Ordained Ministry in the United Methodist Church
Ordained Ministry in the United Methodist Church

Author: William B. Lawrence

Publisher: United Methodist General Board of Higher Education

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 143

ISBN-13: 9780938162698

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In Ordained Ministry in The United Methodist Church, author William B. Lawrence gives us a gift in this history of ordination in the Methodist tradition. From our beginnings, ordination has always been about the community. The community confirms one's call, helps him/her make decisions about preparation for ministry, and shares in the supervision and ongoing evaluation of the ordained. Ordination is a communal affirmation for the common good. Dr. Lawrence challenges us to look outside the church to the needs of the whole world as we make decisions about who will be ordained and how they will live out ordination.

The Cambridge Companion to John Wesley
The Cambridge Companion to John Wesley

Author: Randy L. Maddox

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 366

ISBN-13: 0521886538

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This is a general, comprehensive introduction to John Wesley's life and work, and to his theological and ecclesiastical legacy. Written from various disciplinary perspectives, this volume will be an invaluable aid to scholars and students, including those encountering the work and thought of Wesley for the first time.

A Methodist Minister Tells the Truth
A Methodist Minister Tells the Truth

Author: John Check

Publisher:

Published: 2019-11-27

Total Pages: 195

ISBN-13: 9780578606170

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The purpose of this book is to give a thumbnail sketch of some of the issues clergy face and to introduce some basic theology. My disclaimer is that the book is not a theology book; rather, it is about life and stories. The stories are all true. Another purpose of the book is to point out that pastoral ministry is not for the faint of heart. While rewarding, pastoring is a difficult task and is hard work. Pastoring is a team sport. The book is a reflection of a journey and the lessons learned along the way. Additionally, the book serves as a heartfelt thank you for those who offered me grace and forgiveness as I learned about my own humanity. Lastly, it makes it clear that if the good Lord can use someone as flawed as this author, there is hope for the church and her future.All the stories are real, as crazy as some sound. The churches are categorized by their size and nature. Additionally, I identified critical issues in each church, lessons I learned, and theological truths that relate to that church. Most of the churches I served had a poor understanding of mission, outreach, evangelism, discipleship, or worship. Some of the churches did one or more of those critical components well and ignored others. It is my goal that this book is both entertaining and instructional. The book begins with the author's life story.

Holiness and Ministry
Holiness and Ministry

Author: Thomas B Dozeman

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2008-07-10

Total Pages: 167

ISBN-13: 0199710236

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The World Council of Churches has called for renewed theological reflection on the biblical roots of ordination to strengthen the vocational identity of the ordained and to provide a framework for ecumenical dialogue. This book is a response to that call. It is grounded in the assumption that the vocation of ordination requires an understanding of holiness and how it functions in human religious experience. The goal is to construct a biblical theology of ordination that is embedded in broad reflection on the nature of holiness. Dozeman's study of holiness and ministry interweaves three methodologies. The first, from the History of Religions, describes two theories of holiness in the study of religion, as a dynamic force and as a ritual resource. Both play a central role in biblical literature and establish the paradigm of ordination to Word and Sacrament in Christian tradition. Second, the study of the formation of the Mosaic Office illustrates how the two views of holiness model ordination to the prophetic word and to the priestly ritual. Third, Canonical Criticism provides the lens to explore the ongoing influence of the Mosaic Office in the New Testament literature. Holiness and Ministry will assist candidates for ordination to discern their call experience and establish professional identity within individual traditions of Christianity, while also providing a resource for ecumenical dialogue on the nature and purpose of Christian ordination.

The Christian as Minister
The Christian as Minister

Author: Meg Lassiat

Publisher: United Methodist General Board of Higher Education

Published: 2013-09-30

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13: 9780938162636

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This book is a compilation of information about the call to ministry and the avenues The United Methodist Church offers to embody that call. It is based in the concept of servant ministry and servant leadership presented by the Council of Bishops.

Irish Methodism and Servant Leadership
Irish Methodism and Servant Leadership

Author: John D. Alderdice

Publisher:

Published: 2023

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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The fundamental concern of this thesis is to articulate a vision for ministry in Irish Methodism for the twenty-first century based on the theory and practice of Servant Leadership. It will show how Servant Leadership offers the most effective framework for the development of ordained ministry in the Irish Methodist Church. Chapter One presents the research methodologies utilised in the thesis. These include historical analysis of sources, a review of literary resources and empirical methodologies. The latter includes thematic analysis of qualitative data and the presentation of findings gathered from semi-structured interviews. Chapter Two identifies the unique context of the origins and development of Irish Methodism in contrast to English Methodism. This detailed historical analysis shows the radical differences in context between Ireland and England and simultaneously illustrates the symbiotic relationship between these two branches of Methodism. Chapter Three addresses the themes of ministry and leadership. It draws deeply on primary sources in the Irish Methodist historical archive, Edgehill House Belfast. The chapter outlines the evolving nature of ordained ministry and considers the challenges facing the contemporary Irish Methodist Church. Chapter Four surveys the definitions of servant leadership to unearth their unique and creative insights for an original vision of ministry. The chapter argues that the servant leadership commitment to the development of people is fundamental to the practice of ministry. Chapter Five presents the empirical data drawn from eighteen semi-structured interviews with ordained ministers. These interviews explore the participants' ministry experience, perceptions of leadership, and understanding of servant leadership. Chapter Six discusses the findings of the research. It asserts that servant leadership provides an innovative framework for understanding the role of the contemporary Methodist minister. It claims confidently that this framework enables ministers to lead congregations and facilitate growth in the twenty-first century Irish Methodist Church.