Changes

* The African Methodist Episcopal Church, Zion

* The African Methodist Episcopal Church, Zion

All Methodist groups have the "connectional" form of government. They have [[bishop]]s, annual conferences and general conferences. The annual conference, presided over by a bishop, is divided into districts presided over by superintendents.

All of these Methodist churches have the "connectional" form of government in which there are [[bishop]]s, annual conferences and general conferences. The annual conference, presided over by a bishop, is divided into districts presided over by superintendents. The bishops together with the superintendents appoint the local ministers. In some of the smaller Methodist bodies, such as the Southern Methodist Church, the Primitive Methodist Church, and the Evangelical Methodist Church, there are no bishops.

 

The bishops together with the superintendents appoint the local ministers.  

John Wesley, the founder of the movement, was a minister of the [[Church of England]] (Anglican) who on May 22, 1739 had a conversion experience while listening to the reading of [[Luther]]'s commentary on St. Paul's Letter to the Romans. He preached the Gospel in England and America for over 40 years following his conversion, and tens of thousands joined his lay groups. They remained in the Church of England until after Wesley's death.

John Wesley, the founder of the movement, was a minister of the [[Church of England]] (Anglican) who on May 22, 1739 had a conversion experience while listening to the reading of [[Luther]]'s commentary on St. Paul's Letter to the Romans. He preached the Gospel in England and America for over 40 years following his conversion, and tens of thousands joined his lay groups. They remained in the Church of England until after Wesley's death.

In the United States, with John Wesley's permission and support, the Methodists organized themselves as a separate denomination in December, 1784. Held in Baltimore, the Christmas Conference saw the ordination of pastors and the election of Francis Asbury as Superintendent, or bishop, of the newly formed Methodist Episcopal Church.

In the United States, with Wesley's permission and support, the Methodists organized themselves as a separate denomination in December, 1784. Held in Baltimore, the Christmas Conference saw the ordination of pastors and the election of Francis Asbury as Superintendent, or bishop, of the newly formed Methodist Episcopal Church.