In a message dated 3/10/00 10:04:48 AM, johnspraberry@pics.net writes: <<Hi. I found this very interesting. In what way is Methodist Episcopal different from Methodist or Episcopal? Obviously, a combination of both??????????????????? Thanks, Beth Ann >> I hope someone who knows a lot more about this than I do answers. I am a Methodist and should know but not sure. However, earliest Methodists in this country were rather emotional during services. Francis Asbury, famous Methodist who came to Va., etc., from England and later became first Methodist Bishop in this country wrote in his extant travel journal "we had a melting time" and mentioned services in which, as I recall, there was some exhorting (calling out). Some members even passed out from feeling the spirit. The travel Methodist preachers (Circuit Riders) were known for how they could rouse a crowd and members prayer loud and powerful prayers. I THINK all this became to be looked on as kind of undignified, very unlike Anglicans (forerunners to Episcopal, I think). I know that when the decision was made to have Methodist Bishops some of the preachers dropped out of the faith, at least the beloved Rev. O'Kelly did and for awhile called his branch of Methodism by another name and then later became minister of the Christian Church in Orange Co., NC. Asbury had BEGGED him to stay but I suppose he did not like a Bishop being between the people and God. Too much like Catholicism/Pope?? My church is Methodist Episcopal but we are not of the Episcopal faith. We are Methodists but maybe have some formality/rituals closer to Episcopal than some other branches of the Methodist faith. Bebe