spreading scriptural holiness: reclaiming wesleyan evangelism laceye warner duke divinity school

Spreading Scriptural Holiness: Spreading Scriptural Holiness: Reclaiming Wesleyan Reclaiming Wesleyan

EvangelismEvangelism

Spreading Scriptural Holiness: Spreading Scriptural Holiness: Reclaiming Wesleyan Reclaiming Wesleyan

EvangelismEvangelism

Laceye WarnerLaceye Warner

Duke Divinity SchoolDuke Divinity School

Luke 13. 10-17Luke 13. 10-17

What binds us as What binds us as individuals?individuals?

Luke 13. 10-17Luke 13. 10-17

What binds us as the What binds us as the body of Christ or the body of Christ or the Church?Church?

A Prayer of John WesleyA Prayer of John Wesley A Prayer of John WesleyA Prayer of John Wesley

Teach us, Ruler of the universe, to see people by the light of the faith we profess, that we may check in ourselves all ungenerous judgments, all presumptuous claims, that, recognizing the needs and rightful claims of others we may remove old hatreds and rivalries and hasten new understandings, that we may bring our tributes of excellence to the treasury of our common humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Discussion….Discussion….

What does evangelism mean to you, your What does evangelism mean to you, your local congregation?local congregation?

What experiences, either positive or negative, What experiences, either positive or negative, have you, and your local congregation, had have you, and your local congregation, had related to evangelism?related to evangelism?

Difficulties of Contemporary Difficulties of Contemporary LanguageLanguage

Where are we?...Where are we?...And how did we get And how did we get here?here?

A bifurcation…A bifurcation… Etymological threadsEtymological threads

Reclaiming LanguageReclaiming Language

Greek root--Greek root--euangelioneuangelion Old Testament usage Old Testament usage

““to proclaim good tidings”to proclaim good tidings”angelosangelos “messenger” “messenger” angeloangelo “to announce” “to announce”

Announcement of God’s salvific activity Announcement of God’s salvific activity (Isaiah)(Isaiah)

Reclaiming LanguageReclaiming Language

New Testament/Post-Easter New Testament/Post-Easter usageusage

to proclaim the message of to proclaim the message of salvation in word and deed salvation in word and deed (Klaiber)(Klaiber)

With Intentional Practices…With Intentional Practices…

Evangelism is-Evangelism is-that set of loving, that set of loving, intentional activities intentional activities governed by the goal of governed by the goal of initiating persons into initiating persons into Christian discipleship in Christian discipleship in response to the reign of response to the reign of GodGod

(Scott Jones, (Scott Jones, The Evangelistic Love of God The Evangelistic Love of God

and Neighborand Neighbor, 18), 18)

Who practices evangelism?Who practices evangelism? ……all Christiansall Christians We are commissioned to We are commissioned to

evangelistic ministry by evangelistic ministry by our baptismsour baptisms

“…“…to proclaim the good to proclaim the good news and live according news and live according to the example of Jesus Christ.”to the example of Jesus Christ.”

(See the (See the UM HymnalUM Hymnal pages 35 and 40) pages 35 and 40)

Mission of the UMCMission of the UMC

““The mission of the The mission of the Church is to make Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ”—disciples of Jesus Christ”—for the transformation of for the transformation of the worldthe world

The Book of Discipline, The Book of Discipline, UMCUMC, 1996 and 2008, 1996 and 2008


What role does the reign of God, alongside What role does the reign of God, alongside assumptions of the church’s role, play in your assumptions of the church’s role, play in your understanding and practice of evangelism? understanding and practice of evangelism? In your local congregation’s understanding In your local congregation’s understanding and practice of evangelism?and practice of evangelism?

The Early Methodist MovementThe Early Methodist Movement ““What may we What may we

reasonably believe to be reasonably believe to be God’s design in raising God’s design in raising up the People Called up the People Called Methodist? Methodist?

A. To reform the nation A. To reform the nation and, in particular, the and, in particular, the Church; to spread Church; to spread scriptural holiness over scriptural holiness over the land.” the land.”

