One thing that was revealed last week was a new logo for the denomination. It has met with mixed reviews. Here is the video that introduces it:
So, what do you think?
Monday, June 24, 2013
New Logo
One thing that was revealed last week was a new logo for the denomination. It has met with mixed reviews. Here is the video that introduces it:
So, what do you think?
Fraternal Delegates
The General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene has entered into the actual business phase.
I was very pleased that our general superintendents were faithful to their episcopal position by calling the delegation and guests to an hour of prayer during the first hour of business.
Another thing that I was very pleased to hear was that our fraternal delegates from sister denominations included (perhaps for the first time?!) a representative of the United Methodist Church. We have always been invited to their General Conference, but they have not been included in our General Assembly. Instead we have tended to stick with our closest Wesleyan-holiness sister denominations. This time we have included the UMC, as well.
The full list of denominations represented by fraternal delegates includes: The United Methodist Church, The Wesleyan Church, the Brethren in Christ, the Salvation Army, the Evangelical Methodist Church, the Evangelical Church, the Free Methodist Church, and the Missionary Church. (It may very well be that others were also invited, but these are the ones who have attended).
I plan to be updating the blog on business decisions that I consider to be significant (or at least those things that I am more interested in!)
I was very pleased that our general superintendents were faithful to their episcopal position by calling the delegation and guests to an hour of prayer during the first hour of business.
Another thing that I was very pleased to hear was that our fraternal delegates from sister denominations included (perhaps for the first time?!) a representative of the United Methodist Church. We have always been invited to their General Conference, but they have not been included in our General Assembly. Instead we have tended to stick with our closest Wesleyan-holiness sister denominations. This time we have included the UMC, as well.
The full list of denominations represented by fraternal delegates includes: The United Methodist Church, The Wesleyan Church, the Brethren in Christ, the Salvation Army, the Evangelical Methodist Church, the Evangelical Church, the Free Methodist Church, and the Missionary Church. (It may very well be that others were also invited, but these are the ones who have attended).
I plan to be updating the blog on business decisions that I consider to be significant (or at least those things that I am more interested in!)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Nazarene General Assembly Begins
It has begun! The 2013 General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene! - Well, to be exact, the General Assembly actually begins on Sunday, but the General Conventions have begun.
The General Assembly and Conventions run from June 19 - 27 in Indianapolis.
The Church of the Nazarene’s General Assembly and Conventions convenes every four years, bringing together more than 20,000 Nazarenes from around the world.
The main priority of the General Assembly and Conventions is to bring glory to God. This global event unifies, renews, educates, shapes, and inspires attendees not only as Nazarenes, but also as followers of Christ.
We gather together to focus on our church’s mission, “To Make Christlike Disciples in the Nations.”
This is also the place where decisions will be made concerning the Resolutions I published on this blog last August. - I expect to be blogging about them, as action is taken, beginning Monday. - Hopefully, I will have good news to report!
I am particularly excited about this General Assembly, because I will be presenting a workshop tomorrow (Thursday, June 20) morning. The title of the workshop is "Authentic Christian Worship Using John Wesley's Criteria." It is scheduled for 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, and will be located in Room 243. - If you will be at General Assembly, tomorrow morning, I would love to see you in the workshop!
More information on the General Assembly can be found, here.
For those unable to attend the Assembly, there will be live streaming available. (Although, the workshops are not a part of the live streaming. However, I am told audio of the workshops will eventually be available on-line.)
Hope to see some of you at my workshop!
Wesleyan-Anglican Society News
Our membership comes from various Wesleyan/Methodist & Anglican denominations. It is international in scope.
We are still trying to overcome some hurdles in establishing our bank account, so that we can proceed in collecting dues from members. However, for the time being, we are still accepting new members, and we will get information concerning dues to our members once we establish our account. (Dues have been set at $30 and $15 for students. However, a waiver may be granted due to financial concerns.)
