This essay is an attempt to evaluate the methods of evangelism used by John Wesley during the course of his long ministry in the eighteenth century. Wesley's methods are important, since by their use he exercised a remarkable influence upon the religious and social life of eighteenth-century England. They have a continuing importance, too, for a Church that wants to carry out her Lord's "Great Commission" effectively. In the history of the Church Wesley stands in the front rank of those who have significantly carried forward the mission of the Church. Therefore we do well to pause and learn what we can from his example and experience. Intro., p. 1.

The diploma thesis "Early Methodists Social Work against the background of social and political-economic history of England" deals with the causes of the origin of Methodism, and most importantly it deals with the description of John Wesley's social activites. He tried to confirm the thesis that the social feeling of Methodists at that time also was, besides other things, a reaction to the relationship of the Church of England to the needy and suffering ones. The first part is about the social, political and economic history of England during the 16-18th centuries, which are instrumental in looking into and understanding the social conditions of that time. The second part, and the pivotal one, briefly introduces the causes of Methodism as well as it slighty mentions John Wesley's motivations of his social feeling and actions. The major part of the chapter relates to individual social activities that Wesley considered to be significant ones and that he applied in practise with other Methodists. It is evident that Wesley's social work was strongly driven and determined as well as it was rightly directed towards its aim at the needful ones. The Methodists laid the foundations of organized social care. The work of John Wesley was influential in the further development of social work, and also it is...

Thesis (doctoral)--Bochum, Universiẗat, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-209).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:18:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Glauber S.pdf: 460314 bytes, checksum: 01c9c73ccea6537af694de183ce47631 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-18 / This work consists in a comparative study of the writings of John Wesley (1703-1791) and Ellen G. White (1827-1915) seeking to define the concept of sanctification in each author. A description may be found of the factors that led to the elaboration of Wesley s and White s perception. Similarities between both authors are verified, such as continuous growth, negation of sinlessness, the need for constant dependency in God and obedience to His law. Differences between both authors are also studied, such as Wesley s concepts of instantaneous sanctification, the second work of grace, and White s concepts of character perfection and spheres of perfection. This work also discusses contributions and implications that may be presented to the theological debate in today s theology, such as human finiteness, sin and human nature, religious motivations for praxis and divine/human collaboration for development. / Este trabalho consiste em um estudo comparativo entre os escritos de John Wesley (1703-1791) e Ellen G. White (1827-1915) procurando definir os conceitos de santificação de cada autor. São descritos os fatores que levaram a elaboração desta percepção tanto em John Wesley como em Ellen G. White e verificadas as congruências entre os autores estudados como o conceito de amadurecimento contínuo, a negação de impecabilidade, a necessidade de dependência constante em Deus e obediência à Sua lei entre outros. São verificadas também as divergências entre ambos os autores, como os conceitos wesleyanos de santificação instantânea, a segunda obra da graça, e os conceitos whiteanos de perfeição de caráter e esferas de perfeição. Neste trabalho, também são destacadas algumas contribuições e implicações para a teologia na atualidade como os conceitos da finitude humana, o pecado e a natureza humana, a práxis e suas motivações religiosas e a colaboração divino/humana no desenvolvimento.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:20:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Helmut Renders.pdf: 1980026 bytes, checksum: 3af6f4875a45e2224a230620343d5cb9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-12-04 / This study investigates the elements of the soteriology of John Wesley and its dynamic aspects. Instead of favoring a specific period of the life of John Wesley, the theological biography of John Wesley is developed based on the concept of the sedimentation of experience. In this manner, the theologia viatorum of John Wesley is developed with a focus on its transverse elements and their unfolding in terms of communitarian, synergetic and public aspects. According to the thesis, the theologia viatorum of John Wesley gains depth and vitality with its growing and conscious learning from and commitment to the English people, and, in special, with the poor of England. Accompanied by a careful self-analysis, Wesley begins offers an analysis of the diverse soteriologies of his day, which are marked by a slow transition between the Medieval era and modernity. There arises a reconstruction characteristic of soteriology, currently called social soteriology. We understand this social soteriology as a pivotal point in the theology of John Wesley, which manifests itself in a typical soteriological anthropology, Christology, pneumatology, eschatology and ecclesiology. The communitarian, synergetic and public aspects of this social soteriology are seen and developed by Wesley based on his own experience and life with the people, their dynamics, their culture, their needs and their competencies. Such aspects lead, step by step, toward a praxis that begins to contemplate the interconnections between the reform of the Church, the nation and the transformation of persons. This movement is co- motivated by an utopist soteriological horizon that foresees the continuation of the theologia viatorum until the transformation of the entire cosmos. This social soteriology appears as a web that closely accompanies the socio-economic and religious topography of the its time, and seeks paths to overcome impasses, despair, and irresponsibility in relation to the poor.(AU) / Este estudo investiga os elementos da soteriologia de John Wesley e seus aspectos dinamizantes. Em vez de favorecer um determinado período da vida de Jonh Wesley, a biografia teológica de John Wesley é desenvolvida a partir do conceito da sedimentação de experiência. Dessa forma, a theologia viatorum de John Wesley é desenvolvida com foco nos seus elementos transversais e os crescentes desdobramentos dos mesmos segundo os seus aspectos comunitários, sinergéticos e públicos. Segundo esta tese, a theologia viatorum de John Wesley ganha em profundidade e vitalidade com a sua crescente e consciente aprendizagem e compromisso com o povo inglês e, em especial, com os pobres da Inglaterra. Acompanhado por uma cuidadosa auto-análise, Wesley parte para a análise do efeito de diversas soteriologias dos seus dias no cotidiano, as quais são marcadas pela demorada transição entre a época medieval e a modernidade. Surge uma re-construção característica da soteriologia, designado por nós como soteriologia social. Entendemos esta soteriologia social como o eixo principal da teologia de John Wesley que se manifesta numa típica antropologia, cristologia, pneumatologia, escatologia e eclesiologia soteriológica. Os aspectos comunitários, sinergéticos e públicos desta soteriologia social são vistos e desenvolvidos por Wesley a partir da auto-experiência e da convivência com o povo, suas dinâmicas, sua cultura, suas necessidades e suas competências. Tais aspectos levam, passo a passo, a uma práxis que começa a contemplar o entrelaçamento entre a reforma da igreja, da nação e a transformação de pessoas. Este movimento é comotivado por um horizonte soterioló gico utópico que prevê a continuação da theologia viatorum até na transformação do cosmo inteiro. A soteriologia social é parecida com a um tecido que acompanha a topografia socio-econômica e religiosa da época, procurando caminhos para a superação dos seus impasses, da sua desesperança e irresponsabilidade em relação aos pobres.(AU)

