<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
In 2016 an experimental small group formed, defined by extreme measures of accountability inspired by John Wesley's early Methodists. The focused theological assumptions of the group were that believers are called to lives of progressive sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit through the means of grace. The key strategic concept was sustained attention and discipline through accountability. This article tells the story of Thirteen while elucidating salient features in Wesley's small-group strategies that were considered in developing Thirteen.
</abstract>

Thirteen: A Story of Growth in Grace Through an Experimental Small Group

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>John Wesley considered the slave trade to be a national disgrace. However, while the American Methodist Church had initially made bold declarations concerning the evils of slavery, the practical application of this principled opposition was seriously compromised, obstructed by the leviathan of the plantation economy prominent in this period of American history. This paper surveys a variety of Methodist responses to slavery and race, exploring the dialectical germination of ideas like holiness, liberty and equality within the realities of the Antebellum context.</abstract>

John Wesley and Methodist Responses to Slavery in America

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This distinctive theological perspective of Charles Wesley (compared with that of his brother, John) is found in his many collections of hymns. In these hymns, words such as ‘renewal‘, ‘restoration,’ and ‘recovery’ are pivotal in describing the effect that God’s work in Christ has on the life of humanity. This language is reinforced by the multiple images (most of them biblical) that Charles Wesley employs in his poetry. The result is an emphasis on salvation as the restoration of God’s perfect kingdom of love, peace, compassion, and justice.
</abstract>

Perfect Love Restored: The Language of Renewal in the Hymns of Charles Wesley

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This article, based on the author’s doctoral research, offers a theological response to the traditional attitudes towards childlessness within the Bakossi community of South West Cameroon. Research reveals a prevalent negative attitude towards those—both men and women—who do not have children. This stigmatization is often reinforced within Christian communities by a reading of scripture that interprets the command to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ as referring exclusively to biological reproduction. In contrast to this, an African cultural feminist hermeneutic can be used to argue for a more holistic interpretation of scripture, one that draws out God’s concern for family, community and creation.
</abstract>

Reconceiving the Theology of Procreation in Response to Stigmatisation of Childlessness<xref ref-type="fn" rid="j_holiness-2021-0002_fn_001">1</xref>

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
In this article, aspects of the Methodism tradition are put in dialogue with characteristics of Latin American liberation theology to explore communal holiness. The article focuses primarily on the words of John Wesley and Gustavo Gutiérrez, considered founders of these movements. The Wesleyan ‘means of grace’ by ‘works of mercy’ is a similar concept to Liberation's ‘encountering God in the poor and oppressed.’ Traits of liberation spirituality are compared to Methodism. The concluding section asserts that in order to be sanctified (made holy), Christians must do it together. This holiness can be activated through works of mercy with the poor and oppressed.
</abstract>

Communal Holiness in the Liberation and Methodist Movements

Mapping Global Methodist Theology

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
One of the neglected themes in the lyrical theology of Charles Wesley is the kingdom of God, what he describes as the peaceable reign of Christ. Inspired by the biblical witness, Wesley's vision revolves around the concepts of reconciliation; the reign in the heart; and righteousness, joy, peace, justice, and compassion as the constitutive elements of an already-but-not-yet reality.
</abstract>

Charles Wesley and the “Peaceable Reign” of Christ

Book Review: <bold><italic>The Bible, Centres and Margins: Dialogues Between Postcolonial African and British Biblical Scholars</italic></bold> Johanna Stiebert and Musa W. Dube (eds.) London: T&amp;T Clark, 2020.

Holistic Education Within The Wesleyan Community: The Ghanaian African Perspective

Éducation Holistique au Sein de la Communauté Wesleyenne : La Perspective Africaine Ghanéenne

Book Review: <bold><italic>Leadership Training in the Hands of the Church: Experiential Learning and Contextual Practices in North Africa and the Middle East.</italic></bold> Joseph Nehemiah, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Langham Global Library, 2021.

Educação Holística na Comunidade Wesleyana: A Perspectiva Afro-Ganense

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>This paper explores the similarities and dissimilarities between the psychological type and temperament profiles of Methodist local preachers and Methodist circuit ministers in the British Methodist Church. New data provided by 80 male and 62 female local preachers who completed the Francis Psychological Type Scales were compared with the profiles of 693 male and 311 female ministers published in 2010. The most important significant difference between the two groups concerns the higher proportions of the Epimethean Temperament (SJ) among both the male (69% compared with 44%) and female (66% compared with 43%) local preachers. The SJ temperament brings a more conservative and conserving approach to ministry.</abstract>

Profiling Methodist leadership

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>John Wesley summarised Methodism’s mission as spreading ‘scriptural holiness’. This article argues that the praxis of social justice as an expression of holiness is integral to the mission of the Church. The following themes from Wesley’s theology are examined: holiness as love; ‘justice, mercy, and truth’; social holiness; works of mercy as a means of grace; stewardship, and ‘the outcasts of men’. It argues that the praxis of justice, mercy and truth is integral to holiness and hence to mission of the Church. A contextualisation of this theme in the context of secularisation and migration is then developed.</abstract>

Holiness, social justice and the mission of the Church: John Wesley’s insights in contemporary context

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The concept of ‘sin’ is rarely expressed in today's popular culture. When the word does appear it is frequently in ironic quotation marks and often used in terms of ‘naughty but nice’, minor misdemeanours, something disapproved of, an outmoded Catholic shame culture, Islamic oppression or fundamentalist extremism. Rarely is it used in the way the Church understands it. By analysing the use of the word in recent news reports and examining its use and absence across the range of twenty-first-century media, this study draws some conclusions about how UK secular society understands the word. It then goes on to explore how some twentieth-century cultural changes have impacted on its understanding, and concludes with some observations on how twenty-first-century Western culture still senses the underlying problem and yearns for a way to express it.</abstract>

Whatever happened to sin? An examination of the word and concept in contemporary popular culture

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>This article explores the connection between social holiness and social justice. It accepts the view of Andrew C Thompson that ‘social holiness’ in Methodist history has a distinctive meaning which was not linked to, and quite different from, the notion of social justice. However, it argues that encountering grace was not restricted to the gathering of Christians in Wesley's theology or practice and that missional engagement opens another channel or means of grace. Acts of mercy are themselves expressions of and encounters with holiness, so that holiness will lead us to justice and justice to holiness. Social holiness and social justice are, thus, part of a divine ecology where one follows the other in the rhythm of discipleship.</abstract>

Social Holiness and Social Justice

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
How can we live together in peace? This article reflects on the need to develop an ethic of social responsibility that values and enhances solidarity. It is a response to the proliferation of violence in many African communities and seeks to argue against egoism (individualism) which it considers the root cause of much political and socio-economic insecurity across the continent. It maintains that a way of addressing this situation is the development of an altruistic mindset. The article thus attempts to combine traditional African cultural and religious narratives with comparable principles within the Christian tradition in order to explore the importance of altruistic action in the contemporary African context.
</abstract>

Living Together in Unity and Interdependence: Reviving the African Spirit of Altruism and Benevolence

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Holiness

An International Journal of Wesleyan Theology

 Holiness is an international journal of Wesleyan theology, published by Wesley House, Cambridge. The journal is dedicated to resourcing and extending the learning of the...

 Holiness is an international journal of Wesleyan theology, published by Wesley House, Cambridge. The journal is dedicated to...