-“Large” -“Large” MinutesMinutes

Obstacles to Evangelistic MinistryObstacles to Evangelistic Ministry

Preoccupation with Preoccupation with rapid numerical growthrapid numerical growth

Lack of theological Lack of theological reflectionreflection

Disinterest in sustained Disinterest in sustained Christian practicesChristian practices

Reluctance to share Reluctance to share wealthwealth

Spreading Scriptural HolinessSpreading Scriptural HolinessObstacleObstacle

Preoccupation with rapid Preoccupation with rapid numerical growthnumerical growth

ResourceResource

‘‘Growth’: steady intense Growth’: steady intense growth in numbers, but growth in numbers, but also in gracealso in grace


Lack of theological reflectionLack of theological reflection

ResourceResource

Doctrine: through sermons and Doctrine: through sermons and hymns to evangelize and hymns to evangelize and nurture individuals in the nurture individuals in the faithfaith

Spreading Scriptural Spreading Scriptural HolinessHoliness

ObstacleObstacle


ResourceResource

Practices and organization Practices and organization emerged from doctrine emerged from doctrine for intentional growthfor intentional growth

Spreading Scriptural Spreading Scriptural Holiness Holiness

ObstacleObstacle

Reluctance to share wealthReluctance to share wealth

ResourceResource

Wealth-sharing and outreach Wealth-sharing and outreach brings implications for brings implications for personal and communal personal and communal faithfaith

Spreading Scriptural HolinessSpreading Scriptural Holiness

GrowthGrowth

While much of contemporary While much of contemporary ‘evangelism’ is quantified ‘evangelism’ is quantified by the rapid increase of by the rapid increase of local church attendance, the local church attendance, the early Methodist movement early Methodist movement acknowledged a relatively acknowledged a relatively slow, but steady, intense slow, but steady, intense process of Christian process of Christian formation resulting in formation resulting in changed lives.changed lives.

Counting ConversionsCounting Conversions

Growth:Growth:

(1) Numerical, and(1) Numerical, and

(2) Growth in (2) Growth in GraceGrace

Numerical GrowthNumerical Growth

Bristol, 1739Bristol, 1739 The revival begins with The revival begins with

field preaching and field preaching and ‘society’ meetings‘society’ meetings

Spreading Scriptural Holiness:Spreading Scriptural Holiness:Organization and PracticesOrganization and Practices

““I was so I was so tenacious of every tenacious of every point relating to point relating to decency and order decency and order that I should have that I should have thought the saving thought the saving of souls almost a of souls almost a sin if it had not sin if it had not been done in a been done in a church.” JWchurch.” JW

Wesley preaching at the Sandgate, Newcastle


By 1750, By 1750, London societies’ London societies’

membership 2000membership 2000 100 circuits total, served 100 circuits total, served

by 3 dozen preachersby 3 dozen preachers


By 1760, By 1760, Societies’ membership Societies’ membership

20,00020,000 Growth rate: Growth rate:

approximately 1000 approximately 1000 members per yearmembers per year


By 1770, By 1770, Methodism growing Methodism growing

steadily in Americasteadily in America Growth rate in England: Growth rate in England:

approximately 1600 approximately 1600 members per yearmembers per year

1775 Leeds membership 1775 Leeds membership 20002000

London, still 2500 after London, still 2500 after twenty yearstwenty years


In 1781, In 1781, 178 preachers, one for 178 preachers, one for

every 250 members, a every 250 members, a constant ratio since constant ratio since 17671767

63 circuits in England63 circuits in England Only a dozen with 1000 Only a dozen with 1000

membersmembers


What is lost when growth in numbers are What is lost when growth in numbers are prioritized above grace? Or numbers and prioritized above grace? Or numbers and growth are disintegrated?growth are disintegrated?

Where do you see the integrated growth of Where do you see the integrated growth of numbers and grace in the United Methodist numbers and grace in the United Methodist Church? Church?

Spreading Scriptural Holiness: Spreading Scriptural Holiness: DoctrineDoctrine

A steady decline in theological A steady decline in theological aptitude has occurred in the aptitude has occurred in the last two centuries among those last two centuries among those committed to evangelism.committed to evangelism.

John Wesley (with Jonathan John Wesley (with Jonathan Edwards) is among the last Edwards) is among the last serious scholars and serious scholars and practitioners of evangelism.practitioners of evangelism.

See William Abraham, See William Abraham, Logic of EvangelismLogic of Evangelism

Spreading Scriptural HolinessSpreading Scriptural HolinessDoctrineDoctrine

The Wesleys’ sermons are not The Wesleys’ sermons are not categorized systematically. categorized systematically. Instead exposure to Instead exposure to doctrine through the doctrine through the sermons and hymns was sermons and hymns was intended to evangelize and intended to evangelize and nurture individuals in the nurture individuals in the Christian faith. Christian faith.



