Editing Francis Asbury (section)

===Ordained and consecrated a bishop===
[[File:The Ordination of Bishop Asbury.jpg|thumb|''The Ordination of Bishop Asbury'', an engraving of an 1882 painting of the scene]]
In 1784, [[John Wesley]] named Asbury and [[Thomas Coke (Bishop)|Thomas Coke]] as co-superintendents of the work in the United States. The [[Christmas Conference]] that year marked the beginning of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] of the United States. It was during this Conference that Asbury was ordained by Coke.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/denominationalfounders/francis-asbury.html ''Christianity Today'': Francis Asbury], accessed 8 July 2016</ref> 

For the next 32 years, Asbury led all the Methodists in America. However, his leadership did not go unchallenged. His idea for a ruling council was opposed by such notables as [[William McKendree]], [[Jesse Lee (Methodist)|Jesse Lee]], and [[James O'Kelly]]. Eventually, based on advice by Coke, he established in 1792 a [[General conference (United Methodist Church)|General Conference]], to which delegates could be sent, as a way of building broader support.