he Pentecost Bands’ strategic approach involved establishing connections in larger metropolitan areas, particularly county seats, before venturing into smaller neighboring communities. Continue reading Reconsidering the Pentecost Bands’ Evangelistic Tactics 1885-1890
A week ago, I had a chance to return to Spring Arbor University (SAU), my alma mater with my sixteen-year-old son, who is beginning his college search. As much as I love SAU, I am deeply worried about the university’s lack of connection to its Free Methodist history and even its own mission. A key part of that mission is the SAU Concept, which is intended to help students, faculty, and staff visualize what a Wesleyan/Methodist worldview looks like in practice. As it states: “Spring Arbor University is a community of learners distinguished by our lifelong involvement in the study and … Continue reading Do Not Be Silenced: Pushing for Egalitarian Theology in Doctrine & Practice
Historically, Free Methodism was tied to numerous social causes (and still is to this day). Its founding principles emphasized care and inclusion for everyone, strong abolitionist ties, and an emphasis on returning to the “old time Methodist” principles, such as entire sanctification. However, like any social movement, as Free Methodism transitioned from a movement to a denomination, the interpretation of those founding principles began to vary widely. As my research on women’s ordination and the Free Methodist Deaconess order has illustrated, there wasn’t universal agreement about what radical Holiness living and social action looked like. The Pentecost Bands are just … Continue reading Pentecost Bands as Advocates for Social Purity
When the resolution to approve a deaconess order came to the floor at the 1907 General Conference, the idea was met with enthusiastic support, passing through committee with thirty-five in favor and only seven opposed before coming to the floor for a conference vote.[i] Very few concerns were raised, but among the topics discussed were governance, mission, and uniforms for the order. Speaking in favor of the order, Free Methodist editor Charles Ebey reminded delegates there were already churches with such orders, and the need for a Free Methodist order was great. Reflecting on his personal experiences with deaconesses, Ebey … Continue reading Shifting Narratives on Gender Part Three: The 1907 Free Methodist General Conference
I’ve written a lot on this blog about the 1890 and 1894 Free Methodist General Conference debates on women’s ordination. (I even have transcripts here if you would like to read the debates). However, the discussion did not end in 1894. Despite the 1894 General Conference choosing not to ordain women as elders or even deacons, more women, not less, became evangelists over the next decade. In 1894 there were 48 licensed women evangelists in the Free Methodist Church, and by 1904 there were 307. However, the number of women evangelists appointed to a circuit did not significantly increase. In … Continue reading The Shifting Rhetorical Narrative of Gender: 1894-1911 Part One
Christopher Stamp was an early convert to Free Methodism. About ten years after the denomination was founded in 1860, he heard Free Methodists preach in Seattle. As a teenager, he was greatly influenced by two Free Methodists, Rev. Peter Griggs and Hiram Pease, who were actively preaching in the Northwest United States. According to his 1930 obituary in The Free Methodist, he first converted to Free Methodism, and shortly after, during the same revival, he experienced sanctification. Since Seattle lacked an established Free Methodist Church, Christopher traveled to San Francisco to join there. By the early 1880s, he was ordained … Continue reading Blanche and Christopher Stamp: Superstar Free Methodist Evangelists
]Last year, while researching Progressive Era women evangelists in The Free Methodist, I frequently encountered accounts of Blanche Stamp. Like many women from this period, I initially knew little about her, prompting further exploration into her life and contributions. Early … Continue reading Discovering the Life and Ministry of Blanche Stamp
Last year as I was looking for Progress Era women evangelist reports in The Free Methodist and I kept coming across accounts from a Blanche Stamp. Like so many women from this time period, I had no idea who she … Continue reading Blanche Stamp Free Methodist Traveling Revivalist
Dr. Sarah Anne Grant was an influential evangelist in Northern Indiana, Iowa, and Oklahoma, serving the Free Methodist Church. While officially licensed as an evangelist for the Northern Indiana Conference in 1890 and 1891, her ministry in Iowa and Oklahoma seemed more informal, possibly due to incomplete annual conference records. Despite this, she regularly submitted ministry reports during her time in these regions, actively assisting Free Methodist elders in holding revivals. In 1911, Dr. Grant moved to Southern California for health reasons, but instead of retiring, she took up active ministry again. She was appointed as the pastor of the … Continue reading Anna Grant Pastor of San Diego Free Methodist 1912-1913
When we think of trailblazing women, figures like Susan B. Anthony often come to mind—women who pushed the boundaries by becoming doctors, lawyers, and suffragists. But another group of women, often forgotten in historical narratives, also pioneered new roles: female … Continue reading Statistics on Early Women Evangelists in the Free Methodist Church
Free Methodist Feminist 