This week in Christian history: ‘Christmas Conference,' Pius IV elected

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, December 19, 2021

Methodist Church's 'Christmas Conference' begins – Dec. 24, 1784

The ordination of Francis Asbury at the Methodist Episcopal Church's 'Christmas Conference,' which was held at Lovely Lane Chapel in Baltimore, Maryland, from Christmas Eve 1784 to early January 1785. — The ordination of Francis Asbury at the Methodist Episcopal Church's "Christmas Conference," which was held at Lovely Lane Chapel in Baltimore, Maryland, from Christmas Eve 1784 to early January 1785. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when the Methodist Episcopal Church in America was officially organized at a gathering known as the Christmas Conference.

Held at the Lovely Lane Chapel in Baltimore, Maryland, from Christmas Eve until early January 1785, the conference had around 80 attendees, most being American preachers.

Notable events at the conference included the ordination Francis Asbury and his subsequent consecration as general superintendent, with the title later being changed to bishop.

“Twelve lay preachers were elected and ordained as elders (clergy). The Sunday Service John Wesley sent with [Thomas] Coke was approved for use in the new church—a forerunner of today's Book of Worship,” wrote Joe Iovino of United Methodist Communications back in 2017.

“The conference also talked about forming Cokesbury College, and made a host of other decisions necessary for the formation of the new denomination.”