The Editor’s Page

“Return to the Spirit and Discipline of
Historic Methodism Must be Real”

The theme of the 18^th CME Convention recently concluded at Birmingham, always “Refocusing on Our Wesleyan Heritage.” In choosing this theme, the Church dealt with a variation on its quadrennial theme, “Refocusing: From Survival to Revival and Renewal of the Church.” For the past two years or so, since the 2002 General Conference, there have been countless sermons preached, workshops held, and papers written on the constructs of “focus,” and “renewal.” There is a consensus that in order for the denomination to be better prepared for the new millennium, we must recapture the spirit of our origin. And for this Convocation, that meant going back to study and revisit our identity not simply as Christian Methodists, but our Wesleyan heritage. 

I felt that it was a wonderful thing for CMEs to go back to rediscover our foundation stemming from John Wesley. While generally the average loyal CME probably has a good sense of our history relating to our birth at Jackson, TN, in 1870, under the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, our identity in Wesley perhaps could benefit from sound re-education.

We saw a return to this ideal first manifested at the 2004 Pastors’ Conference in Atlanta, GA, where the theme focused on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. There, we were stimulated in our discussions on Wesley’s four authorities for life: Bible, Logic/Reason, Tradition, and Experience. We revisited those concepts at the Convocation and drew from them some relevance to our present day needs for life and witness.

In his keynote address, Bishop Paul Stewart Sr. reminded us of the simple, disciplined, and tenacious nature of John and Charles Wesley, whose legacy could be summed up in their ideals for the spirituality of the common man. Bishop Stewart said that as a denomination, we must embrace/ return to that same type of discipline and spirituality.

Rev. Charles Tollette, a ministerial associate and consultant at Phillips Temple CME in Dayton, OH, conducted a workshop on Wesleyan ministry during the convocation. Drawing parallels and contrasts with Wesleyan methodologies, Rev. Tollette emphasized the extent that we have gotten away from Wesley’s initial modes of worship. “We must recognize that, in most cases, the methodology of CME ministry is not that of Wesley,” Rev. Tollette said. He went on to make the point that today our post-modern existence is fraught with widely varying world views and languages of worship. “We must analyze the similarities and differences between the postmodern society and the society of John Wesley,” Tollette said.  The expression of our Wesleyan heritage ought to be seen in all aspects of worship and ministry-our music, use of media, and outreach to youth, young adults, and persons who are yet unevangelized. There needs to be a rekindling of the Wesleyan spirit. The challenge for us as a denomination, therefore, is to make it all stick. As we continue to reenergize our church through thematic expression, let our themes alone not serve as mere lip service. If indeed we can find some meaningful tools for recapturing the spirit of our Wesleyan heritage, then let it be so. In last year’s Convocation in New Orleans, we were committed to “rebuild the village.” In the 1998 to 2002 quadrennium, we were a “transformed” church. Yes, there is a continual thread that runs through all of these. We are ever seeking to look to the future, our past, and our current surroundings to find that which will enable us to remain true to the ministry of the gospel of Christ. But let our words, focus, and our themes, not be servient of themselves, but that our hearts, minds and efforts reflect changes that result in a bold Church that speaks to the spiritual needs of its people.

Rev. Kenneth Elvis Jones, D. Min., Ph. D.