If you don’t know, you should know, that John Wesley abhorred the idea of separating from the Church of England in principle, even after acknowledging that an exception had to be made in the case of the Methodist movement in America following England’s defeat in the American Revolution.  The rapidly expanding membership of the Methodist societies in America no longer had access to clergy ordained in the state church of the defeated regime, so from Wesley’s perspective there was really no practical option but for the Methodist societies in America to organize themselves into a self-governing church.

Even after accepting that reality, however, Wesley continued to counsel all other Methodists AGAINST separating from the Church of England, and he used language that should inspire present day Methodists to remain connected, at a minimum, with each other.

Here are Wesley’s own words, written in 1788:

But between fifty and sixty years ago, a new phenomenon appeared in the world. Two or three young men, desiring to be Scriptural Christians, met together for that purpose. Their number gradually increased. They were then all scattered: but fifty years ago, two of them met again; and a few plain people joined them, in order to help one another in the way to heaven. Since then they increased to many thousands, both in Europe and America. They are still increasing in number, and as they humbly hope, in the knowledge and love of God . . . .

* * *

This is a new thing in the world: this is the peculiar glory of the people called Methodists. In spite of all manner of temptations, they will not separate from the Church. What many so earnestly covet, they abhor: they will not be a distinct body. Now what instance of this have we before, either in ancient or modem history, of a body of people, in such circumstances, who will not be a distinct party, but choose to remain in connection with their own Church, that they may be more effectually the servants of all?

This, I say again, is an utterly new phenomenon. I never saw, heard, or read of anything like it. The Methodists will not separate from the Church, although continually reproached for doing it; although it would free them from abundance of inconveniences, and make their path much smoother and easier; although many of their friends earnestly advise and their enemies provoke them to it . . . .

John Wesley, “Thoughts Upon a Late Phenomenon” (Nottingham, July 13, 1788), in The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. VII, (New York: J. Emory and B. Waugh, 1831), 320-21.