A Plain Account of the People Called A Plain Account of the People Called MethodistsMethodists, to preach and “to convince , to preach and “to convince those who would hear what true those who would hear what true Christianity was and to persuade them Christianity was and to persuade them to embraceto embrace it.” it.”

Wesley named the following as important Wesley named the following as important resources for the early Methodists: resources for the early Methodists: “following only “following only common sensecommon sense and and ScriptureScripture; though they generally found, ; though they generally found, in looking back, something in in looking back, something in Christian antiquityChristian antiquity


In his In his The Character of a The Character of a MethodistMethodist, John answered the , John answered the questions, “who is a Methodist?” questions, “who is a Methodist?” and “what is the mark?” with this and “what is the mark?” with this response: response:

““A Methodist is one who has the A Methodist is one who has the love of God shed abroad in love of God shed abroad in [one’s] heart. [one’s] heart.


In his sermon, In his sermon, Causes of the Causes of the Inefficacies of Christianity,Inefficacies of Christianity,

Wesley outlined three aspects thatWesley outlined three aspects that

Christians often lacked: Christians often lacked:

(1)(1) a sufficient understanding of a sufficient understanding of doctrine, doctrine,

(2)(2) adequate discipline, and/or adequate discipline, and/or

(3)(3) self-denial.self-denial.

Doctrine: Charles’ Hymnody and Doctrine: Charles’ Hymnody and Christian FormationChristian Formation


Hymns more than Hymns more than anything else formed anything else formed early Methodistsearly Methodists

Yet, did not receive Yet, did not receive doctrinal status with the doctrinal status with the SermonsSermons and and Notes on Notes on the NTthe NT in the 1784 Deed in the 1784 Deed of Declarationof Declaration


““These hymns lead one back to basic themes and These hymns lead one back to basic themes and emotions of the formative faith: the soteriological emotions of the formative faith: the soteriological center, the emphasis on God’s grace and human center, the emphasis on God’s grace and human appropriation, the challenge for growth and missional appropriation, the challenge for growth and missional responsibility.”responsibility.”

Thomas LangfordThomas Langford


What are some accessible ways of What are some accessible ways of encouraging theological reflection for the encouraging theological reflection for the purpose of facilitating spiritual formation and purpose of facilitating spiritual formation and evangelism?evangelism?


PracticesPractices

The intentionality of the early The intentionality of the early Methodist movement’s Methodist movement’s organization and practices organization and practices (e.g. field preaching, lay (e.g. field preaching, lay preachers, classes and preachers, classes and bands) emerged directly bands) emerged directly from doctrinal frames from doctrinal frames facilitating intentional and facilitating intentional and meaningful growth.meaningful growth.


John consistently John consistently urged that authentic urged that authentic spiritual formation spiritual formation could not take placecould not take place “without society, “without society, without living and without living and conversing with conversing with [others].”[others].”

““To Watch Over One Another in To Watch Over One Another in Love”Love”

““To Watch Over One Another in To Watch Over One Another in Love”Love”

Society structure: divided into Society structure: divided into small groupssmall groupsClassesClasses: 10-12 by geography (subdivision): 10-12 by geography (subdivision)

Captain Foy’s suggestionCaptain Foy’s suggestionFirst used to pay debt at New RoomFirst used to pay debt at New Room Leader responsible for full amount Leader responsible for full amountEveryone assigned to a classEveryone assigned to a classLater developed into meetingsLater developed into meetings

BandsBands: 6-8 people, by age, sex, marital status: 6-8 people, by age, sex, marital statusVoluntary, homogenous, nurturingVoluntary, homogenous, nurturingNot everyone belonged to a bandNot everyone belonged to a band

Band lists--On Trial, Unmarried, Married & Widows



Lay leadership positions in societyLay leadership positions in societyHelper--preacherHelper--preacherClass and band leaders Class and band leaders Trustees--oversee propertyTrustees--oversee propertySteward--manage fundsSteward--manage fundsVisitors of the SickVisitors of the Sick

Circuits formed of societies in a Circuits formed of societies in a region lregion located primarily in rural ocated primarily in rural areas led by Assistants--head areas led by Assistants--head preacher on circuitpreacher on circuit



