As a religious and social phenomenon Methodism engages with a number of disciplines including history, sociology, gender studies and theology. Methodist energy and vitality have intrigued, and continue to fascinate scholars. This Companion brings together a team of respected international scholars writing on key themes in World Methodism to produce an authoritative and state-of-the-art review of current scholarship, mapping the territory for future research. Leading scholars examine a range of themes including: the origins and genesis of Methodism; the role and significance of John Wesley; Methodism's emergence within the international and transatlantic evangelical revival of the Eighteenth-Century; the evolution and growth of Methodism as a separate denomination in Britain; its expansion and influence in the early years of the United States of America; Methodists' roles in a range of philanthropic and social movements including the abolition of slavery, education and temperance; the character of Methodism as both conservative and radical; its growth in other cultures and societies; the role of women as leaders in Methodism, both acknowledged and resisted; the worldwide spread of Methodism and its enculturation in America, Asia and Africa; the development of distinctive Methodist theologies in the last three centuries; its role as a progenitor of the Holiness and Pentecostal movements, and the engagement of Methodists with other denominations and faiths across the world. This major companion presents an invaluable resource for scholars worldwide; particularly those in the UK, North America, Asia and Latin America.
Show moreAs a religious and social phenomenon Methodism engages with a number of disciplines including history, sociology, gender studies and theology. Methodist energy and vitality have intrigued, and continue to fascinate scholars. This Companion brings together a team of respected international scholars writing on key themes in World Methodism to produce an authoritative and state-of-the-art review of current scholarship, mapping the territory for future research. Leading scholars examine a range of themes including: the origins and genesis of Methodism; the role and significance of John Wesley; Methodism's emergence within the international and transatlantic evangelical revival of the Eighteenth-Century; the evolution and growth of Methodism as a separate denomination in Britain; its expansion and influence in the early years of the United States of America; Methodists' roles in a range of philanthropic and social movements including the abolition of slavery, education and temperance; the character of Methodism as both conservative and radical; its growth in other cultures and societies; the role of women as leaders in Methodism, both acknowledged and resisted; the worldwide spread of Methodism and its enculturation in America, Asia and Africa; the development of distinctive Methodist theologies in the last three centuries; its role as a progenitor of the Holiness and Pentecostal movements, and the engagement of Methodists with other denominations and faiths across the world. This major companion presents an invaluable resource for scholars worldwide; particularly those in the UK, North America, Asia and Latin America.
Show moreContents: Part I Introduction: Introduction, William Gibson. Part II Historical Context: The origins and early growth of Methodism, 1730-91, Ted A. Campbell; The price of respectability: Methodism in Britain and the United States 1791-1865, Kevin Watson; Methodism: consolidation and reunion 1865-1939, Morris L. Davis; Methodism: shifting balances 1939-2010, Brian Beck. Part III World Methodism: Church statistics and the growth of global Methodism: some preliminary descriptive statistics, David J. Jeremy; The Wesleys’ role in world Methodism, Jason E. Vickers; Methodism, ecumenism and interfaith relations, David M. Chapman; Holiness and Pentecostal movements within Methodism, Priscilla Pope-Levison; Methodism and women, Margaret Jones; Methodism and liberation theology, Joerg Rieger; Methodism, globalisation and John Wesley, Keith Robbins. Part IV Belief and Practice: Methodism and the Bible, Peter Phillips; Music, hymnody, and the culture of Methodism in Britain, J.R. Watson; Episkopé and connexionalism: ecclesiology and Church government in Methodism, Russell E. Richey; Methodist liturgy and worship, Karen B. Westerfield Tucker; Methodist spirituality, Ian M. Randall; Methodism and the evangelical tradition, Martin Wellings; A historical survey of Methodist preaching, John Munsey Turner. Part V Culture and Society: Methodism and politics: mapping the political on the Methodist genome, Stephen J. Plant; The Methodist conscience: slavery, temperance and pacifism, Jennifer L. Woodruff Tait; Material and cultural aspects of Methodism: architecture, artifacts and art, Peter Forsaith; Methodism and education, John T. Smith; Methodists and business, 1860-1960, David J. Jeremy; Methodism in literature, Laura Davies; Methodism and social justice, Jonathan Rodell; Select bibliography and further reading; Index.
