Episcopal Church|MEC]] General Conference considered but did not expel him.  Four year later, Andrew married a woman who owned a slave inherited from her mother, making the bishop the owner of two slaves.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was appalled by American slavery. When the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was founded in the United States in 1784, the denomination officially opposed slavery. In the early nineteenth century the MEC stance on slavery was weakened by wealthy southerners.  Though clergy were still expected not to own slaves. Conflict arose in 1840 when the Rev. James Osgood Andrew of Oxford, Georgia, a bishop, acquired a slave.  Fearing that she would end up with an inhumane owner if sold, Andrew kept her but let her come and go.  The 1840 MEC General Conference considered but did not expel him.  Four year later, Andrew married a woman who owned a slave inherited from her mother, making the bishop the owner of two slaves.

The 1844 General Conference voted to remove the bishop from his bishopric unless he freed his slaves. The decision raised questions (particularly among southern delegates to the conference) about the authority of a General Conference to discipline bishops. Of course, the cultural differences that had divided the nation during the mid-[[19th century]] had also been dividing the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]]. The 1844 dispute led Methodists in the south to break off and form a separate denomination, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

The 1844 General Conference voted to remove the bishop from his bishopric unless he freed his slaves. The decision raised questions (particularly among southern delegates to the conference) about the authority of a General Conference to discipline bishops. Of course, the cultural differences that had divided the nation during the mid-19th century had also been dividing the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 1844 dispute led Methodists in the south to break off and form a separate denomination, the '''Methodist Episcopal Church, South'''.

[[Image:-method.JPG|thumb|400px| 1850 Census map shows very widespread and uniform distribution]]

[[Image:-method.JPG|thumb|400px| 1850 Census map shows very widespread and uniform distribution]]

{{christianity}}

{{christianity}}

===African Americans===

===African Americans===

After the [[American Civil War]] many African American Methodists in the south left the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and joined either the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]], the [[African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church]], or the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]].  Out of 200,000 African American members in 1860 there in 1866 remained only 49,000, and most of them split off on friendly terms in 1870 to form the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, now the [[Christian Methodist Episcopal Church]], taking with them $1.5 million in buildings and properties. The new denomination avoided the [[Radical Republican]] [[politics]] of the AME and AMEZ churches. It had over 3000 churches, over 1200 traveling preachers, 2500 local preachers, about 140,000 members, and 22 Annual Conferences, presided over by four bishops.

After the [[American Civil War]] many African American Methodists in the south left the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and joined either the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]], the [[African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church]], or the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]].  Out of 200,000 African American members in 1860 there in 1866 remained only 49,000, and most of them split off on friendly terms in 1870 to form the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, now the [[Christian Methodist Episcopal Church]], taking with them $1.5 million in buildings and properties. The new denomination avoided the [[Radical Republican]] politics of the AME and AMEZ churches. It had over 3000 churches, over 1200 traveling preachers, 2500 local preachers, about 140,000 members, and 22 Annual Conferences, presided over by four bishops.

===Growth in late 19th century===

===Growth in late 19th century===

The MEC-S energetically tended its base and by 1880 counted 798,862 members (nearly all white), 1,066,377 in 1886. It expanded its missionary activity in Mexico.  Although usually avoiding politics, MEC-S went on record in 1886 denouncing [[divorce]] and calling for [[Prohibition]], stating: [Alexander p 110]

The MEC-S energetically tended its base and by 1880 counted 798,862 members (nearly all white), 1,066,377 in 1886. It expanded its missionary activity in Mexico.  Although usually avoiding politics, MEC-S went on record in 1886 denouncing divorce and calling for [[Prohibition]], stating:<ref>Alexander p 110</ref>

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

The public has awakened to the necessity of both legal and moral suasion to control the great evils stimulated and fostered by the liquor traffic. We recognize in the license system a sin against society. Its essential immorality cannot be affected by the question whether the license be high or low. The effectual prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and use of intoxicating liquors would be emancipation from the greatest curse that now afflicts our race. The total removal of the cause of intemperance is the only remedy. This is the greatest moral question now before our people....Resolved, That the time has now come when the church, through its press and pulpit, its individual and organized agencies, should speak out in strong language and stronger action in favor of the total removal of this great evil. </blockquote>

The public has awakened to the necessity of both legal and moral suasion to control the great evils stimulated and fostered by the liquor traffic. We recognize in the license system a sin against society. Its essential immorality cannot be affected by the question whether the license be high or low. The effectual prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and use of intoxicating liquors would be emancipation from the greatest curse that now afflicts our race. The total removal of the cause of intemperance is the only remedy. This is the greatest moral question now before our people....Resolved, That the time has now come when the church, through its press and pulpit, its individual and organized agencies, should speak out in strong language and stronger action in favor of the total removal of this great evil. </blockquote>

The hardscrabble condition of the church is shown by the statistics of academies. Nearly all had been closed by the war. There were 179 schools and colleges open in 1892, but they had only 892 teachers and 16,600 students.  

