James O'Kelly facts for kids
James O'Kelly (born in 1735, died October 16, 1826) was an important American church leader. He lived during a time of great religious excitement called the Second Great Awakening. He played a big part in the early days of Methodism in America. O'Kelly was also known for speaking out strongly against slavery. He even wrote a powerful book called Essay on Negro Slavery to share his views.
Contents
James O'Kelly's Life
Early Church Work
In 1777, James O'Kelly became a circuit rider for the Methodist church. This meant he traveled around, often on horseback, to preach in different towns and areas. He set up preaching routes in central and southeastern North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.
He continued to work with the Methodist Episcopal Church after it officially started in 1784. This happened at a meeting called the Christmas Conference. There, he became an elder, which is an important leader in the church. People thought he was a very good preacher. He successfully guided other pastors in different parts of Virginia and North Carolina.
Disagreement and New Church
O'Kelly believed that local churches should have more control over their own decisions. This idea is called the congregationalist system. He disagreed with the Methodist church's system, which had strong central control by bishops. This system is called episcopal authority. O'Kelly felt that this system limited the freedom of preachers.
At a big meeting of the Methodist Church in 1792, O'Kelly suggested a new rule. He wanted preachers to be able to ask the Conference to change their assignments if they were unhappy with what the bishop gave them. After many days of discussion, his idea was voted down.
Because of this, O'Kelly left the Methodist church. Many of his supporters joined him. Together, they started a new church called the Republican Methodist Church. Later, it became known simply as the Christian Church. This split, led by O'Kelly, was the first time the Methodist Episcopal Church divided.
O'Kelly later wrote a book explaining why he left. It was called The Author's Apology for Protesting against the Methodist Episcopal Government (1798). In this book, O'Kelly claimed that the Methodist Bishops Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke were not properly chosen by the church meeting. Another church leader, Nicholas Snethen, disagreed with O'Kelly in 1800. O'Kelly then wrote another book, A Vindication of an Apology, to continue his argument.
Later Church Mergers
The Christian Connection, or Christian Church, later joined with the Congregational churches in 1931. They formed a new group called the Congregational Christian Churches. In 1957, most of these churches then joined with the Evangelical and Reformed Church. This group was started by German Americans. Together, they formed the church known today as the United Church of Christ.
Legacy
James O'Kelly passed away in 1826 in Chatham County, North Carolina. He was 90 or 91 years old. A chapel built around 1900 was named O'Kelly's Chapel in his honor. This chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
See also
- Methodist Protestant Church – This church also split from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1828 over similar issues that O'Kelly had raised.
- Methodist New Connexion in Britain.
