
John Wesley Stained Glass
A detail from a stained glass window, "John Wesley preaching in Moorfields in 1738," at St Botolph's in Aldersgate, created by Farrah Bell in 1955. (By Andrewrabbott (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons)
UPDATED July 3, 2024
With the commencement of this occasional series, I am honoring a sense I have had for the past few years: to write here on Oboedire specifically about the Wesleyan tradition. I have done this in some of my books, and occasionally in previous Oboedire posts over the years. But I have not produced an Oboedire series specifically about this.
My impulse to do this comes from a larger context of stewardship as I get older. The fact is, I am one of a few to have studied Wesleyan Spirituality at the PhD level, and more, to have done so with Dr. Frank Baker. I have sought to honor that privilege over the years; I feel called to it now through this series—a kind of “legacy writing” as I run the final laps of the race. Like markers on a trail left by rangers and hikers, I hope this series will guide you on a good path, as the Wesleys have me since 1977, when I began my doctoral study at Duke University. [1]
I am also writing the series because I believe Wesleyan Christianity has a formative role to play in the emerging United Methodist Church…and…in the ongoing New Awakening we are experiencing today.
I have entitled the series “Wesley Windows” because that’s the kind of people John and Charles have been to me: people who invite us to look through them (not at them) to see the way of salvation (abundant living) offered to us by God in Christ. I have been blessed by other “window people” (present and past, living and dead), but the Wesleys have been that to me in a major way. I feel a sense of need and responsibility to write about how this is so.
I have decided to write more as a gazer through the Wesleyan window rather than trying to organize the posts in a particular way at the outset. I will write about things I have seen and heard in and through the Wesleys as they come to mind. Each post will be a way of my saying to you, “Look at this!” As you do, I am confident you’ll be glad you did.
[1] I have to note that my Wesleyan journey did not begin at Duke. I see precursors all the way back to my local Methodist Church in Haskell, Texas. I see it in my college and seminary education as well. I particularly remember it in my reading of Albert Outler’s book ‘John Wesley’ (still in print) and through the writings of E. Stanley Jones. Things like this are no doubt the magnets that attracted me later to study the Wesleys in more detail.
Because this series will be occasional, it will unfold over time. So, I am posting at the outset a list of resources you can use to explore the ideas of others at your own pace. This list will be archived in the “Wesleyan Windows” and “Resources” categories on the Oboedire home page.
Resource Sites….Before listing a limited number of books that you can use in studying Wesleyan formation, I offer these websites, where you can find a wealth of primary and secondary materials free of charge
Recommended Books. The following is an abbreviated list of books to help you study Wesleyan formation in more detail. I have chosen them, in part because they have numerous footnotes and bibliographies which will take you even farther into the subject….
For starters, I would suggest that you use Albert Outler’s book, "John Wesley" (Oxford University Press, 1964). It remains in print and is an excellent anthology. Outler’s essays are gems as well.
After that, Rueben Job’s "A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader" (Abingdon Press, 1997) will keep you moving in a good way. Job’s essays are excellent too.
In addition to these two resources, here are others you will find helpful….
- Paul W. Chilcote, ed., "The Wesleyan Tradition" (Abingdon Press, 2002)
- Paul Chilcote & Steve Harper, "Upward! Wesleyan Formation in Three Movements" (Abingdon Press, 2004)
- Steve Harper, "The Way to Heaven" (Zondervan, 2003)
- Diane Leclerc & Mark A. Maddix "Spiritual Formation: A Wesleyan Paradigm" (Beacon HillPress, 2011)
- David Lyle Jeffrey, ‘"A Burning and Shining Light: English Spirituality in the Age of Wesley" (Eerdmans,1987)
- Randy L. Maddox, "Responsible Grace"(Kingswood Books, 1994)
- Frank Whaling, ed., "John and Charles Wesley"(Paulist Press, 1981)