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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Protestantism & Protestant Churches > Methodist Churches
This book introduces four journals that Henry Foxall (1758-1823)
kept during a trip to the British Isles in 1816-1817. It provides
unique primary source material, extensively annotated for clarity
and context. Foxall's journals offer an eyewitness account of
Methodist embourgeoisement and institutionalization as they were
occurring. They also provide some insight into the developing
differences between American and British Methodism. The journals
contain information on recent technological innovations of the
British Industrial Revolution and recount Foxall's interactions
with a number of prominent persons, both in British Methodism and
outside it. Because of Foxall's close relationship with Francis
Asbury, his status as an insider at the highest levels of American
Methodism, and his clear understanding of the British Methodism in
which he was raised, converted, and first licensed as a local
preacher, his perspective is well-informed and unique.
This book explores the life and spirituality of John Cennick
(1718-1755) and argues for a new appreciation of the contradictions
and complexities in early evangelicalism. It explores Cennick's
evangelistic work in Ireland, his relationship with Count
Zinzendorf and the creative tension between the Moravian and
Methodist elements of his participation in the eighteenth-century
revivals. The chapters draw on extensive unpublished correspondence
between Cennick and Zinzendorf, as well as Cennick's unique diary
of his first stay in the continental Moravian centres of
Marienborn, Herrnhaag and Lindheim. A maverick personality, John
Cennick is seen at the centre of some of the principal
controversies of the time. The trajectory of his emergence as a
prominent figure in the revivals is remarkable in its intensity and
hybridity and brings into focus a number of themes in the landscape
of early evangelicalism: the eclectic nature of its inspirations,
the religious enthusiasm nurtured in Anglican societies, the
expansion of the pool of preaching talent, the social tensions
unleashed by religious innovations, and the particular nature of
the Moravian contribution during the 1740s and 1750s. Offering a
major re-evaluation of Cennick's spirituality, the book will be of
interest to scholars of evangelical and church history.
A product of trans-Atlantic revivalism and awakening, Methodism
initially took root in America in the eighteenth century. In the
mid-nineteenth century, Methodism exploded to become the largest
religious body in the United States and the quintessential form of
American religion. This Cambridge Companion offers a general,
comprehensive introduction to various forms of American Methodism,
including the African-American, German Evangelical Pietist,
holiness and Methodist Episcopal traditions. Written from various
disciplinary perspectives, including history, literature, theology
and religious studies, this volume explores the beliefs and
practices around which the lives of American Methodist churches
have revolved, as well as the many ways in which Methodism has both
adapted to and shaped American culture. This volume will be an
invaluable resource to scholars and students alike, including those
who are exploring American Methodism for the first time.
A leading figure in the Evangelical Revival in eighteenth-century
England, John Wesley (1703 1791) is the founding father of
Methodism and, by extension, of the holiness and Pentecostal
movements. This Cambridge Companion offers a general, comprehensive
introduction to Wesley s life and work, and to his theological and
ecclesiastical legacy. Written from various disciplinary
perspectives, including history, literature, theology, and
religious studies, this volume will be an invaluable aid to
scholars and students, including those encountering the work and
thought of Wesley for the first time.
The important questions in ecumenical dialogue centre upon issues
of authority and order. This book uses the development of ministry
in the early Methodist Church to explore the origins of the
Methodist Order and identify the nature of authority exercised by
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church. Showing Methodism
as having been founded upon Episcopalian principles, but in a
manner reinterpreted by its founder, Adrian Burdon charts the
journey made by John Wesley and his people towards the ordination
of preachers, which became such a major issue amongst the first
Methodist Societies. Implications for understanding the nature and
practice of authority and order in modern Methodism are explored,
with particular reference to the covenant for unity between English
Methodists and the Church of England.
Most Wesleyan-Holiness churches started in the US, developing out
of the Methodist roots of the nineteenth-century Holiness Movement.
The American origins of the Holiness movement have been charted in
some depth, but there is currently little detail on how it
developed outside of the US. This book seeks to redress this
imbalance by giving a history of North American Wesleyan-Holiness
churches in Australia, from their establishment in the years
following the Second World War, as well as of The Salvation Army,
which has nineteenth-century British origins. It traces the way
some of these churches moved from marginalised sects to established
denominations, while others remained small and isolated. Looking at
The Church of God (Anderson), The Church of God (Cleveland), The
Church of the Nazarene, The Salvation Army, and The Wesleyan
Methodist Church in Australia, the book argues two main points.
