Methodism is growing, both in numbers and influence, according to the World Methodist Council there are 78 Methodist, Wesleyan, and related Uniting and United churches representing over 80 million people in more than 130 nations. There are clear reasons for its success. Among them are commitment to evangelize and nurture people with the message of God's presence, love, and direction. That includes an appreciation for, and practice of, the holistic nature of the Wesleyan tradition which involves faith nurtured in the biblical narrative, disciplined personal and communal spirituality and holy living, vibrant preaching, worship, and fellowship, and a faith which rejoices in personal and social reform. This third edition of Historical Dictionary of Methodism presents the history of Methodism through a detailed chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important institutions and events, doctrines and activities, and especially persons who have contributed to the church and also broader society in the three centuries since it was founded. This book is an ideal access point for students, researchers, or anyone interested in the history of the Methodist Church.

This is a comprehensive handbook on Methodist history, theology and practice. Part of a series projected by T&T Clark/Continuum, this volume is a handbook on Methodism containing an introduction, dictionary of key terms, and concentrates on key themes, methodology, and research problems for those interested in studying the origins and development of the history and theology of world Methodism. The literature describing the history and development of Methodism has been growing as scholars and general readers have become aware of its importance as a world church with approximately 40,000,000 members in 300 Methodist denominations in 140 nations. The tercentenary celebrations of the births of its founders, John and Charles Wesley, in 2003 and 2007 provided an additional focus on the evolution of the movement which became a church. The book will research questions, problems, and resources for further study.

The Wesleyan tradition of the 18th century and its related movements has had a global impact that has often been understated and underestimated. Charles Yrigoyen, Jr. presents a diverse collection of essays that document the Wesleyan traditions from founder John Wesley's preaching across Great Britain to his followers' spread of Methodist views throughout Latin America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. Through a series of essays, The Global Impact of the Wesleyan Traditions and Their Related Movements documents the influence of Methodist missionaries on peoples and religions throughout the world. The text is divided into three parts: Part I includes four essays about basic missiological and methodological issues; Part II includes 15 essays that illuminate the global impact of the Wesleyan traditions and related movements on topics such as independent churches in Africa and the Hwa Nan College in China; and Part III describes the resources for researching and extending the global impact of traditions of Wesley's works, such as the Obras de Wesley (the Spanish version of Wesley's works) and the valuable collection of Wesleyana and Methodistica materials at the John Rylands University Library in Manchester, Great Britain. Diverse in scope, The Global Impact of the Wesleyan Traditions and Their Related Movements is a comprehensive volume for religious scholars and historians interested in the Wesleyan traditions.

In 2003, Methodists celebrated the 300th anniversary of the birth of their founder, John Wesley. Today, there are more than 300 Methodist denominations in 140 nations. Covering the activities of this group that plays an important role in the ecumenical movement through its many social and charitable activities in world affairs, this book offers more than 400 entries that describe important events, doctrines, and the church founders, leaders, and other prominent figures who have made notable contributions. It also includes * a list of commonly used acronyms * chronology of historical events * introductory essay on the history of Methodism * bibliography * listing of important libraries and depositories of Methodist materials The impressive list of contributors includes more than 60 specialists who are academics, administrators, pastors, and theologians.

John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life is a six-week study on John Wesley, the major themes of his theology, the spread of Wesleyanism to North America, and renewal in the Wesleyan tradition. Chapters include reflection questions. The Study Guide offers step-by-step plans for each session.

This is an invaluable handbook on Methodism containing an introduction, dictionary of key terms, and concentrates on key themes, methodology and research problems for those interested in studying the origins and development of the history and theology of world Methodism. The literature describing the history and development of Methodism has been growing as scholars and general readers have become aware of its importance as a world church with approximately 40 million members in 300 Methodist denominations in 140 nations. The tercentenary celebrations of the births of its founders, John and Charles Wesley, in 2003 and 2007 provided an additional focus on the evolution of the movement which became a church. This book researches questions, problems, and resources for further study.