Discipline in the societiesDiscipline in the societiesClass ticketsClass tickets--examined, renewed --examined, renewed

quarterlyquarterlyRequired for attendance at some Required for attendance at some meetingsmeetingsGeneral RulesGeneral Rules---- One requirement to join One requirement to join Three conditions in order to continue: Three conditions in order to continue:• do good, • do good, • avoid evil, • avoid evil, • attend to the ordinances of God• attend to the ordinances of God

Means of GraceMeans of Grace

Piety: [Instituted] prayer, searching Piety: [Instituted] prayer, searching Scripture, Lord’s Supper, fasting, Scripture, Lord’s Supper, fasting, conferencingconferencing

Mercy: [Prudential] feeding the Mercy: [Prudential] feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting hungry, clothing the naked, visiting sick, imprisoned or variously sick, imprisoned or variously afflicted, almsgiving, awakening the afflicted, almsgiving, awakening the sinner...sinner...

The Old Foundery, London

Wesley’s DiariesWesley’s DiariesWesley’s DiariesWesley’s Diaries

General QuestionsGeneral Questions

Have I prayed with fervor, by myself and at Chapel?Have I prayed with fervor, by myself and at Chapel? Have I used the Collects at 9, 12, and 3? Grace?Have I used the Collects at 9, 12, and 3? Grace? Have I after every pleasure immediately given Have I after every pleasure immediately given

thanks?thanks? Did I in the morning plan the business of the day?Did I in the morning plan the business of the day? Have I been zealous in undertaking and active in Have I been zealous in undertaking and active in

doing what good I could?doing what good I could? Has good will been and appeared the spring of all my Has good will been and appeared the spring of all my

actions toward others?actions toward others?


The movement spread The movement spread North and West, mostly North and West, mostly initially among youth initially among youth and women of modest and women of modest background, eventually background, eventually forming a triangle—forming a triangle—London, Bristol, London, Bristol, NewcastleNewcastle


At what point do practices and organizational At what point do practices and organizational structures become ‘works righteousness’ or as structures become ‘works righteousness’ or as Parker Palmer describes, ‘functional atheism’? Parker Palmer describes, ‘functional atheism’?

How can we anchor ourselves in faithful How can we anchor ourselves in faithful practices that provide a foundation for Christian practices that provide a foundation for Christian belief and practice, particularly evangelism?belief and practice, particularly evangelism?


Wealth-sharingWealth-sharing

Consideration of economics Consideration of economics and its implications for and its implications for personal and communal personal and communal faith, specifically wealth-faith, specifically wealth-sharing among and by sharing among and by participants, was a participants, was a significant discipline significant discipline required of early required of early Methodists contributing Methodists contributing significantly to changed significantly to changed lives. lives.

John Wesley’s Economic EthicJohn Wesley’s Economic Ethic

1.1. The source of all things is God and so all things The source of all things is God and so all things belong to Godbelong to God

2.2. Earthly wealth has been placed in human hands to Earthly wealth has been placed in human hands to be stewarded on God’s behalfbe stewarded on God’s behalf

3.3. God expects that we use what we are given to God expects that we use what we are given to provide for our own necessities and then for the provide for our own necessities and then for the necessities of othersnecessities of others

4.4. To spend our God-given resources on luxuries To spend our God-given resources on luxuries while others are in need of necessities is to misuse while others are in need of necessities is to misuse what God has given uswhat God has given us

Randy Maddox, Randy Maddox, The Poor and the People Called MethodistsThe Poor and the People Called Methodists


““Gain all you can, Gain all you can, without hurting either without hurting either yourself or your yourself or your neighbor…neighbor…

Save all you can, by Save all you can, by cutting off every cutting off every expense which serves expense which serves only to indulge foolish only to indulge foolish desire…desire…

Give all you can, or in Give all you can, or in other words give all you other words give all you have to God.”have to God.”


““Do you not know that God has Do you not know that God has entrusted you with that money entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessaries (all above what buys necessaries for your families) to feed the for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and indeed, as far as fatherless; and indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of it will go, to relieve the wants of all [hu]mankind. How can you, all [hu]mankind. How can you, how dare you, defraud your how dare you, defraud your Lord by applying it to any other Lord by applying it to any other purpose!”purpose!”