Firstly, it shows that rather than being American imperialism at
work, these religious expressions were a creative partnership
between like-minded evangelical Christians from two modern nations
sharing a general cultural similarity and set of religious
convictions. Secondly, it demonstrates that it was those churches
that showed the most willingness to be theologically flexible, even
dialling down some of their Wesleyan distinctiveness, that had the
most success. This is the first book to chart the fascinating
development of Holiness churches in Australia. As such, it will be
of keen interest to scholars of Wesleyans and Methodists, as well
as religious history and the sociology of religion more generally.
Despite the fact that women are often mentioned as having played
instrumental roles in the establishment of Methodism on the
Continent of Europe, very little detail concerning the women has
ever been provided to add texture to this historical tapestry. This
book of essays redresses this by launching a new and wider
investigation into the story of pioneering Methodist women in
Europe. By bringing to light an alternative set of historical
narratives, this edited volume gives voice to a broad range of
religious issues and concerns during the critical period in
European history between 1869 and 1939. Covering a range of nations
in Continental Europe, some important interpretive themes are
suggested, such as the capacity of women to network, their ability
to engage in God's work, and their skill at navigating difficult
cultural boundaries. This ground breaking study will be of
significant interest to scholars of Methodism, but also to students
and academics working in history, religious studies, and gender.
Most Wesleyan-Holiness churches started in the US, developing out
of the Methodist roots of the nineteenth-century Holiness Movement.
The American origins of the Holiness movement have been charted in
some depth, but there is currently little detail on how it
developed outside of the US. This book seeks to redress this
imbalance by giving a history of North American Wesleyan-Holiness
churches in Australia, from their establishment in the years
following the Second World War, as well as of The Salvation Army,
which has nineteenth-century British origins. It traces the way
some of these churches moved from marginalised sects to established
denominations, while others remained small and isolated. Looking at
The Church of God (Anderson), The Church of God (Cleveland), The
Church of the Nazarene, The Salvation Army, and The Wesleyan
Methodist Church in Australia, the book argues two main points.
Firstly, it shows that rather than being American imperialism at
work, these religious expressions were a creative partnership
between like-minded evangelical Christians from two modern nations
sharing a general cultural similarity and set of religious
convictions. Secondly, it demonstrates that it was those churches
that showed the most willingness to be theologically flexible, even
dialling down some of their Wesleyan distinctiveness, that had the
most success. This is the first book to chart the fascinating
development of Holiness churches in Australia. As such, it will be
of keen interest to scholars of Wesleyans and Methodists, as well
as religious history and the sociology of religion more generally.
Following the theology of mission developed by John Wesley,
thousands of men and women have engaged in domestic and
international missions. But why did they go? Why do they continue
to go today? In The Use of the Old Testament in a Wesleyan Theology
of Mission, Gordon Snider examines the Wesleyan understanding of
mission in the light of the Old Testament. What theology from God's
Old Covenant gave Wesleyans their drive to impact nations, and how
did it shape their missionary strategies? Drawing upon a range of
primary sources, he examines how a number of influential speakers
in the Wesleyan tradition, particularly the founders and
spokespeople of the nineteenth and the early twentieth century,
have used the Old Testament to inform their theology of mission.
Snider provides an insight into the works of the important
theologians Thomas Coke, Jabez Bunting, Adam Clarke, Richard
Watson, Daniel Whedon and Edmund Cook. Focusing on the movement of
Wesleyan Theology from Great Britain to North America, Snider
analyses how this affected Wesleyan ideas of holiness, eschatology
and divine healing. Readers of this volume will discover why
Wesleyan Christians go into the world and gain a deeper
understanding of missions.
Henry D. Rack is one of the most profound historians of the
Methodist movement in modern times. He has spent a lifetime
researching and writing about the rise and significance of John
Wesley and his Methodist followers in the eighteenth century and
has also uncovered the historical significance of the Methodist
Church in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Collected in
Perfecting Perfection are thirteen essays honouring the life and
scholarship of Dr. Rack from a host of international scholars in
the field. The topics range from Wesley's view of grace in the
eighteenth century to the dynamic intersection of the Methodist and
Tractarian movements in the nineteenth century. Ultimately, the
collection of essays offered here in honour of Dr. Rack will be
engaging and provocative to those considering Methodist Studies in
the present and future generations.
