The Co-operative Pioneers and the People Called Methodists

The Co-operative Pioneers and the People called Methodists have a common kindred ancestor in John Wesley, an Anglican priest who inspired the people of his time with his spiritual and practical ideas. According to a dedicated Co-operative historian –

“In 1844, twenty-eight working people founded the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society… From the mutual efforts of those humble workers grew an idea that today serves the needs of over 720 million members world-wide. The year 1844 represents the birth of the modern co-operative movement… Rochdale, although historically a small town, holds an important role in the development of the Industrial Age in Britain… John Wesley visited the town in 1749 and spoke at the Wesleyan Chapel on Toad Lane. To the seekers of heavenly salvation Wesley urged such earthly practices as “buying one of another-helping each other in business,” and to “gain all they can, and to save all they can.” The Methodists and the Rochdale Pioneers later mastered both practices. (David J. Thompson, Weavers of Dreams, 1994)

The Rochdale Pioneers credited with the successful Co-operative model of 1844 must be the descendants of the Rochdale Pioneers of Wesley’s time.

Though many co-operative societies had been established by the 1840s many had not been successful with societies often suffering through financial maladministration or fraud owing to the very limited legislation surrounding such enterprises. During the boom times, when work in the factories was more fruitful, co-operative societies also had difficulty encouraging people to retain their membership owing to perception of its limited financial benefits. It became understood that some kind of economic benefit for membership was required alongside the educational and social benefits. It was the implementation of the patronage dividend and the formalisation of the Rochdale Principles which led to the success of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers which was established in December 1844, a business which continues to this day as a part of The Co-operative Group… (https://en.wikipedia.org)

The list of the original 28 Rochdale Pioneers in David Thompson’s book included Methodists, hence, we can fairly say that The Co-op Idea is part of our Methodist heritage too, along side John Wesley’s other thoughts on practical Christianity.

For Wesley, there was no religion but social religion, no holiness but social holiness. In other words, faith always includes a social dimension. One cannot be a solitary Christian. As we grow in faith through our participation in the church community, we are also nourished and equipped for mission and service to the world.

“From Wesley’s time to the present, Methodism has sought to be both a nurturing community and a servant community. Members of Methodist Societies and class meetings met for personal nurture through giving to the poor, visiting the imprisoned, and working for justice and peace in the community. They sought not only to receive the fullness of God’s grace for themselves; but...they saw themselves as existing ‘to reform the nation...and to spread scriptural holiness over the land.’

(Kenneth L. Carder, Our Wesleyan Heritage)

The Methodist society of Wesley’s conception was indeed a Co-operative society, and more . . . it was a society of Christian disciples -

Both Fletcher (1759) and Perronet (1762) had previously described the Methodist society as the "Methodist Church." And Wesley himself was now using the term, so that this was not a new departure. But "what was new was the frank boldness with which Fletcher would one hundred and twenty years ago have spread before the world and all the churches of the world the fact that by the labors of the Wesleys and their followers a new great Church--for not one nation, but all nations, something greater in its idea and it's potentiality than a mere national Church had actually been created; and that it was destined to prevail until it had replenished the earth. To Fletcher, Methodism was already a great Church, potentially the greatest Church of the world." (http://wesley.nnu.edu)

A Great Church... a Co-operative Society... a Servant Community

It was one of those "social action" Methodist churches. First, it was a school for poor children, operated eleven hours daily. The church was a site of a "house of mercy" where board and room were given for destitute widows, unwanted orphans, and blind people. A dispensary also operated out of the church, offering free services of a pharmacist and a surgeon to some 100 needy people every month. Another phase of the church social program was a savings bank. Church members could deposit their money, knowing it would be used to help poverty-stricken families facing financial crisis. It was a kind of credit union. In the church was a thriving book store. This socially conscious Methodist church was also a place of worship. Hundreds of people came on Sunday and during the week to hear the Gospel preached, to sing God's praises, to pray, to study the Bible, and to fellowship with other Christians. Last but not least, the church provided living quarters for a traveling preacher named John Wesley. Between itinerant preaching missions he lives in the church as did his aging mother. It was the world's first Methodist church, established by John Wesley himself.” (Charles Keysor, Our Methodist Heritage)

John Wesley (June 17, 1703-March 2, 1791) was the central figure of the eighteenth-century evangelical revival in Great Britain and founder of the Methodist movement. An ordained Anglican clergyman, Wesley adopted unconventional and controversial practices, such as field preaching, to reach factory laborers and newly urbanized masses uprooted from their traditional village culture at the start of the Industrial Revolution. He was not only a gifted evangelist but also a remarkable organizer who created an interlocking system of "societies," annual conferences, and preaching "circuits" (Methodist "connections") which extended his influence throughout England. ( http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org)

From these bibliographic notes, we should be able to craft a statement of identity for Kabisig Community MPC. We can now categorically say that it is a ministry of a great Church, the Ang Iglesia Metodista sa Pilipinas (AIMP); further, that it is a multi-service-Co-operative Society; and finally, that it is a Servant Community that provides a unique nurturing internship learning and hands-on experience on practical Christianity for all members, hence, Kabuhayang Kabisig, way of discipleship!