Our constitution can be found in the files section of our Facebook page. - I would encourage those who visit this blog to take a look at the constitution and consider whether membership in the Society might be for you! (Joining the Wesleyan/Anglican Facebook group does NOT constitute membership in the Society.)
At this time, membership requests may be sent to me via Facebook messaging. If you are not on Facebook you can comment, below, leaving me your email address.
We have a growing membership, and it is my hope that YOU will choose to be a part of it!
Todd A. Stepp+
Wesleyan-Anglican Society
Friday, May 31, 2013
One Way of Moving to a Weekly Celebration of the Sacrament
Teddy Ray has posted an article on his site presenting a way to move a congregation to a weekly celebration of the Eucharistic sacrament.
I have pointed out that his article is United Methodist specific in a couple of ways, especially when it comes to what to do if the congregation does not end up "on board." First, it assumes a certain pastoral authority when it comes to ordering worship. While some in other Methodist traditions (e.g., The Wesleyan Church or the Church of the Nazarene) may agree, theologically (or not), the fact is The Book of Discipline gives United Methodist pastors such authority. The Nazarene Manual (and I believe it is the case with the Wesleyan Discipline) is less explicit in this matter. Second, he assumes an assured appointment system. This is not the case for those in a call system. So, for those in a call system, the "fall out" for moving ahead if the congregation is not "on board" can be much greater.
Still, I think that the article is a good read for all of those who see the move to a weekly celebration of the sacrament as of vital importance in the life of the Church.
The article can be found, here.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Trinity Sunday
The denomination in which I am currently serving (the United Methodist Church) is no exception to the orthodox Christian faith. Neither is my own denomination (the Church of the Nazarene). Our very first Article of Faith confesses our belief in the Triune God. Additionally, in our Manual's "Historical Statement," we state that the Church of the Nazarene ". . . receives the ecumenical creeds of the first five Christian centuries as expressions of its own faith." Along side the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed (which, in my local setting, we have made it a practice of confessing alternatingly each Sunday), we find that creed which John Wesley identifies as the best explication of the Trinity he ever saw (cf., his sermon "On the Trinity"), that is the so called Athanasian Creed (or Quicunque Vult) written, most likely within the fifth-century.
The words at the beginning and conclusion of the creed tying the necessity of assent to this faith with salvation have caused much difficulty for many. (Thus, on my side-bar link to the creed, I affirm the faith of the creed as an expression of "Wesleyan/Anglican Belief," while not including the "damnatory statements.") However, according to Ray Dunning, "Edmund J. Fortman says that it is not suggesting that the 'Catholic faith' is merely an intellectual assent but rather that it involves the 'worship of one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity'" (Grace, Faith and Holiness, 226). Wesley, himself, said, "I am far from saying, he who does not assent to this 'shall without doubt perish everlastingly.' For the sake of that an another clause, I, for some time, scrupled subscribing to that creed; till I considered,(1.) That these sentences only relate to wilful, not involuntary, unbelievers; to those who, having all the means of knowing the truth, nevertheless obstinately reject it: (2.) That they relate only to the substance of the doctrine there delivered; not the philosophical illustrations of it" ("On the Trinity"). - Whether one still has trouble with those lines, even after Fortman's and Wesley's explanation, the Athanasius Creed is still a wonderfully thorough confession of Trinitarian faith.
Although, it has been said that it is far too long for liturgical use, I do know at least one Lutheran pastor whose congregation uses it every Trinity Sunday (and I'm sure they are not alone).
I strongly encourage those who are unfamiliar with the creed to read it by clicking, here. (Sorry, it's a bit too long for me to reproduce on my blog.)
Please join me in this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Last Day to Join As a "Founding Member" of the Wesleyan-Anglican Society
Aldersgate Day (see the post, below) is the official start of the year for the Wesleyan- Anglican Society. It is also the last day to join the Society as a "Founding Member." If you have not already joined the Society, but would would like to do so, I would encourage you to read the Constitution. It can be found in the files section of the Wesleyan/Anglican Facebook page, here. Then, those wishing to join can message me (through Facebook), stating your desire to be a member. Please include in that message your name, address, phone, email, denomination/jurisdiction, and your clergy/laity status (if the former, which order). I will then add your name to the Founding Member's list.