Methodism has played a major role in all areas of public life in
Australia but has been particularly significant for its influence
on education, social welfare, missions to Aboriginal people and the
Pacific Islands and the role of women. Drawing together a team of
historical experts, Methodism in Australia presents a critical
introduction to one of the most important religious movements in
Australia's settlement history and beyond. Offering ground-breaking
regional studies of the development of Methodism, this book
considers a broad range of issues including Australian Methodist
religious experience, worship and music, Methodist intellectuals,
and missions to Australia and the Pacific.
'Christian Warfare in Rhodesia-Zimbabwe' takes a hard look at the
history of the Salvation Army in Rhodesia-Zimbabwe and its long
history with both the government and the rest of the church. Norman
H. Murdoch examines in-depth the parallels between the events of
the First Chimurenga, an uprising against European occupation in
1896-97, and the Second Chimurenga in the 1970s, the civil war that
led to majority rule. At the time of the first, the Salvation Army
was barely established in the country; by the second, it was fully
entrenched in the ruling class. Murdoch explores the collaboration
of this Christian mission with the institutions of white rule and
the painful process of disentanglement necessary by the late
twentieth century. Stories of martyrdom and colonial mythology are
set in the carefully researched context of ecumenical relations and
the Salvation Army's largely unknown and seldom accessible internal
politics.
The theological concerns of Charles Wesley are expressed primarily
through his repertory of over 9,000 hymns and sacred poems. They
include inquiries into the meaning of the Church's sacred rites,
festivals, and seasons (e.g., Holy Communion, Baptism, Advent,
Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost) and a host of other
concerns, such as conversion, sanctification, perfection, holiness,
grace, and love. This volume prepares the reader to read Wesley's
poetry, showing the plethora of literary, theological, and societal
influences on his thought and writing; and brings together a
collection of hymns and sacred poems that are representative of his
theological perspectives. The reader is given the opportunity to
become better equipped to grasp the meaning of Wesley's profound
lyrical theology and its implications for contemporary theology and
life.
The idea that covenant theology is profoundly influential in John
Wesley's theological thought seems dissonant. What would an
evangelical Arminian have to do with a theological framework that
historically belongs to a reformed understanding of salvation? How
could this possibly square with his ongoing conflicts with the
Calvinism of his day? On the basis of compelling evidence from his
sermons and correspondence, this investigation dares to explore the
idea that covenant theology is part of the infrastructure of
Wesley's thought. The discovery of its role in shaping his
narrative of the way of salvation is surprising and intriguing.
Wesley is not only informed of and fluent in covenant theology, but
also thoroughly committed to it. 'From Faith to Faith' demonstrates
that, with theological precision and discernment, Wesley
appropriates covenant theology in a way consistent with both its
primary theological features and his Arminianism. His distinctive
view of 'the gradual process of the work of God in the soul'
supplies valuable grist for further reflection, especially by those
charged with the care of souls in the twenty-first century.
John William Fletcher (1729-1785) was a seminal theologian during
the early Methodist movement and in the Church of England in the
eighteenth century. Best known for the Checks to Antinomianism, he
established a theology of history to defend the church against the
encroachment of antinomianism as a polemic against hyper-Calvinism.
Fletcher believed that the hyper-Calvinist system of divine fiat
and finished salvation did not take seriously enough either the
activity of God in salvation history or an individual believer's
personal progress in salvation. Fletcher made the doctrine of
accommodation a unifying principle of his theological system and
further developed the doctrine of divine accommodation into a
theology of ministry. As God accommodated divine revelation to the
frailties of human beings, Fletcher argued that ministers of the
gospel must accommodate the gospel to their hearers in order to
gain a hearing for the gospel without losing the goal of true
Christianity. 'True Christianity' contains insights from Fletcher,
who devoted himself, according to Wesley, to being 'an altogether
Christian'.
Catherine Booth's achievements - as a revivalist, social reformer,
champion of women's rights, and, with her husband William Booth,
co-founder of the Salvation Army - were widely recognized in her
lifetime. However, Catherine Booth's life and work has since been
largely neglected. This neglect has extended to her theological
ideas, even though they were critical to the formation of
Salvationism, the spirituality of the movement she cofounded. This
book examines the implicit theology that undergirds Catherine
Booth's Salvationist spirituality and reveals the ethical concerns
at the heart of her soteriology and the integral relationship
between the social and evangelical aspects of Christian mission in
her thought. Catherine Booth emerges as a significant figure from
the Victorian era, a British theologian and church leader with a
rare if not unique intellectual and theological perspective: that
of a woman.
