In Wesleyan Pneumatology, Pentecostal Mission, and the Missio Dei, Jody B. Fleming argues that missiology in a Wesleyan context has been heavily influenced by the Western worldview and needs renewal. Spirituality is central to living in many non-western cultures, integrated with the physical world of everyday life. Wesleyan traditions may need to renew and strengthen the pneumatology found in their mission theory and praxis. As the center of Christianity is shifting to the global south, Pentecostal and charismatic expressions of the faith are becoming more prominent. Without forfeiting their solid foundations, what might the Wesleyan traditions learn from their theological cousins about engagement with the Holy Spirit? How might pneumatology be renewed in order to address spiritual beliefs found in other cultures in both global and local settings? Renewal also includes the indigenous voice as essential for understanding cultural dynamics and spirituality. Contextualization is not new to missiology and so mission theory is explored from Latin American scholars as another point for renewal. Partnerships in mission and the role of the Holy Spirit are highlighted in the of field work conducted in Venezuela. In Renewing the Spark the author suggests that a fresh look at pneumatology will more effectively articulate the gospel in holistic and spirit-centered non-western cultures.

The promises of God formed the basis of John Wesley's optimism of grace. Wesley believed God not only could but in fact would fulfill all his promises to bring salvation to the nations; to make new heavens and a new earth; to liberate the whole creation from its bondage to decay (Rom. 8:21). This collection of essays by respected Wesleyan theologian Howard A. Snyder reflects the spirit of Wesley's optimism of grace. The first half of this collection offers an overview of Wesley's theology and practice, particularly with regard to gospel, mission, and culture. Part Two examines the inter-dynamic between church renewal and global mission. The collection also includes Wesleyan appraisals of Clark Pinnock's theology and the ecclesiology of Karl Barth. Howard A. Snyder serves as distinguished professor and chair of Wesley Studies at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Previously he was professor of history and theology of mission in the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky from 1996 to 2006. He has also taught at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, and pastored in Chicago and Detroit. He has written numerous books, including " The Problem with Wineskins " (IVP), " The Radical Wesley " (IVP) and, most recently " Populist Saints: B. T. and Ellen Roberts and the Birth of Free Methodism " (Eerdmans). "

Description: John Wesley has arguably influenced more American Christians than any other Protestant interpreter. One reason for this wide influence is that Wesley often spoke about the "heart" and its "affections"--that realm of life where all humans experience their deepest satisfactions, as well as some of their deepest conundrums. However, one of the problems of interpreting and appropriating Wesley is that we have been blinded to Wesley''s actual views about "heart religion" by contemporary stereotypes about "affections" or "emotions." Because of this, it is rare that either Wesley''s friends or his critics appreciate his sophisticated understanding of affective reality. To make clear what Wesley meant when he emphasized the renewal of the heart, Gregory S. Clapper summarizes some recent paradigm-changing accounts of the nature of "emotion" produced by contemporary philosophers and theologians, and then applies them to Wesley''s conception of the heart and its affections. These accounts of emotion throw new light on Wesley''s vision of Christianity as a renewal of the heart and make it possible to reclaim the language of the heart, not as a pandering or manipulative rhetoric, but as the framework for a comprehensive theological vision of Christian life and thought. The book closes with several practical applications that make clear the power of Wesley''s vision to transform lives today. Endorsements: For years Gregory Clapper has given himself mind, heart, and soul to understanding and unpacking Wesley''s vision of heart religion. We have here the fruit of that work in all its beauty and density. In addition he rounds it off with a fine exploration of the significance of Wesley''s heart religion for preaching, counseling, and evangelism. This is a fine achievement that deserves to be read throughout the length and breadth of the Church. -William J. Abraham Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University After years of careful study Gregory Clapper has produced a very readable and engaging account of the human heart in terms of the religious affections. Not only does he maintain that the heart is the locus of God''s action, clearing up some contemporary misunderstandings, but he also demonstrates quite convincingly that the religious affections for Wesley constituted the very substance of true religion, the nature of real Christianity itself. -Kenneth J. Collins Asbury Theological Seminary Among Wesleyan Christians recently there is talk about not being doctrinal, expressing especially a fear of confessionalism. This misconstrual of the tradition represents the equation of confessional truth with creedal litmus tests. Clapper knows better! His important work reflects the Wesleyan teaching that what we believe with our head and with our heart go together. Faith is both a matter of mental affirmation of historic Christian truth as well as a deep abiding trust in that truth as salvific reality. To those who might assert that the mission of God''s Church can go forward with an Evangel that separates this conjunctive theology, Clapper says loud and clear, "I show you a more excellent way." -W. Stephen Gunter Duke Divinity School By bringing together Wesley''s concern for the renewal of the heart and recent emotion theory, Clapper offers a bold vision for the church. He gives an account of how thinking, feeling, and acting belong together in who we are before God, then he calls the church to consider its role in shaping believers in all these dimensions. This book is a valuable resource for all who take John Wesley as a guide for their ministry. -Sarah Heaner Lancaster Methodist Theological School in Ohio At last-a thoughtful and accessible account of Wesley''s theology that addresses the central challenge of the church in our day as in his: the re-ordering of our loves. Clapper provides a much-needed voice of challenge to those who would dismiss the affectional ground of Christian faith or take it captive for non-Gospel p

