Methodist Protestant Church
Christmas Conference (1784)
Founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by A. Gilchrist Campbell
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The Methodist Church was actually started in America when the American Conference met in December of 1784, in Baltimore, Maryland. It was there that they voted to form the Methodist Episcopal Church. A disagreement arose within the membership of The Methodist Episcopal Church concerning the input from the laity in decision making. As a result, there was a split in the Methodist Church, resulting in The Methodist Episcopal Church and the formation of the Associated Methodist Churches which later changed its name to the Methodist Protestant Church. The issue of slavery further split the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South began in 1844.
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Eastern Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church
In the early 1900’s, the Pennsylvania Methodist Protestant Church and the New Jersey Methodist Protestant Church Conference merged with the Eastern Conference of the New York Methodist Protestant Church. These three became the Eastern Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church. This conference stood for the Fundamentals of the Faith, and rejected the modernistic trend of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the first half of the 1900s.
Delegates of the Eastern Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church (1930) in the archives of the FFBC
By 1935, serious discussions began about merging the Methodist Episcopal Church; Methodist Protestant Church; and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South began. All three merged into the Methodist Church in 1939. The Eastern Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church refused to participate.
The photograph above is of the 1939 Unification Conference, held in Kansas City in May 1939. All three major branches of Methodism: Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist Protestant Church, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South united into the Methodist Church. Over 14,000 attendees came, but not a single delegate attended from the Eastern Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church. |
Daily Christian Advocate (1939)
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The Walkout of 1939
Palestine Bible Church (Scullville)
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The Annual Conference of the Eastern Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church was held in Atlantic City in September of 1939. Two Pastors, Reverend Newton Conant and Reverend Walter Patrick, spoke out against the leaders of the new church that promoted modernism and spoke out against the Fundamentals of the Faith.
When the chairman, Reverend Clifford Kidd ruled the conference was a Methodist Conference, and not the Conference of the Eastern Conference of the MP Church, during the second day's sessions, Reverend Clesson Taggart announced he was in the wrong conference. Reverend Newton Conant also concurred, and invited anyone who wanted to continue the Eastern Conference's session to join him at the Methodist Protestant Church in Scullville. About 90 people Walked Out singing "Blessed Assurance," "All Hail the Power," and "'Tis the Old Time Religion." At Scullville, the continuing Conference of the Eastern Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church gathered to continue the session. The first item of business after they reconvened was to name Reverend Newton Conant as chairman and Reverend George Derr as secretary. |
We face the future unafraid, counting it a privilege to suffer the loss of all things if necessary to be loyal to the Word of God and the Son of God.
- Newton Conant
Bible Protestant Church
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In September, 1940, The “Walkout” became more official when the Conference changed the name from The Methodist Protestant Conference to the Bible Protestant Conference.
The Bible Protestant Church sent out missionaries, supported and founded churches across the globe, and joined Reverend Carl McIntire in founding the American Council of Christian Churches. The Bible Protestant Church also used a printing press, publishing the Bible Protestant Messenger, as well as two books by Newton Conant: Present Day Methodism and the Bible as well as How God Delivered 34 Churches, a narrative of the history of the Bible Protestant Church. In 1949, the Bible Protestant Church purchased an 85-acre Conference ground in Montague, New Jersey. Today, Tri-State Bible Camp is located on this property and operates week-long camps for youth and adults, as well as weekend winter, spring, and fall retreats. The grounds also hold the McCoy Manor. Named after longtime FFBC pastor Reverend Jim McCoy, the McCoy Manor provides retirement housing for pastors, missionaries, and members of FFBC churches. |
Christian Beacon (1940) dedicated entirely to the Walkout a year before
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Bible Protestant Messenger announcing the new position of Executive Secretary
Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches
Bible Protestant Church (1984)
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In the 1980s, it became obvious to some that "Bible Protestants" could be a hindrance when witnessing, especially when going door-to-door at Catholic homes. Because this was a time when the name “Fundamentalism” was becoming a defining word and one that could be embraced by the Bible Protestants. As a result, in 1985, an official and legal name change took place and the Bible Protestant church became the Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches.
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Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches (1985)
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Watch The History of the FFBC
Discover the history of the Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches. See how God has blessed us over the past 85 years.
Citations
Christmas Conference (1784) Founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by A. Gilchrist Campbell
Daily Christian Advocate (1939)
UM Communications
Christian Beacon (1940)
How God Delivered 34 Churches (Newton Conant)
Bible Protestant Messenger (1947)
Annual Conference Minutes (1984, 1985)
FFBC Archives
Christmas Conference (1784) Founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by A. Gilchrist Campbell
Daily Christian Advocate (1939)
UM Communications
Christian Beacon (1940)
How God Delivered 34 Churches (Newton Conant)
Bible Protestant Messenger (1947)
Annual Conference Minutes (1984, 1985)
FFBC Archives