Paragraph 3311 of the FMC Book of Discipline deals with Christian marriage and states, “Therefore, we counsel our members to seek the fullest measure of healing and reconciliation possible in every situation.”1 This is a beautiful call as a part of holiness. When a relationship is troubled and both spouses agree to lay down their pride and work through their offenses to heal the cracks, they can seek healing and deeper unity. While this particular paragraph is dealing with a marriage before divorce, I am more than confident this could also apply to a couple that has been divorced and then through the work of the Holy Spirit reconciles and comes back together unified by the healing power of Christ.
A marriage covenant and a denominational structure are not the same thing. Still, the church’s calling to pursue truth, repentance, reconciliation, and visible unity is not confined to the home. In 1858 there was a forced ‘divorce’ of sorts that led to another schism within the Body of Christ. After preaching a return to primitive Methodism, holiness, freedom from slavery, simplicity, and Gospel centrality, B.T. Roberts was expelled from the Methodist Episcopal Church in an unjust fashion that led to the creation of the Free Methodist Church in 1860.
The cause leading to the organization of the FMC was just, and this unjust action was recognized by the restoration of B.T.’s credentials posthumously in 1910.2 And while this was recognized, something stayed the same. The Free Methodist Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church remained separate entities. All of this is not to look down upon or degrade the holy faithfulness of my Free Methodist forerunners who stayed the course. But from that I wish to ask a potent question.
While the Methodist Episcopal Church that expelled Roberts no longer exists as an institutional body, the Global Methodist Church stands within the wider Methodist family that developed from that inheritance and now professes commitments that, at several central points, resonate deeply with the reforming convictions of early Free Methodism. The question, then, is not whether Free Methodists should simply “go back.” The question is whether Christ may be calling separated heirs of the Methodist revival to consider a new act of reconciliation and shared mission.
One of the most moving prayers of Christ during His earthly ministry comes in John 17, when He prayed, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (v.20-21 NIV). For the last 6 months those words have haunted me, nestled in the back of my mind as I consider the very initiative of my own denomination.
In recent years there has been a call from our Board of Bishops to “Seeking Together.”3 As we move towards our extended General Conference in 2029, with the potential of massive adjustments and changes to the structure and functioning of the Free Methodist Church, what could it look like if things even took a bigger turn?
I certainly understand the initial hesitancy when this hypothetical is posed. I am scared by it for the massive implications it could have. The FMC and the mainline Methodist denomination have been independent of each other for 166 years, and a lot happens in time like that. Distinct cultures, understandings, and ways of doing things grow and develop. Some differences may prove substantial rather than superficial. Prudence is not always fear, and institutional unity is not automatically spiritual unity. Yet neither should inherited separation be treated as sacred simply because it is familiar. The question is whether our differences are now matters of faithful conviction that require distinct bodies, or matters that Christ may be calling us to bear, negotiate, and heal together.
One potential major objection that may be posed is, “the Church isn’t about being a single institution, so that shouldn’t matter.” I understand and get that. A single institution or organization is not the Church. And in the same breath I must ask, is that a problem if we are? While Christ’s words about us being one are often interpreted by Protestants as reflecting those unified by the true Gospel, regardless of institution, we also must be careful that we do not despise the potentiality of the Spirit-fueled work that could take place as one unified church body. As a friend recently pointed out, “we are running out of letters to be in front of MC (Methodist Church).”
I am not calling for a rushed merger, nor for the erasure of Free Methodist history, witness, or mission. I am asking whether we have allowed a righteous separation to harden into a permanent assumption. Before we decide that reunion is impossible, should we not pray, study, and speak together? Should we not ask whether the same Spirit who gave courage to our forebears to separate for conscience’ sake might now give their heirs courage to pursue reconciliation for Christ’s sake?
So let us seek together. Let us earnestly pray for the Spirit of truth to guide and lead us in His purposes. That His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. The discussion and consideration of all of this could end with the honest acknowledgment that the FMC and the GMC are meant to work together, but not join under one banner and institution. Or, we may feel the call that truly being one means doing the hard and holy work of merging together.
Yes, it would be messy. There will be obstacles, challenges, and issues to resolve. It would not be easy. What would happen with Bishops? (The FMC has 3 in the USA, the GMC has more.) What about Conference structures, our Book of Discipline, Missions Organizations, and others? It would certainly be a large task; that reality is not lost on me. There have been massive amounts of shifts and changes in the landscape of Methodism over the last 5 years. But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t consider it. As the world continues to groan for the work of the Church to happen, how much more Spirit-fueled work could happen as one unified body?
Perhaps the first step is not a proposal, a committee, or a vote, but repentance and prayer: repentance for the ways Christians have sometimes learned to live too comfortably with division, and prayer for the humility to recognize the work of God in those from whom we have long been separated. This is, at present, only a yearning, a question I believe is worth bringing before the Lord. Not a program to force, a merger to demand, or an outcome to presume. The history, convictions, structures, and missional responsibilities involved are too significant to be handled carelessly. Any movement toward a more formal union would need to arise not from nostalgia, institutional anxiety, or the desire to make Methodism appear larger, but from clear spiritual discernment, patient conversation, mutual trust, and the unmistakable leading of the Holy Spirit.
“If division is deplorable, union is desirable. Fraternity means brotherhood and wherever there is brotherhood enough to justify fraternal relations between churches of the same order, there is enough to justify and require the most strenuous efforts to remove divisions, and to establish that highest type of fraternity which most nearly expresses the spirit of unity for which all true disciples earnestly pray.” – Bishop Stephen Mason Miller, “The Organic Union of American Methodism,” 1892
If reunion is not the Lord’s will, then may He still deepen fellowship between Free Methodists and Global Methodists, strengthen opportunities for shared mission, and teach us to labor beside one another for the salvation of the world. But if He is calling separated heirs of the Methodist revival toward a more visible expression of unity, may we not dismiss that possibility simply because the road would be difficult. The One who prayed that His people would be one is able to give wisdom for the questions before us, grace for the wounds behind us, and courage for whatever faithful obedience requires. Let us, then, seek together. Not first for an institution to preserve or construct, but for the will of Christ, the unity of His Church, and the advance of His kingdom.
Rev. Joel V. Webb is a husband, father, and an ordained Elder in the Free Methodist Church. He pastors Croswell Free Methodist Church in Croswell, MI, and is co-chair of the Free Methodist Liturgical Network. He is pursuing a Master of Theological Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. You can connect with him and read more at theprimitivemethodist.com.
https://fmcusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-Book-of-Discipline-Interactive-PDF-FINAL.pdf
https://www.churchleadership.com/focus/the-high-price-of-division-historically/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FUwtjLTMW/
Such an interesting proposition! I guess my question would concern whether or not you think this is truly a possibility, specifically in the near future.
In this age of church splitting, a union of two major institutions such as the GMC and the FMC would be an amazing change of pace, but is it something we could really see happen?
Anyway, enjoyed the article, thanks for writing!
Interesting article but there are huge hurdles to overcome.....
1. The FMC, like many of the American Holiness Movement, are more influenced by Finney-Palmerism then what they willing to admit.
2. The FMC is more Zwinglian/low-church than GMC. However, GMC is divided between low and high churches. A merger would undoubtedly tip the scales in favor of the low church Zwinglian leaning GMC types which is not good in my estimation.
3. BUT FMC is better on Inerrancy then us GMC folks. A merger would positively help us Inerrancy people.
4. Lastly, as you mentioned, our different cultures might be hard to reconcile.