(Dues have been set at $30 & $15 for students, with the possibility of a waiver if there is a financial issue. We are not yet collecting dues, but are working on getting a bank account set up.)
(Dues have been set at $30 & $15 for students, with the possibility of a waiver if there is a financial issue. We are not yet collecting dues, but are working on getting a bank account set up.)
Aldersgate Day
*Today is the day that all good Wesleyans/Methodists celebrate! Today is Aldersgate Day! Now, it may be that a few of the readers of this blog may be unfamiliar with Aldersgate. And, of course, it is a strange name, thus, it is not easy to discern what it is about. So, what is Aldersgate Day?
In a nutshell, it is the anniversary of John Wesley's "Evangelical Conversion." As the United Methodist Book of Worship puts it, "On Wednesday, May 24, 1738, John Wesley experienced his 'heart strangely warmed.' This Aldersgate experience was crucial for his own life and became a touchstone for the Wesleyan movement."
So, why is it called "Aldersgate"? Well, the name refers to Aldersgate Street, the location of the Society meeting where Wesley experienced his strangely warmed heart.
Prior to this Aldersgate experience, Wesley had sought assurance of his sins forgiven, but he was unable to obtain it through his many pious works.
During his trip to Georgia, where he would serve as a missionary, the ship on which he was sailing encountered a terrible storm . . . right in the middle of their time of worship. But the thing that caught Wesley’s attention was that, while the English on board were screaming for fear of their lives, the Germans simply continued singing.
Wesley asked one of them, “Weren’t you afraid? Weren’t your women and children afraid?” The man simply said, “Thank the Lord, we were not afraid; we are not afraid to die.”
Later, Wesley met with one of the German pastors for advice. The pastor asked him, “Do you have the witness within? Does the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?” Wesley was caught off guard (not something that happened very often). And so the pastor asked, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” Wesley said, “I know he is the Savior of the world.” The pastor replied, “That’s true, but do you know he has saved you?” Wesley said, “I hope he has died to save me.” “But do you know?” And then comes those powerful lines from John Wesley, “I said, ‘I do.’ But I fear they were vain words.”
However, what was to happen to Wesley on May 24, 1738 would forever change his answer, and forever change the world.
John Wesley, himself, describes what took place that evening in his journal as follows: "In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
Wesleyan/Methodists remember and observe Aldersgate Day, because it not only shaped the life and ministry of John Wesley, but also the entire Methodist movement from that time until today. It not only marks the spiritual experience of Mr. Wesley, but it calls us to worship the God who still "strangely warms the hearts" of all who place their trust in Christ alone as Lord and Savior. This experience illustrates so well the Biblical doctrine of Assurance.
We can, by grace through faith, know our sins forgiven. We can, by grace through faith, have an assurance that Christ has "taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." As the apostle Paul says, "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God . . ." (Romans 8:15-16, NRSV). - Praise be to God!!
Let us pray: Almighty God, in a time of great need you raised up your servants John and Charles Wesley, and by your spirit inspired them to kindle a flame of sacred love which leaped and ran, an inextinguishable blaze. Grant that all those whose hearts have been warmed at these altar fires, being continually refreshed by your grace, may be so devoted to the increase of scriptural holiness throughout the land that in this our time of great need, your will may fully and effectively be done on earth as it is in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
__________________________________________
(Prayer by Fred D. Gealy, as printed in the UMBW.)
(The pictures in this post were taken during my trip to England for the 2001 World Methodist Conference.)
*This post was originally posted in 2011.
In a nutshell, it is the anniversary of John Wesley's "Evangelical Conversion." As the United Methodist Book of Worship puts it, "On Wednesday, May 24, 1738, John Wesley experienced his 'heart strangely warmed.' This Aldersgate experience was crucial for his own life and became a touchstone for the Wesleyan movement."
 |
| Aldersgate Memorial in London |
Prior to this Aldersgate experience, Wesley had sought assurance of his sins forgiven, but he was unable to obtain it through his many pious works.
