Part 12 An Experience with Connectionalism
It appears that the parishioners of Peoples were not always in agreement with the
Practices of the Methodist Episcopal Church and/or the Maine Conference.
Pastor John Collins served a second appointment to the Ferry Village Church from 1883-1885 after having first served the church for a short stint in 1869. It appears that Pastor Collins was quite popular among the parishioners and the Board of Stewards and Leaders was reluctant to let him go when the cabinet suggested that in 1885.
A special meeting of Stewards and Leaders was called on the evening of April 29, 1885 and a sub-committee was authorized to draft resolutions to be submitted to the Conference concerning the appointment of Reverend True P. Adams as pastor of the Ferry Village Charge. C.A. Tilton, A. E. Thurrell and S.W. Prince were the members of the sub-committee.
The resolution they drew up was in opposition to the appointment of this Pastor by the Cabinet at the last Maine Conference meeting that had been held in Biddeford. The resolution stated that the Cabinet action had been in opposition to the suggestions and desires of the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Board of Stewards and Leaders. This resolution also indicated that the terms, Official Board, were also used in reference to the Board of Stewards and Leaders, perhaps for the first time. The local body might also have used these words, Official Board, to show their acceptance of other changes made by the Maine Conference and the church as a whole.
It may have been a matter of principle and connectional relationship that caused this controversy, but it might also have been as a result of rumors and knowledge that parishioners had of Reverend Adams. Mr. Adams had, in the late 1870’s served for a short time at Brown’s Hill (First Methodist) otherwise known then as Cape Elizabeth Depot. This was followed with short-term placements at Peaks Island and Kennebunk. If his protested appointment had been preceded by a poor record at neighboring parishes this may also have been reason for concern that had preceded placement at Ferry Village.
The resolutions were submitted to the Presiding Elder (later position was known as District Superintendent) in early May 1885. Presiding Elder Jones asked the Board to meet with him at their earliest convenience. The special meeting occurred on May 6, 1885, Brother Jones presiding at the Ferry Village Church. Much discussion over the Pastoral candidate and the role of the local parish in the connectional process relative to pastoral appointment took place.
Late in the evening that venerable old member of the church and member of the Board of Stewards and Leaders, Stephen Hubbard, rose from his seat and made the motion that the appointment of Pastor True P. Adams be accepted. G. W. Doughty seconded the motion and the other members present voted in support as well. Word of the action was sent to Pastor Adams and the conference leaders. There certainly must have been something convincing in the words and directions offered by Presiding Elder Jones to convince the local leaders that Pastor Adams was the right choice for the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Church.
This had to be a rough start for Reverend Adams. All indications are that in his role of leading this flock of parishioners he became a good spiritual leader. The membership actually grew and the lay leadership of the church seemed to serve supportingly during the 3 years of his pastorate.
This had to be a tumultuous time in the life of the local parish within the church and through its connections with the Maine Conference, but it survived and continued to prosper. Local leaders, at least for the time, knew what their relationship was with the Conference and within itself.
The conclusion to this episode was to find the parish acutely aware of itself in relationship to the local community. The Official Board with its leadership and the support of Pastor Adams in 1888 appealed to the conference to rename the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Church. The chosen name was Peoples Methodist Episcopal Church. The new name was accepted and continues to the present day. Today there are 7 Peoples United Methodist Churches in Maine, but as far as this researcher can determine that this church in South Portland was the first with that designation in Maine.
Perhaps the name was chosen to indicate that all people were welcome to become members of the congregation and also to participate in its operation. It is possible that the name may have come from the activity of this major confrontation with the conference that must have been masterfully handled by Presiding Elder Jones and the conferences’ desires to maintain harmony through him with local parishes. We should not forget the contribution of Steven Hubbard and other Stewards of the local parish to maintain harmony as well. Finally the name change may also have been accepted by the local parish because they felt the local unity as well as connection with the greater church as a result of conference response to local concerns.
