Claremont School of Theology

Course of Study, June 28—July 6, 2010

Rev. Jeff Conklin-Miller, Instructor 

Contact Information:

      Mailing Address: Rev. Jeff Conklin-Miller

      13 Spreading Oak Court

                      Durham, NC  27713

      Telephone/Mobile:   949.842.0164

      Email:     jeff.cm@duke.edu 

Course Description:

This course is a critical reflection on significant individuals, decisive events, and fundamental tenets of the Christian faith as found in the development of United Methodism. Utilizing the categories of grace and faith as focusing lenses, students will appropriate particulars of the Wesleyan heritage and will enter into the church’s ongoing task of interpreting, articulating, and embodying/enacting the gospel in contemporary life. 

Course Objectives:

1. A review of the factors in the English Reformation, the Puritan revolution, and German Pietism that illuminate the Evangelical Revival.
2. Introduction to John, Charles, and Susanna Wesley, with emphasis upon the ministry and theology of John Wesley and the development of Methodist societies within eighteenth-century Anglicanism.
3. Consideration of significant theological and historical developments in Methodism and in the Evangelical United Brethren tradition in nineteenth and twentieth-century America.
4. Reflection upon pressing theological and church polity issues facing contemporary United Methodism.
5. Appreciation for and appropriation of the contributions of historical theology.
6. Continued growth of the pastor’s identity as theologian.

Required Reading:

      Richard P. Heitzenrater, Wesley and the People Called Methodists

      Frederick A. Norwood, The Story of American Methodism

      Scott J. Jones, United Methodist Doctrine: The Extreme Center

      The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2008, [as assigned]

Various Sermons by John Wesley [available online]

      http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/sermons.ii.html [as assigned] 

Supplemental Reading: (recommended, but not required)

Thomas Edward Frank, Polity, Practice and the Mission of The United Methodist Church

      Randy L. Maddox, Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Practical Theology

      Kenneth J. Collins, The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace

      John G. McEllhenney, Frederick E. Maser, Charles Yrigoyen, Jr., and Kenneth E. Rowe,

      United Methodism in America: A Compact History

      Jean Miller Schmidt, Grace Sufficient: A History of Women in American Methodism

      James S. Thomas, Methodism’s Racial Dilemma: The Story of the Central Jurisdiction

Charles Yrigoyen, John G. McEllhenney, Kenneth E. Rowe, eds., United Methodism at Forty:

      Looking Back, Looking Forward 

Before Coming to Claremont: “Pre-Work”

Because our time “in class” will be limited, it is vital that you complete all the reading assignments and the following written assignments before our class begins.  Please Note: On or before June 1, 2010, all of the following written assignments (Paper 1 and Paper 2) must be submitted to the instructor via email (listed above) as either a Microsoft Word Document (.doc format) or an Adobe Document (.pdf).   

Paper 1: Wesley and the Early Methodist Movement: Due June 1, 2010

1. Drawing from Heitzenrater’s book, in your own words, describe the “streams” of influence in eighteenth-century England that create the situation for the evangelical, Wesleyan revival, describing each of the following: Anglicans, Calvinists, Puritans, Nonconformists, and Pietists.  (1 page, double-spaced)
2. As an introduction to the emerging theology and ministry of John Wesley and the Methodist movement, draw from Heitzenrater’s book in order to write brief descriptions or definitions, again, in your own words (3 to 5 sentences each) for each of the following (and note: these are not necessarily in ‘chronological’ order):
1. 
   
2. Thomas a’ Kempis
3. Jeremy Taylor
4. William Law
5. Arminianism
6. “The Holy Club”
7. Fetter Lane Society
8. George Whitfield
9. Peter Böhler
10. Assurance
11. Grace
12. Justification
13. Christian Perfection
14. Field Preaching
15. Bands and Classes
16. General Rules
17. 
    

