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Christopher and Blanche Stamp: Free Methodist General Conference Evangelists

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Christopher Stamp became a General Conference evangelist around 1904, and the Stamps’ speaking engagements garnered media attention wherever they went. While Christopher was the official General Conference evangelist, Blanche often preached alongside him. The advertisement at the start of this article serves as a prime example of how the Stamps’ revival services were promoted. When the couple was preaching in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1910, the local Free Methodist Church published an outline of their revival services in The Lawrence Daily World. Although this particular engagement was part of the quarterly conference meeting, it still reflects a typical overview of their … Continue reading Christopher and Blanche Stamp: Free Methodist General Conference Evangelists

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The History of the Free Methodist Deaconess Order

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One of the most under-researched areas of Free Methodist women’s history is the Free Methodist Deaconess Order. I have not been able to confirm an end date for the order. Still, it was approved by the 1907 General Conference. It was in place well into the late twentieth century (if anyone knows when the order ended I would love to hear from you). Motivation for Establishing the Order Established to counter what was seen as a rising Catholic threat, the Free Methodist Church and other Protestant denominations began deaconess orders in the mid to late nineteenth century to provide a … Continue reading The History of the Free Methodist Deaconess Order

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The History of the Free Methodist Deaconess Order Part One

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One of the most under-researched areas of Free Methodist women’s history is the Free Methodist Deaconess Order. I have not been able to confirm an end date for the order, but it was approved by the 1907 General Conference and was in place well into the late twentieth-century (if anyone knows when the order ended I would love to hear from you). Established as a way to counter what was seen as a rising Catholic threat, the Free Methodist Church and other Protestant denominations began deaconess orders in the mid to late ninteenth century to provide a range of social … Continue reading The History of the Free Methodist Deaconess Order Part One

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Shifting Narratives on Gender Part Three: The 1907 Free Methodist General Conference

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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

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The Shifting Rhetorical Narrative of Gender: 1894-1911 Part One

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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

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The 1911 Free Methodist General Conference: A Turning Point for Women’s Ordination

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The 1911 Free Methodist General Conference marked a significant step in recognizing women’s roles within the church by allowing women to become ordained deacons at the annual conference level. However, this decision came with the caveat that “this ordination of women shall not be considered a step towards ordination as an elder.” While I plan to write about all five women who were pivotal during this time, Ada Hall stands out as my favorite. I feel a kindred spirit in her writing and passion for the causes she believed were important enough to fight for. Ada Hall: A Trailblazer for … Continue reading The 1911 Free Methodist General Conference: A Turning Point for Women’s Ordination

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Ada Hall: One of the First Female Deacons

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The 1911 Free Methodist General Conference took steps to finally allow women some form of ordination. Now, women could become ordained deacons at the annual conference level, but with the cavet that “this ordination of women shall not be considered a step towards ordination as an elder.”1 I’ll write about all five women at some point, but Ada Hall is by far my favorite. I feel a kindered spirit in her writing and passion for what she believed important enough to fight for. Prior to being ordained a deacon, Hall had been appointed to circuits in the Minnesota and Northern … Continue reading Ada Hall: One of the First Female Deacons

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Blanche and Christopher Stamp: Superstar Free Methodist Evangelists

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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

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Discovering the Life and Ministry of Blanche Stamp

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]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