[pt] A noção de casa comum, termo usado pelo atual Papa católico para despertar o cuidado com o planeta em que vivemos, remete também ao ideal da fé cristã de que todas as pessoas, em harmonia com toda a criação, sob o cuidado e direção de Deus, viverão relações alegria, paz e justiça, segundo o propósito original da criação. Por ter este projeto como parte integrante de sua fé, cabe aos cristãos buscar colaborar de maneira decisiva para a realização concreta dele. E, como sinalização deste propósito, é preciso testemunhar a possibilidade de expressões de unidade visível, a começar dos próprios cristãos. Da mesma forma, o cuidado com o planeta evidencia a esperança cristã da renovação do mundo todo e, assim, devem os cristãos ser protagonistas nesta questão urgente deste tempo. Este trabalho aproxima a temática da unidade dos cristãos com a da ecologia, enxergando-as como questões da casa comum, e busca na questão da santidade um fundamento de fé e espiritualidade motivador para a reflexão e engajamento prático nessas questões. Como expressão mais concreta disso, relacionará as abordagens de John Wesley e do Papa Francisco sobre a santidade, de maneira a verificar como ela, de fato, pode promover essas questões da casa comum, o que aponta para a viabilidade dessa relação em outras tradições cristãs. / [en] The notion of common home, a term used by the current Catholic Pope to call for care for the planet we live in, also refers to the Christian faith s ideal that all people, in harmony with all creation, under God s care and guidance, will live in joyful, peaceful and just relationships, according to the original purpose of creation. Having this project as an integral part of their faith, it is up to Christians to seek to collaborate in a decisive way for its concrete realization. And, as a sign of this purpose, it is necessary to witness the possibility of expressions of visible unity, beginning with Christians themselves. In the same way, the care for the planet evidences the Christian hope for the renewal of the whole world, and thus Christians must be protagonists in this urgent issue of this time. This work brings Christian unity and ecology together, seeing them as issues of the common home, and seeks in the issue of holiness a foundation of faith and spirituality to motivate reflection and practical engagement on these issues. As a more concrete expression of this, it will relate John Wesley s and Pope Francis approaches to holiness in order to see how holiness in fact can promote these issues of the common home, which points to the viability of this relationship in other Christian traditions.

There is without doubt as much criticism of Liberation Theology as there is understanding regarding the need for a theology which seeks answers to the effectiveness of the Christian witness, against a background of mounting poverty, the oppression of woman and continued discrimination by one race against another, worldwide. Many scholars struggle with the revolutionary and often hostile nature and methodology of Liberation Theology. This paper attempts to enter into a conversation between the theology of John Wesley and Liberation Theology. The theology of John Wesley had a tremendous impact on social, political and economic areas of the Eighteenth century England. It was in many ways a revolutionary theology. This paper takes as a standpoint, the need for praxis with regard to Christian witness and therefore seeks to argue that there may be common ground between Wesleyan Theology and Liberation Theology. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / M.Th. (Systematic Teology)

There is without doubt as much criticism of Liberation Theology as there is understanding regarding the need for a theology which seeks answers to the effectiveness of the Christian witness, against a background of mounting poverty, the oppression of woman and continued discrimination by one race against another, worldwide. Many scholars struggle with the revolutionary and often hostile nature and methodology of Liberation Theology. This paper attempts to enter into a conversation between the theology of John Wesley and Liberation Theology. The theology of John Wesley had a tremendous impact on social, political and economic areas of the Eighteenth century England. It was in many ways a revolutionary theology. This paper takes as a standpoint, the need for praxis with regard to Christian witness and therefore seeks to argue that there may be common ground between Wesleyan Theology and Liberation Theology. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / M.Th. (Systematic Teology)

John Wesley was a well educated son of a cleric, who chose to be a theologian and a minister in the Church of England. His theological distinctive was his insistence on the possibility of entire sanctification in this lifetime. In response to their position on sanctification, Wesley and the Methodists sought to save souls and cure the ills in society because they believed it was divinely mandated. Their love and work for the less fortunate was a response to their love for God and in obedience to His commandments. This is the great success of their work. They were able to serve God and their generation in a balanced yet inseparable way. The result of Wesley's life, direct and indirect, was that the social and spiritual plight of thousands of individuals and families was improved and dozens of church groups, missionary societies and benevolent organisations have emerged / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / Th.M. (Church History)

Thesis (D. Min.)--Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, 1985. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [165-168]).