Perceptible inspiration, a term used by John Wesley to describe the
complicated relationship between Holy Spirit, religious knowledge,
and the nature of spiritual being, is not unlike the term
'Methodist' which was also coined by critics of Methodism during
the eighteenth century in Britain. John Wesley's adversaries,
especially the pseudonymous John Smith with whom Wesley exchanged
letters for a period of three years, frequently challenged the
plausibility of direct spiritual sensation, which Wesley defended.
What does Wesley mean by perceptible inspiration? What does the
teaching reveal about the nature and existence of God in Wesley's
thinking? What does it suggest about the spiritual nature of
humankind? In John Wesley's Pneumatology, it is argued that
'perceptible inspiration' more than a sidebar of Methodist thought,
offers a useful model for considering the various features of
Wesley's views on the work of the Spirit in relation to human
existence, participatory religious knowledge, and moral theology.
Teaching on the sanctification of Christians using the difficult
word "perfection" has been part of Christian spirituality through
the centuries. The Fathers spoke of it and Augustine particularly
contributed his penetrating analysis of human motivation in terms
of love. Medieval theologians such as Bernard and Thomas Aquinas
developed the tradition and wrote of levels or "degrees" of
"perfection" in love.However, the doctrine has not fared so well
among Protestants. John Wesley was the one major Protestant leader
who tried to blend this ancient tradition of Christian "perfection"
with the Reformation proclamation of justification by grace through
faith. This book seeks to develop Wesley's synthesis of patristic
and Reformation theology in order to consider how Christian
"perfection" can be expressed in a more nuanced way in today's
culture. Noble examines what basis may be found for Wesley's
understanding of sanctification in the central doctrines of the
church, particularly the atonement, the doctrine of Christ, and the
most comprehensive of all Christian doctrines, the doctrine of the
Holy Trinity. What he sets out is a fully trinitarian theology of
holiness.
Methodism played an important part in the spread of Christianity
from its European heartlands to the Americas, Asia, Africa and the
Pacific. From John Wesley's initial reluctance, via haphazard
ventures and over-ambitious targets, a well-organized and supported
Wesleyan Society developed. Smaller branches of British Methodism
undertook their own foreign missions. This book, together with a
companion volume on the 20th century, offers an account of the
overseas mission activity of British and Irish Methodists, its
roots and fruits. John Pritchard explores many aspects of mission,
ranging from Labrador to New Zealand and from Sierra Leone to Sri
Lanka, from open air preaching to political engagement, from the
isolation of early pioneers to the creation of self-governing
churches. Tracing the nineteenth-century missionary work of the
Churches with Wesleyan roots which went on to unite in 1932,
Pritchard explores the shifting theologies and attitudes of
missionaries who crossed cultural and geographical frontiers as
well as those at home who sent and supported them. Necessarily
selective in the personalities and events it describes, this book
offers a comprehensive overview of a world-changing movement - a
story packed with heroism, mistakes, achievements, frustrations,
arguments, personalities, rascals and saints.
In this notable contribution to the study of John Wesley and George
Whitefield, Ian Maddock discovers the affinity between two
preachers often contrasted as enemies. The controversial Free Grace
episode of the early eighteenth century, which highlighted the
theological divisions between Wesley's Arminianism and Whitefield's
Calvinism, has influenced the scholarly division of these
forerunners of the Eighteenth Century Revival, resulting in a
polarised critical heritage. In a critical assessment of John
Wesley, the 'scholar preacher', and George Whitefield, the 'actor
preacher', Maddock gives due attention to their differences but
unifies them in their commitment to the authority of the Bible,
their rhetorical devices and their thematic similarities, showing
how they often explicated different theories with the same
evidence. Men of One Book explains how these contemporaries, who
each knew of the other at Oxford University and as preachers, each
faced ecclesiastical opposition and social stigma, but sought for a
print-and-preach ministry in which the spoken and written word
would spread the Gospel throughout the transatlantic world. 'Men of
One Book' is a volume that will interest anyone concerned with the
Eighteenth Century Revival, the rise of Methodism or the history of
evangelicalism. Ian J. Maddock is Lecturer in Theology at Sydney
Missionary and Bible College, and received his PhD from the
University of Aberdeen. 'A wonderful comparative treatment of the
two dominant preachers of the first Great Awakening. Maddock is
equally sure-footed working meticulously through the voluminous
manuscript sermons of Wesley and Whitefield as if painting the
details of their complex and interwoven leadership of the
evangelical revivals. There is no other work that so faithfully
renders portraits of these two on their own terms as well as in
relation to each other.' Richard Lints, Andrew Mutch Distinguished
Professor of Theology, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
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