During his trip to Georgia, where he would serve as a missionary, the ship on which he was sailing encountered a terrible storm . . . right in the middle of their time of worship. But the thing that caught Wesley’s attention was that, while the English on board were screaming for fear of their lives, the Germans simply continued singing.
Wesley asked one of them, “Weren’t you afraid? Weren’t your women and children afraid?” The man simply said, “Thank the Lord, we were not afraid; we are not afraid to die.”
Later, Wesley met with one of the German pastors for advice. The pastor asked him, “Do you have the witness within? Does the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?” Wesley was caught off guard (not something that happened very often). And so the pastor asked, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” Wesley said, “I know he is the Savior of the world.” The pastor replied, “That’s true, but do you know he has saved you?” Wesley said, “I hope he has died to save me.” “But do you know?” And then comes those powerful lines from John Wesley, “I said, ‘I do.’ But I fear they were vain words.”
 |
| This marker is located at the probable site of Wesley's Aldersgate experience |
John Wesley, himself, describes what took place that evening in his journal as follows: "In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
 |
| Another marker in memorial of John & Charles' "Evangelic Conversions" |
We can, by grace through faith, know our sins forgiven. We can, by grace through faith, have an assurance that Christ has "taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." As the apostle Paul says, "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God . . ." (Romans 8:15-16, NRSV). - Praise be to God!!
Let us pray: Almighty God, in a time of great need you raised up your servants John and Charles Wesley, and by your spirit inspired them to kindle a flame of sacred love which leaped and ran, an inextinguishable blaze. Grant that all those whose hearts have been warmed at these altar fires, being continually refreshed by your grace, may be so devoted to the increase of scriptural holiness throughout the land that in this our time of great need, your will may fully and effectively be done on earth as it is in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
__________________________________________
(Prayer by Fred D. Gealy, as printed in the UMBW.)
(The pictures in this post were taken during my trip to England for the 2001 World Methodist Conference.)
*This post was originally posted in 2011.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Pentecost Sunday
Tomorrow (Sunday, 19 May 2013) the Church will celebrate the culmination of the Great Fifty Days, the conclusion of the Easter season, the outpouring of the promise of the Father, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the Church. - John the Baptizer had declared concerning Jesus, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16, NRSV).
Jesus assured the disciples that it would be to their advantage that He would ascend to the Father, because, in doing so, He would send the Holy Spirit (the Advocate/Comforter/Counselor/Helper - parakletos ) to them (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit would teach them everything and remind them of all that Jesus had said to them (14:26), and the Holy Spirit would "prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement (16:8).
Further, Jesus told the apostles, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NRSV).
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples saw the fulfillment of the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit as told by John the Baptizer and the Lord Jesus, as well as the prophet Joel. It is that same outpouring of the Holy Spirit that we enter into by faith and through our baptism, for St. Paul declares, "For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body . . ." (1 Cor. 12:13, NRSV).*
Pentecost is one of the major feast days of the Church, and it should be a great day of celebration for those of us in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. - I recall a conversation several years ago with a pastor from a Presbyterian (USA) congregation. He confessed, he really didn't know what to do with Pentecost. Now, I do not mean to imply that such is the case for all, or even a majority of Presbyterians. I don't know. However, whatever the case for my Presbyterian brother, Nazarenes, whether espousing a 19th century or a classical Wesleyan view (cf. footnote, below) ought to know how to celebrate Pentecost Sunday.
You see, one of the main benefits of Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the possibility of having our hearts cleansed of sin. - As the prophet Ezekiel foretold, there was coming a day when God would ". . . sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statures and be careful to observe my ordinances" (Ezek. 36:25-27, NRSV). And St. Peter, referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the gentiles, argued, "And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us" (Acts 15:8-9).
