On Mon, 22 Mar 1999, Emily Leonard wrote: > >>Does anyone know the differences among Methodist, Methodist Episcopal, > >>Episcopal, and Protestant Episcopal Churches? A bit out of my usual area, but as I understand it, Methodist is the generic term that covers everything. The United Methodist Church (formed 1968) incorporates the old Methodist Episcopal Church and other formerly separate groups of Methodists and Brethren. There are sizeable groups of Methodists outside of the United Methodist Church including black churches (African Methodist Episcopal and others). Several of the splits in the Methodist Church were occasioned by slavery (notably the Wesleyan Methodists in NYS in the 1840s-- now the Wesleyan Church). Episcopal refers to a church government system with bishops-- something share by the United Methodists and the Episcopalian churches (Methodism did begin as a reform movement within the Anglican church). Some of the splits in American Methodist churches came over whether or not bishops were a good thing. The Protestant Episcopal Church is the largest of the Episcopalian (derived from the Anglican church) denominations in the US. The other Anglican/Episcopalian churches in the US are pretty small. Christopher Densmore University Archives University at Buffalo 420 Capen Hall Box 602200 Buffalo, New York 14260-2200 Voice: 716-645-2916 Fax: 716-645-3714 E-Mail: [log in to unmask]