ABSTRACT As Christian nationalism infiltrates mainstream U.S. politics, there is a growing need to counter false historical narratives. This article is the second of a two-part serial that resists a growing misogynistic demand for women to be “quiet” and “gentle” (1 Peter 3:4) by calling attention to Christian history and tradition. Eighteenth-century British Methodist women routinely made their voices heard with confidence and authority, directly contradicting patriarchal myths that claim holy women act piously by remaining compliant and submissive. Taking a feminist approach, part two shows that early Methodist women spoke out boldly—even when it was considered “vile” or unbecoming—and explores origins of their authority. Specifically, they were sanctioned by John Wesley who published their writing and gave them permission to preach. More importantly, though, early Methodists believed women were sanctioned by God to raise their voices with divine authority.
ABSTRACT This article examines the history of the United Methodist jurisdictional system through theological and cultural lenses.
ABSTRACT Francis Burns’s leadership as the first Black bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church catalyzed a pivotal transformation in the Liberian Methodist mission. This article argues that Burns’s transnational and contextual approach shifted the mission’s priorities from colonial paternalism to indigenous empowerment, inculturation, and organizational self-sufficiency. Drawing on denominational journals, Burns’s correspondence, and contemporary reports, the study situates his work within nineteenth-century Methodist missions and the complexities of Americo-Liberian and indigenous relations. The article follows Burns’s trajectory from his early educational initiatives and circuit preaching to his episcopal leadership, highlighting his expansion of the mission’s focus beyond Americo-Liberians to include indigenous populations and his advocacy for local leadership development. Ultimately, Burns’s strategies facilitated the evolution of the Liberian Conference into a full and equal partner with the American church, establishing a mission model rooted in partnership, local agency, and sustainable growth that influenced Methodist work across Africa.
ABSTRACT As The United States of America celebrates its semiquincentennial it is imperative for those in the Wesleyan Tradition to reflect on the corresponding historical evolution of the new nation and a fledging Methodist movement in the former colonies. This editorial provides commentary on the congruencies and disparities between the nation and denomination.