It is this heart cleansing that has been at the heart (no pun intended!) of the Wesleyan & Methodist movement, and especially so for the Holiness branches of Methodism. It has been referred to by Wesley in connection with the Biblical doctrines of Entire Sanctification and Christian Perfection. In fact, the spread of scriptural holiness throughout the land was the stated purpose of Methodism, first by John Wesley in London in 1733, and then in America, at the famous Christmas Conference in Baltimore in 1784 at the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was the commitment to this purpose that gave rise to the 19th century Holiness Movement within Methodism. And Phineas Bresee said of the Church of the Nazarene, that it is ". . . a part of that body of believers raised up to spread sanctified holiness over these lands, and thus that we are a part of that company who are the real successors of John Wesley and the early Methodists" (Nazarene Messenger, July 15, 1909).
And so, we Wesleyan Christians enthusiastically join our sisters and brothers in Christ from around the world to rejoice and give thanks to God on Pentecost Sunday for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we seek to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
_____________________________
*At this point, those within the Holiness movement will recognize that I take my stand with John Wesley, the Church of history, and those in the classical Wesleyan theological tradition, rather than those who are more consistent with 19th century interpretations. Those debates within the Holiness Movement can be seen in The Wesleyan Theological Journal between 1973 and 1982. Mark Quanstrom discusses it in A Century of Holiness Theology: The Doctrine of Entire Sanctification in the Church of the Nazarene, 1905-2004 (though his bias toward the 19th century view is apparent in his, not always completely accurate portrayal of members of "The Trevecca Connection").
Friday, May 17, 2013
TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
Time is running out on becoming a "Founding Member" of the Wesleyan-Anglican Society. The Society previously indicated that everyone who joined by Aldersgate Day (May 24) 2013 would be considered "Founding Members." Well, that date is just one week away!
I want to encourage the readers of this blog (if you have not already joined the Society) to go to the Wesleyan/Anglican Facebook page. There, you can click on the files section to view our Constitution. If you agree with the membership requirements and would like to become a member, you can message me on Facebook, providing your name, address, phone, email, denomination/jurisdiction, and clergy/laity statue (if clergy, which order). (If you don't have a Facebook account, leave a comment, and we will work out other arrangements.)
You should know, dues have been set (by vote of the Society) at $30 and $15 for students (with the possibility of a waiver due to financial difficulties). However, we have had a bit of a set back, and are not yet ready to receive those dues. As soon as we have established our banking account, we will notify members where they can send their dues.
I hope to hear from a number of you!
I want to encourage the readers of this blog (if you have not already joined the Society) to go to the Wesleyan/Anglican Facebook page. There, you can click on the files section to view our Constitution. If you agree with the membership requirements and would like to become a member, you can message me on Facebook, providing your name, address, phone, email, denomination/jurisdiction, and clergy/laity statue (if clergy, which order). (If you don't have a Facebook account, leave a comment, and we will work out other arrangements.)
You should know, dues have been set (by vote of the Society) at $30 and $15 for students (with the possibility of a waiver due to financial difficulties). However, we have had a bit of a set back, and are not yet ready to receive those dues. As soon as we have established our banking account, we will notify members where they can send their dues.
I hope to hear from a number of you!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Good News for General Assembly
Those of us who have been concerned, in recent days, about the desire of some to move the Church of the Nazarene away from our historical Wesleyan identity and toward a position on the Scriptures that would be more consistent with fundamentalism can breathe a sigh of relief . . . at least for the time being.
"The Report of the Scripture Study Committee to the Twenty-Eighth General Assembly" has been made public. In it, the Committee recommends rejecting a proposed resolution that would alter the Nazarene Article of Faith on Scripture in such a way as to affirm "complete inerrancy." Such a position would be quite different from Articles in the historical Wesleyan/Methodist/Anglican tradition. On the other hand, the position would be much more in line with modern fundamentalist statements about the Bible. - Thankfully, the Committee has proposed that we retain our current Article of Faith. Further, they have presented a helpful evaluation of the strengths of our current Article of Faith.
