The Methodist Defense of Women in Ministry

The Methodist Defense of Women in Ministry
Author: Paul W. Chilcote
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2017-11-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1498283322

John Wesley promoted the ministry of women in early Methodism. Amazing women like Phoebe Palmer, Catherine Booth, and Frances Willard—founding figures in the holiness movement, the Salvation Army, and the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union—claimed biblical precedent for their groundbreaking ministries. They withstood the onslaught of criticism and hostility from those who thought they had stepped out of their proper sphere. Methodists have championed the cause of women and developed biblical, spiritual, and practical arguments for their ministry for two and a half centuries. More than fifty documents from the history of Methodism chronicle the tortuous journey leading to biblical equality in this family of churches. At a time when the ministry of women is under serious attack in a number of quarters, yet again, we all have much to learn from the witness of Wesleyan Christians who argued for women’s ministry. This story illustrates how faithful women, when they knew they had the Lord’s approval, stood “like the beaten anvil to the stroke.” Courage. Defiance. Perseverance. Faithfulness. These qualities define the Methodist defense of women in ministry.

She Offered Them Christ

She Offered Them Christ
Author: Paul W. Chilcote
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 145
Release: 2001-06-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1579106684

Twentieth-century United Methodist women will meet some of their female predecessors in this fascinating account of early Methodism. For decades, the role of women in early Methodism has been overshadowed by that of their male counterparts. She Offered Them Christ is a piece of United Methodist family history that serves as a link between today's women in The United Methodist Church and their predecessors in the early history of The Methodist Church. Women preachers in John Wesley's day had his support, encouragement, and formal approval to travel and preach. Wesley valued the full involvement of women in the life of early Methodism. Unfortunately, Wesley's support for women was not shared by other male leaders of the movement; and shortly after Wesley's death, women preachers were censured. Paul W. Chilcote has collected in one volume the stories of Methodism's early women preachers - including excerpts from their diaries and journals - and introduces a segment of women's (and United Methodist) history that will enlighten today's church as it fosters an understanding of John Wesley's appreciation of and support for women in early Methodism. Today's United Methodists will find She Offered Them Christ to be a rich legacy of John Wesley's power and vision for the role of women in The Methodist Church. Wesley's message reached across the decades to provide today's United Methodists - especially women - with affirmation, encouragement, and support.

Two Views on Women in Ministry

Two Views on Women in Ministry
Author: Zondervan,
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2010-02-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310864518

The role of women in positions of worship and church leadership is one of the most divisive and inconclusive biblical debates. Two Views on Women in Ministry furnishes you with a clear and thorough presentation of the two primary exegetical arguments so you can better understand each one's strengths, weaknesses, and complexities. Egalitarian - equal ministry opportunity for both genders (represented by Linda L. Belleville and Craig S. Keener) Complementarian - men and women fill distinctive ministry roles (represented by Craig L. Blomberg and Thomas R. Schreiner) This revised edition brings the exchange of ideas and perspectives into the traditional Counterpoints format. Each author states his or her case and is then critiqued by the other contributors. The fair-minded, interactive Counterpoints forum allows you to compare and contrast the two different positions and form your own opinion concerning the practical and often deeply personal subject of women in ministry. The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

Fill My Heart with Love

Fill My Heart with Love
Author: Paul W. Chilcote
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 87
Release: 2021-12-17
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 166670816X

Do you long to draw closer to God in prayer and song? Imagine what a 30-day conversation with devout followers of Jesus might mean for your own journey. Featuring the spiritual writings of Methodist women and hymns written by women of many Christian traditions, this devotional resource will open your life to deeper connection with God. These creative women invite you through prayer and song to consider what it would mean for God to fill your heart with love. Each of the thirty readings includes a scriptural text, a prayer, and a hymn selection from The United Methodist Hymnal, covering a full spectrum of spiritual themes. Recommendations for the use of the book are also included, both for individuals and small groups. Immerse yourself for a month in the wisdom of these women, open your heart to the indwelling of God's grace and love, and see what the Spirit births in your lives.

Women Pioneers in Continental European Methodism, 1869-1939

Women Pioneers in Continental European Methodism, 1869-1939
Author: Paul W. Chilcote
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2018-08-06
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1351802100

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.

Guidelines Women's Ministries

Guidelines Women's Ministries
Author: United Methodist Womens Division
Publisher: Cokesbury
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2016-11-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1501830031

The purpose of United Methodist Women “is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.” This Guideline is designed to help implement and guide the work of the ministry area. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more.

British Methodist Revivalism and the Eclipse of Ecclesiology

British Methodist Revivalism and the Eclipse of Ecclesiology
Author: James E. Pedlar
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 195
Release: 2023-12-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1003813178

Revivalism was one of the main causes of division in nineteenth century British Methodism, but the role of revivalist theology in these splits has received scant scholarly attention. In this book, James E. Pedlar demonstrates how the revivalist variant of Methodist spirituality and theology empowered its adherents and helped foster new movements, even as it undermined the Spirit’s work through the structures of the church. Beginning with an examination of unresolved issues in John Wesley’s ecclesiology, Pedlar identifies a trend of increasing marginalization of the church among revivalists, via an examination of three key figures: Hugh Bourne (1772-1852), James Caughey (1810-1891), and William Booth (1860-1932). He concludes by examining the more catholic and irenic theology of Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932), the leading Methodist revivalist of the early twentieth century who became a strong advocate of Methodist Union. Pedlar shows that these theological differences must be considered, alongside social and political factors, in any well-rounded assessment of the division and eventual reunification of British Methodism.