The hardscrabble condition of the church is shown by the statistics of academies. Nearly all had been closed by the war. There were 179 schools and colleges open in 1892, but they had only 892 teachers and 16,600 students.  

The colleges were in scarcely better condition, though philanthropy was about to dramatically change that. Most were primarily high-school level academies with a few collegiate courses. The dramatic exception was [[Vanderbilt University]], at Nashville, Tennessee, with a million dollar campus and an endowment of $900,000, thanks to the [[Vanderbilt family]].  Much smaller and poorer were [[Randolph-Macon College]] in Virginia, with its two affiliated fitting-schools and Woman's College; [[Emory University|Emory College]], in Atlanta, Georgia, (which much later started to receive Candler money ); [[Emory and Henry College|Emory & Henry]], in Virginia; [[Wofford College|Wofford]], with its two fitting-schools, in South Carolina; [[Duke University|Trinity College]], in North Carolina&mdash;soon to be endowed by the Duke family and change its name; [[Central Methodist University]], in Missouri; Southern, in Alabama; Southwestern, in Texas; [[Kentucky Wesleyan College]], in Kentucky; [[Millsaps College]], in [[Mississippi]]; [[Centenary College of Louisiana]]; [[Hendrix College]], in Arkansas; and [[University of the Pacific]], in California.  The denomination also supported several [[women's colleges]], although they were more like finishing schools or academies until the twentieth century, when they began to meet the standards of new accrediting agencies, such as the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]].  The oldest Methodist woman's college is [[Wesleyan College]] in [[Macon, Georgia|Macon]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]; other Methodist colleges that were formerly women's institutions are [[Lagrange College]] and [[Andrew College]] in Georgia and [[Greensboro College]] in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The colleges were in scarcely better condition, though philanthropy was about to dramatically change that. Most were primarily high-school level academies with a few collegiate courses. The dramatic exception was [[Vanderbilt University]], at Nashville, Tennessee, with a million dollar campus and an endowment of $900,000, thanks to the [[Vanderbilt family]].  Much smaller and poorer were [[Randolph-Macon College]] in Virginia, with its two affiliated fitting-schools and Woman's College; [[Emory University|Emory College]], in Atlanta, Georgia, (which much later started to receive Candler money ); [[Emory and Henry College]], in Virginia; [[Wofford College]], in South Carolina; [[Duke University]] (originally named "Trinity College"), in North Carolina&mdash;soon to be endowed by the Duke family and change its name; Central Methodist University, in Missouri; Southern, in Alabama; Southwestern, in Texas; Kentucky Wesleyan College, in Kentucky; Millsaps College, in Mississippi; Centenary College of Louisiana; [[Hendrix College]], in Arkansas; and [[University of the Pacific]], in California.  The denomination also supported several small women's colleges, although they were more like finishing schools or academies until the twentieth century, when they began to meet the standards of new accrediting agencies, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  The oldest Methodist woman's college is [[Wesleyan College]] in Macon, Georgia; other Methodist colleges that were formerly women's institutions are Lagrange College and Andrew College in Georgia and Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

While the two other major Methodist denominations in America&mdash;the MEC and the [[Methodist Protestant Church]]&mdash;had agreed to ordain women either as local elders and deacons (the MEC) or full clergy (the Methodist Protestant Church), the MEC, South did not ordain women as pastors at the time of the 1939 merger that formed [[The Methodist Church (USA)|The Methodist Church]].

While the two other major Methodist denominations in America&mdash;the MEC and the [[Methodist Protestant Church]]&mdash;had agreed to ordain women either as local elders and deacons (the MEC) or full clergy (the Methodist Protestant Church), the MEC, South did not ordain women as pastors at the time of the 1939 merger that formed [[The Methodist Church (USA)|The Methodist Church]].

==Legacy of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South==

==Legacy of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South==

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South is most remembered for its reluctance to oppose slavery and its lack of hospitality toward [[African Americans]]. However, the church was responsible for founding three of the South's top divinity schools: [[Vanderbilt Divinity School]], [[Duke University]] Divinity School, and [[Candler School of Theology]] at [[Emory University]]. Vanderbilt severed its ties with the denomination in the early 1900s. Duke and Candler maintain a relationship with The [[United Methodist Church]]. All three enroll students primarily from [[mainline]] [[Protestant]] denominations, and all three have a reputation for being progressive.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South is most remembered for its reluctance to oppose slavery and its lack of hospitality toward [[African Americans]]. However, the church was responsible for founding three of the South's top divinity schools: Vanderbilt Divinity School, Duke University's Divinity School, and Candler School of Theology at [[Emory University]]. Vanderbilt severed its ties with the denomination in the early 1900s. Duke and Candler maintain a relationship with The [[United Methodist Church]]. All three enroll students primarily from mainline Protestant denominations, and all three have a reputation for being progressive.

The denomination's publishing house, opened in [[1854]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], would eventually become home to The United Methodist Publishing House.

The denomination's publishing house, opened in 1854 in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]; it became The United Methodist Publishing House.

==References==

==References==