I said that we "can breathe a sigh of relief . . . at least for the time being," because this is only a report and recommendation of this Committee. It is a Committee charged with studying this situation, and, thus, the delegates of the General Assembly should give it the weight it is due. Nevertheless, it is up to the General Assembly, not simply this Committee, to make the final decision. So, it is possible for the Assembly to reject this Committee's recommendation. - However, the fact that the Committee has given such strong arguments for retaining our current position is a very good sign.
The Report can be read, here.
"The Report of the Scripture Study Committee to the Twenty-Eighth General Assembly" has been made public. In it, the Committee recommends rejecting a proposed resolution that would alter the Nazarene Article of Faith on Scripture in such a way as to affirm "complete inerrancy." Such a position would be quite different from Articles in the historical Wesleyan/Methodist/Anglican tradition. On the other hand, the position would be much more in line with modern fundamentalist statements about the Bible. - Thankfully, the Committee has proposed that we retain our current Article of Faith. Further, they have presented a helpful evaluation of the strengths of our current Article of Faith.
I said that we "can breathe a sigh of relief . . . at least for the time being," because this is only a report and recommendation of this Committee. It is a Committee charged with studying this situation, and, thus, the delegates of the General Assembly should give it the weight it is due. Nevertheless, it is up to the General Assembly, not simply this Committee, to make the final decision. So, it is possible for the Assembly to reject this Committee's recommendation. - However, the fact that the Committee has given such strong arguments for retaining our current position is a very good sign.
The Report can be read, here.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Anglican Roots of Wesleyanism
Here is a brief video of Dr. Melvin Dieter of The Wesleyan Church, who also taught at Asbury, as he talks about the Anglican roots of Wesleyanism.
Why Wesleyan?
Here is a video of Ben Witherington discussing why he is a Wesleyan Christian. Dr. Witherington teaches New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, where I did my doctoral work. He is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church.
The video is a part of the "Seven Minute Seminary" series of videos through Asbury's Seedbed program.
More information about Dr. Witherignton can be found here.
The video is a part of the "Seven Minute Seminary" series of videos through Asbury's Seedbed program.
More information about Dr. Witherignton can be found here.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Wesleyan Theological Society Video
Here is a video by my friend, Brent Peterson, featuring highlights from the recent meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society in Seattle, WA.
I have been a member of the WTS since 1989, although I was not able to make this year's meeting. I presented my paper, "Authentic Christian Worship: Discovering Wesley's Criteria" at the 2009 meeting of the Society. That paper was published under the title, “Authentic Christian Worship: Relevance of Wesley’s Criteria.” in the Wesleyan Theological Journal 45.2. (Fall, 2010.) (The full paper, for those interested, can be view, here.)
I would encourage Wesleyan Christians who are theologically minded to consider the WTS. More information can be found on their website, here. - In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the video!
*** NOTE **** - I have been informed that the original link will soon be broken. Here is the updated link.
I have been a member of the WTS since 1989, although I was not able to make this year's meeting. I presented my paper, "Authentic Christian Worship: Discovering Wesley's Criteria" at the 2009 meeting of the Society. That paper was published under the title, “Authentic Christian Worship: Relevance of Wesley’s Criteria.” in the Wesleyan Theological Journal 45.2. (Fall, 2010.) (The full paper, for those interested, can be view, here.
I would encourage Wesleyan Christians who are theologically minded to consider the WTS. More information can be found on their website, here. - In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the video!
*** NOTE **** - I have been informed that the original link will soon be broken. Here is the updated link.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
A Methodist Cardinal?
With the meeting of the Cardinals to elect a new Pope, I thought this would be a good time to mention a (probably) little known tidbit. Namely, that, yes, indeed, it seems that there has been a Methodist Cardinal!
