▁the ▁American ▁Epis cop al ▁Method ist ▁Church . ▁After ▁Richard son ▁died ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 8 7 5 ▁Car man ▁was ▁sole ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁Method ist ▁Epis cop al ▁Church . ▁Church ▁members ▁at ▁this ▁time ▁were ▁mostly ▁rural , ▁committed ▁to ▁an ▁epis cop al ▁structure , ▁bel ie vers ▁in ▁the ▁separation ▁of ▁church ▁and ▁state ▁and ▁opposed ▁to ▁the ▁Method ist ▁Church ▁of ▁Canada . ▁ ▁Car man ▁tried ▁to ▁improve ▁church ▁organization ▁and ▁expand ▁into ▁urban ▁areas ▁and ▁the ▁pra i ries , ▁but ▁was ▁not ▁successful . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 7 8 ▁the ▁Method ist ▁Epis cop al ▁Church ▁approved ▁lay ▁representation , ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁main ▁differences ▁with ▁the ▁Method ist ▁Church ▁of ▁Canada , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 2 ▁the ▁Method ist ▁Church ▁of ▁Canada ▁accepted ▁the ▁concept ▁of ▁being ▁led ▁by ▁a ▁strong ▁general ▁super int endency . ▁Car man ▁managed ▁to ▁negoti ate ▁a ▁Bas is ▁of ▁Union , ▁accepted ▁by ▁both ▁churches ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 8 8 2 , ▁where ▁two ▁elected ▁general ▁super int end ents ▁would ▁head ▁the ▁combined ▁church . ▁At ▁a ▁special ▁session ▁of ▁the ▁Method ist ▁Epis cop al ▁General ▁Conference ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 8 8 3 ▁Car man ▁argued ▁that ▁the ▁general ▁super int endency ▁would ▁be ▁a ▁script ural ▁epis cop acy . ▁He ▁argued ▁for ▁union , ▁saying ▁" O ur ▁great ▁principles ▁of ▁doctrine , ▁government ▁and ▁action ▁can ▁be ▁harm on ized ▁into ▁one