For the first 40 years, the Board of Trust (and therefore the university itself) was under the control of the General Conference (the governing body) of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]], South. However, tensions began rising between the university administration and the Conference over the future of the school, particularly over the methods by which members of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust would be chosen. | For the first 40 years, the Board of Trust (and therefore the university itself) was under the control of the General Conference (the governing body) of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]], South. However, tensions began rising between the university administration and the Conference over the future of the school, particularly over the methods by which members of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust would be chosen. |