Professor William Gibson is Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford Brookes University and Director of the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History. His most recent publications are The Church of England 1689-1832: Unity and Accord, (2001); The Enlightenment Prelate: Benjamin Hoadly 1676-1761, (2004); James II and the Trial of the Seven Bishops (2009) and the Oxford Handbook of the British Sermon 1689-1901 (2012) He has extensive experience of editorial work and managing collections of essays, including joint editorship of Religious Identities in Britain, 1660-1832, (with Robert Ingram, Ashgate, 2005); Politics, Religion and Dissent: 1660-1832, edited jointly with Robert Cornwall (Ashgate, 2010) and is book reviews editor for Archives, the journal of the British Records Association. He is co-editor of Wesley and Methodist Studies. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Royal Society of Arts. Dr Peter Forsaith is Research Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History at Oxford Brookes University. His research focuses on aspects of religion, culture and society in eighteenth-century England. His publications include Unexampled Labours: The Letters of the Revd John Fletcher of Madeley to Leaders in the Evangelical Revival (2008). Other publications include John Wesley: religious hero? 'A Brand plucked from the burning' (2004). Dr Martin Wellings is Superintendent Minister of the Oxford Methodist Circuit and Past President of the World Methodist Historical Society. He is a member of the Faith and Order Committee of the Methodist Church of Great Britain, convening the resource group on Methodist history, theology and ethos. His publications include Evangelicals Embattled (2003) and Evangelicals in Methodism (2005), the latter based on the 2003 Fernley Hartley Lecture, and he has contributed to several volumes on Methodist history and theology, as well as to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, the Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals and the New International Dictionary of Theology. William Gibson, Ted A. Campbell, Kevin Watson, Morris L. Davis, Brian Beck, David J. Jeremy, Jason E. Vickers, David M. Chapman, Priscilla Pope-Levison, Margaret Jones, Joerg Rieger, Keith Robbins, Peter Phillips, J.R. Watson, Russell E. Richey, Karen B. Westerfield Tucker, Ian M. Randall, Martin Wellings, John Munsey Turner, Stephen J. Plant, Jennifer L. Woodruff Tait, Peter Forsaith, John T. Smith, Laura Davies, Jonathan Rodell.
'This work provides a comprehensive, insightful and stimulating introduction to the global spread of the Methodist movement. It is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how and why Methodism has had such a significant influence in so much of the world.' Joanna Cruickshank, Deakin University, Australia 'This important volume accomplishes a task long overdue: that of assembling a constellation of scholars to examine the story of Wesley's Methodism in its rich mutations and diverse environments. It is essential reading for historians of Protestantism past and present.' John Walsh, University of Oxford, UK '... there is strong, contemporary scholarship throughout... it deserves its place alongside competing volumes and will be a standard work to be consulted for the next generation.' MET Connexion 'Beautifully produced, this companion is an ideal summary of the state of scholarship on global Methodism. In its focus on questions of interest to research students and its worldwide scope it has considerable advantages over both the other recently published companions.' Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society 'The text succeeds in presenting an honest portrayal of the Methodist denomination, taking into account different perspectives on social matters with the tradition. With its detailed scholarship, it constitutes a helpful reference text for graduate students of theology and polity. Ultimately, the volume is most valuable as a resource for those interested in a thorough account of Methodist church history.' Anglican Theological Review 'The fact that this is entitled the Ashgate Research Companion is significant in pointing to its strengths... each article is accompanied by extensive footnotes giving an up to date bibliography on the current state of research in the various topics... some of the articles evidence how, even in the short time since previous publications, their respective subjects have moved on... there is a concerted attempt to explore across all the contributions, how far the 'many Methodisms' that have emerged can share a sense of identity originating in the Wesleys. This challenge is elegantly set out in William Gibson's Introduction.' Wesley and Methodist Studies 'There is a substantial Select Bibliography and Further Reading and a good index; in addition, as a research companion, many articles survey past, recent and current scholarship in their specific areas, and all are fully referenced throughout with bibliographical footnotes. As can be seen, there is a great breadth and depth of coverage of the subject of Methodism, with only a little over-lapping between articles.' Reference Reviews
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