3. As an introduction to the establishment and development of Methodism in America, draw from Heitzenrater’s book, and Norwood’s book in order to write brief descriptions or definitions (3-5 sentences each) for each of the following:

1. Fluvanna
2. Thomas Coke
3. Francis Asbury
4. “Christmas Conference”

4. As you consider your congregation and your ministry there, reflect on what difference this knowledge of Methodist heritage and theology makes.  Is it significant, or does it seem “alien” to your current situation?  What does this Methodist heritage of belief and practice offer to your congregation?  What do you hope this class will help you to do in your pastoral ministry?  How do you think it will affect the way you think about and preach the faith?  (1-2 pages, double spaced)

Paper 2: Wesleyan/Methodist Theology: Due June 1, 2010

In preparation for your examinations by District Committees and Conference Boards of Ordained Ministry, draw from class readings and your own experience as a pastor/theologian in order to write short definitions, two to three paragraphs long, for each of the terms below that show your understanding of the Wesleyan theological tradition, integrating your pastoral experience and theological perspective.

Prevenient Grace    Regeneration (or the New Birth)

Repentance     Sanctifying Grace (or Sanctification)

Justifying Grace (or Justification)  Christian Perfection 
 
 

Schedule and Reading/Writing Assignments:  (This schedule is subject to change.)

Session 1:  Introductions, Reviewing Methodism’s Historical Context;

      The Birth and Rise of Early Methodism

      Reading: Review Heitzenrater, Ch. 1 

Session 2: The Development of Wesleyan Methodism;

            Wesley’s Leadership of the Methodist Movement

               Reading: Review Heitzenrater, Ch. 2-5

                        John Wesley, “The Nature, Design, and General Rules of Our United

                           Societies” in The Book of Discipline, 2008, ¶103, p. 71-74. 

Assignment 1: After reading chapters 1-5 in Heitzenrater and the “The Nature, Design, and General Rules,” write out short answers (3-5 sentences) to the following questions: Did Wesley want Methodism to become a Church, or did he want it to be a renewal movement inside the Church of England?  List some examples that show why he did, or did not.  Does the Methodist congregation you serve look anything like the early Methodist movement?  What is similar and what is different?  What would happen if you asked the congregation to follow the General Rules? (You will use this material to participate in the class discussion) 

Session 3: Methodism in America

            Reading: Review Heitzenrater, Ch. 6; Review Norwood

               Review for Quiz 

Session 4: Quiz on Wesley and Methodism

            Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition:  The Via Salutis, (The “Way of Salvation”)

               Reading: Review Jones, Ch. 3, 5 

Session 5: Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition:  The Via Salutis, (The “Way of Salvation”)

         Reading: Review Jones, Ch. 6-7

      Recommended Reading: Jones, Ch. 8

      John Wesley, Sermon 5, “Justification by Faith”

      John Wesley, Sermon 17, “The Circumcision of the Heart”   

Session 6:       Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition:  The Means of Grace

                  Reading: Jones, Ch. 9 

Assignment 2: After reading Chapter 9 in Jones, Write out short answers to these questions: 1) What Means of Grace have been centrally important in your spiritual life?  2) What Means of Grace have been centrally important in the life of the congregation you serve?  3) Which of the Means of Grace do you feel God calling you to more intentionally pursue, in your own spiritual life and in the life of the congregation you serve?  (You will use this material to participate in the class discussion.) 

Session 7:     Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition: Engaging the Theological Task

             Reading: Jones, Ch. 10, and

                     “Our Theological Task” in The Book of Discipline, 2004, ¶104, 74-86.

                     “The United Methodist Way” (handout) 

Course Work while at CST

All work must be completed before leaving CST.  Grading will be on the basis of

A       94—100

A-     90—93

B+    87—89

B      86—84

B-   83—80

C+   79—77

C      76—74

C-    73-70

D     Below 70   

      Assignments will contribute to the final grade using the following formula:

Paper 1   30%

Paper 2   30%

Quiz    20%

      Assignment 1 and

Assignment 2   10%

Class Participation  10% 
 

• Students must be present for every class session and participation in class discussion is expected.
• Students must complete all assignments on time, as there are no extensions or make-up exams.
• All written assignments must be typed and double-spaced, and must show attention to the rules of grammar, punctuation, and academic citation.