"Our Heavenly Father, we are thankful that though Your will guides the heavenly bodies in their background of immensity, yet Your love sustains our human bodies and souls in astonishing intimacy."So begins one of the prayers in this collection, each of which was originally created to lead a worshiping congregation. They are drawn from the author's ministry as pastor and counselor, spanning more than a half-century, and give voice to the whole range of human thoughts, emotions, and concerns. They marvel at the mystery and beauty of the Creator and His creation, address the heart cries of individuals, encourage faith, and speak of timely issues. They express love and assurance to the fellowship of Jesus' followers, the "Bride of Christ."

Broken bodies mend. Depressed minds heal. Storm-tossed cities rebuild. Troubled institutions recover. Churches experience renewal. So why not the Methodist Church? This book confronts the facts and invokes the Spirit. It will explore the multiple meaning of recovery and the denomination's prospect for recovering. It will take seriously the possibility that recovery of Methodism may not require--or include--the survival of The United Methodist Church as a denomination. That is part of the mystery of recovery. By confronting provocative questions relating to funding missions, declining membership, itinerancy, guaranteed appointments, ordination requirements and authorization, the author helps Methodism take those crucial first steps on the road to recovery.
From the Circuit Rider review: "Dean of the Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Lawrence offers a sobering diagnosis of the United Methodist Church s current condition and prescribes a number of items essential to its recovery. The book is a thoughtful portrayal of Methodism s plight in North America, with specific attention given to the United Methodist Church and the history of this particular limb of the Methodist body (viii)." (Click here to read the entire review.) "

The first critical and complete edition of Charles Wesley's manuscript journal in two volumes.
While remaining firmly committed to the Church of England, Charles Wesley shared in the founding of Methodism, a religious movement that has had far-reaching social and religious influence worldwide. These volumes of Charles Wesley's manuscript journal is the first complete edition. Included are all transcribed shorthand passages, words that Charles underlined, other forms of emphasis or peculiarities in Charles's script, word that Charles struck out. Any uncertain reading or transcription is indicated in the footnotes. In addition there is an annotated index of persons, places, and sermon texts in Volume II. Volume I is Wesley's manuscript journal from 1736 to 1741. Volume II is Wesley's manuscript journal from 1743 to 1756.

The history ofWesleyan family of churches doctrines What are our core beliefs? Doctrinal Standards in the Wesleyan Tradition, Revised Edition, narrates the history of the formation of Wesleyan doctrines, describing how they were transplanted from the British Isles to North American, how they became constitutionally protected in Wesleyan-rooted churches. The first edition of this book affected the outcome of the 1988 General Conference of The United Methodist Church as the delegates decidedmany then-disputed doctrinal issues. This revised editionaddresses the continuing hunger for more precise and useful information on the doctrinal traditions of mainline Protestantism. Hence the arguments have been updated with more than 400 changes. Included are doctrinal statements for the Evangelical United Bethren, Free Methodist, Methodist Protestant, Wesleyan, Nazarene, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal, and African Methodist EpiscopalChurches; as well as an outline syllabus of a Course on the Articles of Religion."

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Written in a humorous, accessible style, this book is an easy-to-understand guide to the kinds of theological questions that many United Methodist youth and others are asking today. "Being United Methodist in the Bible Belt" will help any United Methodist youth, parent, or educator better understand their unique brand of Christianity in light of the understandings of those from the evangelical tradition. With helpful sidebars explaining United Methodist history and polity and questions after each chapter for reflection and action, this book is ideal for Christian education courses for youth and adults, new member classes in United Methodist churches, as well as personal reading.

The CME Church and COGIC are profoundly connected by the rich histories both denominations share of the struggles and successes of the black church. Through Elder Robert E. Hart's desire for spiritual change and freedom, a schism developed, and he set the two denominations temporarily but gently at odds; however, the CME Church didn't feel threatened by the Sanctified Church or its doctrine and their existence.

The Church of God in Christ through the efforts of its founder, Bishop Charles H. Mason, and Elder Robert E. Hart, who was appointed the first Overseer of Tennessee, chose Memphis as the nucleus of the denomination; and from there, they went into all parts of the country with the pentecostal-holiness message. With the help of others, Mason and Hart introduced primarily to the African-American religious community a gospel that helped change history and lives in their struggles for spiritual freedom and social justice.

Elder Hart represented and protected COGIC for twelve years as their attorney and represented Bishop Mason when he was jailed for preaching and teaching holiness. Through his legal advice, the reorganized church was protected from the lost of valuable property and hostile litigations in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas throughout his tenure.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Designed for use with any group of adults interested in learning more about how United Methodists understand and practice the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. United Methodists and the Sacraments is designed for use with any group of adults interested in learning more about how United Methodists understand and practice the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Writer, Gayle Felton, guides us through the rituals and practices of both these sacraments in order to help us understand their life-enriching value. She reminds us that our lives in Christ are grounded in baptism and sustained by holy communion. In baptism God claims us and makes us members of Christ s body, the church. In Holy Communion God offers grace and strength for our spiritual journey. We are truly called to live the sacraments of baptism and holy communion, as well as to receive them.

Each chapter offers a comprehensive look at what United Methodists believe and how United Methodists practice the sacraments. Chapters and contents: Chapter one The Sacraments, gives an overview of the meaning of the sacraments in Christian faith and in the United Methodist Church. Chapters two through five, Holy Baptism, Questions About Baptism, Holy Communion, and Questions About Holy Communion, review United Methodist beliefs about these sacraments and questions people have about them. Chapter six Living as Baptized and Communing Christians helps the reader to explore what it means to live out the sacraments in daily Christian life.