John Wesley, The Dangers of Increasing Riches


““But first supplying thy own But first supplying thy own reasonable wants reasonable wants [necessities], together [necessities], together with those of thy family; with those of thy family; then restoring the then restoring the remainder to me [God], remainder to me [God], through the poor, whom I through the poor, whom I had appointed to receive had appointed to receive it…leaving the right of it…leaving the right of being supplied first, and being supplied first, and the blessedness of giving the blessedness of giving rather than receiving?”rather than receiving?”

John Wesley, The Good Steward


EmbodimentsEmbodiments

Charity schools, Charity schools, orphanages, medical orphanages, medical clinics, shelters, clinics, shelters,

meals, no interest loansmeals, no interest loans

Obstacles to Evangelistic MinistryObstacles to Evangelistic Ministry

Preoccupation with Preoccupation with rapid numerical growthrapid numerical growth

Lack of theological Lack of theological reflectionreflection


Reluctance to share Reluctance to share wealthwealth


Preoccupation with rapid Preoccupation with rapid numerical growthnumerical growth

ResourceResource

‘‘Growth’: steady intense Growth’: steady intense growth in numbers, but growth in numbers, but also in gracealso in grace


Lack of theological reflectionLack of theological reflection

ResourceResource

Doctrine: through sermons and Doctrine: through sermons and hymns to evangelize and hymns to evangelize and nurture individuals in the nurture individuals in the faithfaith


ObstacleObstacle


ResourceResource

Practices and organization Practices and organization emerged from doctrine emerged from doctrine for intentional growthfor intentional growth


ObstacleObstacle

Reluctance to share wealthReluctance to share wealth

ResourceResource

Wealth-sharing and outreach Wealth-sharing and outreach brings implications for brings implications for personal and communal personal and communal faithfaith


What additional obstacles do the United What additional obstacles do the United Methodist Church, your local church, and/or Methodist Church, your local church, and/or your ministry face? your ministry face?

What opportunities do Scripture, Christian What opportunities do Scripture, Christian tradition, the Holy Spirit and the many gifts tradition, the Holy Spirit and the many gifts of our shared faith offer?of our shared faith offer?

From Going…From Going…

-Traditional notion of -Traditional notion of evangelism based in NT evangelism based in NT is mainly centrifugalis mainly centrifugal

-Arias argues for NT -Arias argues for NT hospitality as hospitality as evangelism evangelism acknowledgingacknowledging

-A centripetal dynamic in -A centripetal dynamic in the OTthe OT

……to Gatheringto Gathering Kallenberg: Kallenberg:

-“faithfulness in evangelism -“faithfulness in evangelism must attend to both the must attend to both the group and the individual”group and the individual”

-importance of embodying -importance of embodying the story of Jesus in the story of Jesus in communal lifecommunal life

-Conversion: changed social -Conversion: changed social identity, new conceptual identity, new conceptual language, paradigm shiftlanguage, paradigm shift

GatheringGathering

Language acquisition:Language acquisition:

-Fluency is gained through -Fluency is gained through the community’s life, the community’s life, andand

-it’s interpretive stories-it’s interpretive stories

GatheringGathering

Gathering of Christ’s church Gathering of Christ’s church to worship and God’s to worship and God’s sending of the church into sending of the church into the worldthe world

Dual dynamic- Dual dynamic- centripetal/centrifugalcentripetal/centrifugal


Where does “ecclesiology” fit into these Where does “ecclesiology” fit into these conversations—how is the United Methodist conversations—how is the United Methodist Church present, peripheral, incidental, or Church present, peripheral, incidental, or central to the theology of evangelism? central to the theology of evangelism?

What are your next steps toward Spreading What are your next steps toward Spreading Scriptural Holiness?Scriptural Holiness?

In Closing…In Closing…Goodness is stronger than evil;Goodness is stronger than evil;

Love is stronger than hate;Love is stronger than hate;

Light is stronger than Light is stronger than darkness;darkness;

Life is stronger than death;Life is stronger than death;

Victory is ours through Him Victory is ours through Him who loved us.who loved us.

Desmond Tutu, South AfricaDesmond Tutu, South Africa

(John 1.5)(John 1.5)

spreading scriptural holiness: reclaiming wesleyan evangelism laceye warner duke divinity school

Documents

practice of evangelism

deed klaiber slide

example of jesus christ

local congregations

body of christ

disciples of jesus christfor

churchs role

evangelistic love of