DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to help students understand and evaluate the origins, organization, outreach, religious life, and significant developments of the United Methodist tradition within its historical context in order to prepare for effective leadership in the movement and engagement in ecumenical dialogue.

This course is required by the United Methodist Church Board of Higher Education and Ministry for ordination, and prepares the participant for ordination examinations and for the local church pastorate.

The class will meet for five weeks (January 12-February 14) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00- 5:50 p.m.

Norwood, Frederick A. The Story of American Methodists. Nashville: Abingdon, 1974.

Behney, J. Bruce, and Paul H. Eller. The History of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Edited by Kenneth W. Krueger. Nashville: Abingdon, 1979.

Bucke, Emory S., ed. The History of American Methodism. 3 vols. Nashville: Abingdon, 1964.

Chilcate, Paul Wesley. John Wesley and the Women Preachers of Early Methodism. Metuchen: American Theological Library Association and the Scarecrow Press, 1991.

Gonzalez, Justo. Each in Our Own Tongue: History Hispanic United Methodism. Nashville: Abingdon, 1991.

Heard, William H. From Slavery to the Bishopric. Salem: Arno Press, 1969.

Heitzenrater, Richard P. The Elusive Mr. Wesley, 2 vol. set. Nashville: Abingdon, 1992.

_________. Mirror and Memory Reflections on Early Methodism. Nashville: Kingswood Books and imprint of Abingdon, 1989.

Jones, Donald G. The Sectional Crises and Northern Methodism: A Study in Piety, Political Ethics and Civil Religion. Metuchen: Scarecrow Press, 1979.

McClain, William B. Black People in the Methodist Church. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995.

McEllhenney, John. United Methodism in America: A Compact History. Nashville: Abingdon, 1992.

Norwood, Frederick A., ed. Sourcebook of American Methodism. Nashville: Abingdon, 1982.

Richey, Russell E., Kenneth E. Rowe, and Jean Miller Schmidt, eds. Perspectives on American Methodism: Interpretive Essays. Nashville: Kingswood Books, 1993.

Smeltzer, Wallace. Bishop Frances Asbury: Field Marshal of the Lord. Denver: The Author, 1982.

Sweet, William Warren. Methodism in American History. Rev. ed. Nashville: Abingdon, (1933) 1954.

In addition to the assigned readings, which should be completed before each class session, requirements include: 1) A midterm exam covering required reading, including chapters 1-22 of Norwood's The Story of American Methodists and related class lectures; 2) a critical paper, no more than 12 pages, on a topic related to United Methodist history, topic to be approved by instructor; 3) reading a minimum of 800 pages from the reading list or other course related works and submission of an annotated bibliography on your reading; 4) attendance and participation in the class session expected of those seeking credit.