Page "Methodism" Paragraph 18

By the 1792 general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the controversy relating to episcopal power boiled over.

Ultimately, the delegates sided with Bishop Asbury.

However, the Republican Methodists split off from the Methodist Episcopal Church ( MEC ) in 1792.

Also, William Hammet ( a missionary ordained by Wesley who traveled to America from Antigua with Bishop Coke ), led a successful revolt against the MEC in 1791.

He opposed Bishop Asbury and the episcopacy.

He formed his people into the American Primitive Methodist Church ( not directly connected with the British Primitive Methodist Church ).

Both American churches operated in the Southeast and presaged the episcopal debates of later reformers.

Regardless, Asbury remained the leading bishop of early American Methodism and did not share his " appointing " authority until Bishop McKendree was elected in 1808.

Coke had problems with the American preachers.

His authoritarian style alienated many.

Soon, he became a missionary bishop of sorts and never had much influence in America.