Questions for discussion and reflectionwith helpsfor how to use the book in small group settingsare provided.

GAYLE CARLTON FELTON is an elder in the North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She has served on the faculties of Meredith College and Duke Divinity School. She was the principal writer for the committees that developed By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism and This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion. These documents were approved by the 1996 and 2004 General Conferences as the denomination s official interpretive positions on the sacraments.

Gayle is the author of This Gift of Water: The Practice and Theology of Baptism Among Methodists in America (1992), By Water and the Spirit: Making Connections for Identity and Ministry (1997,1998), The Coming of Jesus (2000), This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion, and a variety of articles on Methodism, sacraments, and the teaching ministry of the church. She is the editor of How United Methodists Study Scripture (1999) and a regular contributor to The New International Lesson Annual.

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This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

An anthology of writings of late-18th and early-19th century Methodist women.
Writings of early Methodist women have compelling stories to tell. This volume puts us in touch with a lost heritage of vital spirituality that can transform lives and the church, even today. These selections from the writings of early Methodist women vividly illustrate the richness of women s contributions to the life of the church and the legacy of Wesleyan spirituality. The religious accounts, diaries and journals, prayers, hymns and sacred poems, and narrative practical divinity, brought together here for the first time, provide a new vantage point from which to view the wonderful spiritual awakening of Wesley s day. They reveal a "way of devotion," a way of living out the Christian faith that conjoins personal piety and social action, conversion and growth in grace."

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

This is a rich articulation of John Wesley's theology that is appreciative of the old and mindful of the new, faithful to the past and attentive to the present. This work carefully displays John Wesley's eighteenth century theology in its own distinct historical and social location, but then transitions to the twenty-first century through the introduction of contemporary issues. So conceived, the book is both historical and constructive demonstrating that the theology of Wesley represents a vibrant tradition. Cognizant of Wesley's own preferred vocabulary, Collins introduces Wesley's theological method beginning with a discussion of the doctrine of God. In this insightful exposition the leitmotif of holy love arises out of Wesley's reflection on the nature of the divine being as well as other major doctrines.

JOHN WESLEY (1703-1791) is the chief architect and source of inspiration for the teaching commonly referred to as Christian Perfection. Yet the journey Wesley traveled in forming his views on perfect love is largely unknown and often misunderstood. In this second volume of a groundbreaking series, Olson leaves no stone unturned as he guides the reader along a path explaining how and why Wesley's most beloved doctrine took the shape it did. In this way the reader is offered surprising insights into Wesley's philosophy of discipleship and spiritual growth. All periods of Wesley's long and eventful career are covered, with special attention given to those factors which most influenced his own faith journey. The entire Wesley corpus is utilized: sermons, journals, letters, diaries, and other writings. A four gospel scheme organizes Wesley's doctrinal development for easy memorization and understanding. Numerous charts visually empower a fuller understanding of Wesley's theology of perfection. Several appendices offer a timeline and several historical studies on Wesley's faith journey and theological development. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Wesley's vision of Christian holiness, all will be challenged to reflect more deeply on the nature of Christian discipleship and what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This brief introduction spells out the major beliefs of the United Methodist Church in a clear, nontechnical style. William Willimon, the beloved United Methodist author, preacher, teacher, and bishop, discusses the great theological themes that United Methodists share in common with all Christians as well as the particular accents and emphases that characterize United Methodist understandings of Christian doctrines. In his engaging style, Willimon opens the door for further study, challenging the reader to move toward a continuing reflection on their faith. This guide will be of great value to those who are beginning their study of United Methodist beliefs as well as those who have long been in the church and want a helpful way to refresh their understandings of the distinctiveness of United Methodist doctrine.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

A comprehensive guide to the theology and practice of evangelism within the Wesleyan tradition.
No one would deny that evangelism stands at the heart of the Wesleyan/Methodist movement. Yet ask any number of representatives of that movement what evangelism means, and you will get an equal number of definitions. Is it bringing the lost to saving faith in Christ? Working to conform the social order to the Kingdom of God? Deepening the commitment of disciples to the work the Gospel?
This important new volume answers that evangelism is all these, and more. Drawing on the work of prominent theologians and church leaders, it examines both the theory and the practice of evangelism among the people called Methodist, charting a course for a faithfully Wesleyan fulfillment of the Great Commission.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church was an important part of the historic freedom struggles of African Americans from Reconstruction to the Civil Rights movement. This fight for equality and freedom can be seen clearly in the denomination's evolving social and ecumenical consciousness. The denomination's very name changed from "Colored" to "Christian" in 1954, but the denomination did not join the struggle late. Rather, the CME was a critical participant from the days following the Civil War. At times, the Church was at odds with their white Methodist counterparts and in solidarity with other African-American denominations on issues of racial desegregation and the role of social protest in religion.Raymond Sommerville's important book discusses the relationship between Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the CME. While King and others received most of the headlines during the Civil Rights Era, the CME proved to be involved at all levels and equally important in all they did. With its strategic location in the South and its long history of ecumenical involvement, the CME Church emerged as a leading advocate of ecumenical civil rights activism. Previous interpretations asserted that the CME was apolitical and accomodationist or that it was more progressive than it was. Sommerville presents a more nuanced account of how a church of largely former slaves emancipated itself from the constraints of white Methodist paternalism and Jim Crow racism to emerge as a progressive force of racial justice and ecumenism in the South and beyond. Sommerville examines major centers of the CME -- Nashville, Birmingham, Memphis, Atlanta -- and selected leaders inthe South in charting the gradual metamorphosis of the former CME as a largely nonpolitical body of former slaves in 1870 to a more politically active denomination at the apex of the modern Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.