John Wesley has arguably influenced more American Christians than any other Protestant interpreter. One reason for this wide influence is that Wesley often spoke about the heart and its affections - that realm of life where all humans experience their deepest satisfactions, as well as some of their deepest conundrums. However, one of the problems of interpreting and appropriating Wesley is that we have been blinded to Wesley's actual views aboutJohn Wesley has arguably influenced more American Christiansthan any other Protestant interpreter. One reason for this wide influence is that Wesley often spoke about the heart and its affections - that realm of life where all humans experience their deepest satisfactions, as well as some of their deepest conundrums. However, one of the problems of interpreting and appropriating Wesley is that we have been blinded to Wesley's actual views about

The first volume in the T&T Clark Companions series, 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 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.

Yrigoyen (general secretary, General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church) presents a collection of 21 essays that measure the impact of John Wesley and his followers across the world. The philosophy of mission is examined in broad and more specific contexts and the issue of inculcation and the sacraments is discussed. The bulk of the chapters look at the spread of Wesley's message in Latin America, Africa, the United States, Asia, and Europe from its origins in Great Britain. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

A Future that’s Bigger than the Past sets out a vision for renewing the local church that is energising, realistic and practical for small and large congregations alike. In response to prevailing narratives of decline, it reimagines how the church can live its vocation of receiving the abundance God gives us, and sharing that abundance far and wide. It recognises the surprising, exuberant and plentiful things that the Holy Spirit is doing in the world and calls the church to celebrate creation, enjoy culture and share in their flourishing. With a rich theological foundation and borne out in the practical experience of a growing number of local church communities, this groundbreaking book will enable churches to discover fresh ways in which they can become a blessing to the communities they serve.

In Faith Seeking Action, author Gregory Leffel links a description of the church as a global movement with a description of contemporary social movements that are actively challenging today's societies, such as the environmental, global justice, and identity movements. Not surprisingly, Christian communities and communities of social activists share much in common as they each work to enrich their societies. It is natural then to ask what missionally-concerned Christians may learn from social movements about the public role of their churches, the connection of their beliefs to social change, and the mobilization of their people. It can also be asked how these often divided communities may find ways to collaborate around common actions rooted in such shared values as peace, justice, life, and the integrity of the environment. Building on growing interest in the field of missiology and its "missional church" concept, Leffel has created a dialog between the church as a social actor and social movements. Along with introducing movement theory to mission studies, Leffel introduces a new way of addressing the issues involved in the church's engagement with society, a concept he calls missio-ecclesiology. Of interest to those seeking vital ways to live out their faith in the world—missiologists, missional church leaders, and street-level workers alike—this work fuels fresh thinking about the church's role in cultural and social change.