It appears that the parishioners of Peoples were not always in agreement with the
Practices of the Methodist Episcopal Church and/or the Maine Conference.
Pastor John Collins served a second appointment to the Ferry Village Church from 1883-1885 after having first served the church for a short stint in 1869. It appears that Pastor Collins was quite popular among the parishioners and the Board of Stewards and Leaders was reluctant to let him go when the cabinet suggested that in 1885.
A special meeting of Stewards and Leaders was called on the evening of April 29, 1885 and a sub-committee was authorized to draft resolutions to be submitted to the Conference concerning the appointment of Reverend True P. Adams as pastor of the Ferry Village Charge. C.A. Tilton, A. E. Thurrell and S.W. Prince were the members of the sub-committee.
The resolution they drew up was in opposition to the appointment of this Pastor by the Cabinet at the last Maine Conference meeting that had been held in Biddeford. The resolution stated that the Cabinet action had been in opposition to the suggestions and desires of the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Board of Stewards and Leaders. This resolution also indicated that the terms, Official Board, were also used in reference to the Board of Stewards and Leaders, perhaps for the first time. The local body might also have used these words, Official Board, to show their acceptance of other changes made by the Maine Conference and the church as a whole.
It may have been a matter of principle and connectional relationship that caused this controversy, but it might also have been as a result of rumors and knowledge that parishioners had of Reverend Adams. Mr. Adams had, in the late 1870’s served for a short time at Brown’s Hill (First Methodist) otherwise known then as Cape Elizabeth Depot. This was followed with short-term placements at Peaks Island and Kennebunk. If his protested appointment had been preceded by a poor record at neighboring parishes this may also have been reason for concern that had preceded placement at Ferry Village.
The resolutions were submitted to the Presiding Elder (later position was known as District Superintendent) in early May 1885. Presiding Elder Jones asked the Board to meet with him at their earliest convenience. The special meeting occurred on May 6, 1885, Brother Jones presiding at the Ferry Village Church. Much discussion over the Pastoral candidate and the role of the local parish in the connectional process relative to pastoral appointment took place.
Late in the evening that venerable old member of the church and member of the Board of Stewards and Leaders, Stephen Hubbard, rose from his seat and made the motion that the appointment of Pastor True P. Adams be accepted. G. W. Doughty seconded the motion and the other members present voted in support as well. Word of the action was sent to Pastor Adams and the conference leaders. There certainly must have been something convincing in the words and directions offered by Presiding Elder Jones to convince the local leaders that Pastor Adams was the right choice for the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Church.
This had to be a rough start for Reverend Adams. All indications are that in his role of leading this flock of parishioners he became a good spiritual leader. The membership actually grew and the lay leadership of the church seemed to serve supportingly during the 3 years of his pastorate.
This had to be a tumultuous time in the life of the local parish within the church and through its connections with the Maine Conference, but it survived and continued to prosper. Local leaders, at least for the time, knew what their relationship was with the Conference and within itself.
The conclusion to this episode was to find the parish acutely aware of itself in relationship to the local community. The Official Board with its leadership and the support of Pastor Adams in 1888 appealed to the conference to rename the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Church. The chosen name was Peoples Methodist Episcopal Church. The new name was accepted and continues to the present day. Today there are 7 Peoples United Methodist Churches in Maine, but as far as this researcher can determine that this church in South Portland was the first with that designation in Maine.
Perhaps the name was chosen to indicate that all people were welcome to become members of the congregation and also to participate in its operation. It is possible that the name may have come from the activity of this major confrontation with the conference that must have been masterfully handled by Presiding Elder Jones and the conferences’ desires to maintain harmony through him with local parishes. We should not forget the contribution of Steven Hubbard and other Stewards of the local parish to maintain harmony as well. Finally the name change may also have been accepted by the local parish because they felt the local unity as well as connection with the greater church as a result of conference response to local concerns.
posted by Arthur Tordoff | 5:27 PM
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