If one travels to the World Methodist Museum at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina (at the headquarters of the World Methodist Council), or if one picks up the book, Treasures of the World Methodist Museum, one will discover a ring given to Methodist Bishop, Fred P. Corson, by Pope Paul VI. At the time that the Pope gave the ring to the Methodist Bishop, he said, "I have made you a Cardinal In Pectore."
A Cardinal In Pectore literally means, a Cardinal in my breast or heart. It is a way that a Pope makes a "secret Cardinal." Now, as a secret cardinal, they cannot function as a Cardinal unless and until the Pope makes such appointment public. Indeed, in some cases, the person in question may not even be aware of their elevation to the position of Cardinal! However, once it is made public, the Cardinal gains rank among the Cardinals from the time of his In Pectore appointment. - If the appointment is never made public, then the Cardinalship ceases at the time of the Pope's death.
It does not appear that Bishop Corson's appointment was ever made public by the Pope. However, made public or not, whether one is able to function as Cardinal or not, whether one is aware that the Pope has given you that rank or not, a Cardinal In Pectore is, nevertheless, a real, true Cardinal (so long as the Pope is alive)!
Why would a Pope make a secret Cardinal? In general, Popes may do so when it seems that such a person's life would be endangered by giving them such a position. An example of this would be Cardinals named in the People's Republic of China or prior to the fall of the Soviet Union. . . . Perhaps another reason for making a "secret Cardinal" might be that the person in quesiton is a PROTESTANT, METHODIST BISHOP!
It really does raise the question, though, can the Pope really name as Cardinal a non-Roman Catholic, whose orders are not recognized by the Church of Rome?
Well, Bishop Corson was elected a Methodist Bishop in 1944. He also served as the President of the World Methodist Council in 1961. He was an observer at the Second Vatican Council. He also held a number of private audiences Popes, and was considered to be close friends with Pope Paul VI. - And apparently the Bishop of Rome esteemed him so highly he made him a Cardinal In Pectore!
Bishop Corson died in 1985. Pope Paul VI died in 1978.
If one travels to the World Methodist Museum at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina (at the headquarters of the World Methodist Council), or if one picks up the book, Treasures of the World Methodist Museum, one will discover a ring given to Methodist Bishop, Fred P. Corson, by Pope Paul VI. At the time that the Pope gave the ring to the Methodist Bishop, he said, "I have made you a Cardinal In Pectore."
A Cardinal In Pectore literally means, a Cardinal in my breast or heart. It is a way that a Pope makes a "secret Cardinal." Now, as a secret cardinal, they cannot function as a Cardinal unless and until the Pope makes such appointment public. Indeed, in some cases, the person in question may not even be aware of their elevation to the position of Cardinal! However, once it is made public, the Cardinal gains rank among the Cardinals from the time of his In Pectore appointment. - If the appointment is never made public, then the Cardinalship ceases at the time of the Pope's death.
It does not appear that Bishop Corson's appointment was ever made public by the Pope. However, made public or not, whether one is able to function as Cardinal or not, whether one is aware that the Pope has given you that rank or not, a Cardinal In Pectore is, nevertheless, a real, true Cardinal (so long as the Pope is alive)!
Why would a Pope make a secret Cardinal? In general, Popes may do so when it seems that such a person's life would be endangered by giving them such a position. An example of this would be Cardinals named in the People's Republic of China or prior to the fall of the Soviet Union. . . . Perhaps another reason for making a "secret Cardinal" might be that the person in quesiton is a PROTESTANT, METHODIST BISHOP!
It really does raise the question, though, can the Pope really name as Cardinal a non-Roman Catholic, whose orders are not recognized by the Church of Rome?
Well, Bishop Corson was elected a Methodist Bishop in 1944. He also served as the President of the World Methodist Council in 1961. He was an observer at the Second Vatican Council. He also held a number of private audiences Popes, and was considered to be close friends with Pope Paul VI. - And apparently the Bishop of Rome esteemed him so highly he made him a Cardinal In Pectore!
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| Pope Paul VI and Bishop Fred P. Corson (picture found on eBay) |
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