Prepare to step into the inspiring story of the Wesleyan Church. It is a story deeply rooted in revival and reform. The Wesleyan Church’s journey began with John Wesley. His experience of God’s grace in 1738 sparked a spiritual revival. This revival led to significant social reforms. Wesley’s followers in America embraced this dual emphasis.
Imagine America in 1843. The silence of churches on slavery was deafening. A new denomination arose. It was led by Orange Scott. These Wesleyan Methodists demanded an end to slavery. They even planted anti-slavery churches in the South. They were active in the Underground Railroad. Laura Smith Haviland was a hero. She opened Michigan’s first Underground Railroad station in her home. She started the first racially integrated school in her state. She led groups of escaping slaves to freedom.
The Wesleyan Methodists also championed women’s rights. The first women’s rights convention was held in the Wesleyan Chapel at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. Luther Lee, a Wesleyan minister, preached the ordination sermon for the first woman ordained to the Christian ministry. Mary A. Will of Illinois was the second woman to be ordained. Wesleyans have been ordaining women for over 150 years.
Wesleyans also gave significant roles to the laity in church leadership. This commitment extended to the marginalized and undervalued. They learned from Wesley that loving God and loving others is applied holiness.
In the late 1800s, holiness advocates found themselves marginalized. Two ministers joined hands. One was a Methodist. The other was a Quaker. They created a non-denominational Holiness Union. Martin Wells Knapp was a prolific organizer. Seth C. Rees was a dynamic evangelist. They established a Bible college, a foreign missions agency, multiple publications, and Christian social services. Their ministry became a denomination under George B. Kulp.
Through mergers in the 1920s, they became the Pilgrim Holiness Church. They identified with the biblical reference to believers as “pilgrims.” Like the Wesleyan Methodists, the Pilgrims valued women in ministry. Jo Anne Lyon eventually led her church as its general superintendent.
In 1968, the Wesleyan Methodist Church and the Pilgrim Holiness Church merged. They were virtually identical in theology. They were very similar in government. The uniting ceremony banner read, “One – That the World May Believe.” Today’s Wesleyan Church was born.
In 1968, the combined membership was 122,000. Now, almost 600,000 gather for worship in Wesleyan churches each Sunday. Today the Wesleyan Church has a presence in 99 countries. The denomination has five colleges and universities in North America. It also has a seminary. There are many Bible colleges and schools globally.
This historic call to holiness binds Wesleyans together. They are a diverse family of nationalities, races, languages, and cultures. They strive to be catalysts for individual and social transformation. For General Superintendent Wayne Schmidt, this means making a difference in every ZIP code in North America.
The Wesleyan Church is a movement with a rich tradition and inspiring history. Robert Black and Keith Drury trace the church’s heritage. It extends from its roots in European and American Methodism to the 1968 merger. They cover recent historic events. The Story of the Wesleyan Church offers a reader-friendly narrative of the church’s growth. It anticipates the future.
Remember the Wesleyan Church’s core values. They include biblical authority, Christlikeness, disciple-making, and servant leadership. They also include unity in diversity and a local church focus. The Wesleyan Church continues to impact the world. Its legacy of revival, reform, and holiness lives on.