Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the established Church of England, insisting that the Methodist movement lay well within its tradition. Wesley's teachings, collectively known as Wesleyan theology, continue to inform the doctrine of Methodist churches. He held that, in this life, Christians could achieve a state where the love of God "reigned supreme in their hearts", giving them not only outward but inward holiness. His evangelicalism, firmly grounded in sacramental theology, maintained that means of grace sometimes had a role in sanctification of the believer however, he taught that it was by faith a believer was transformed into the likeness of Christ. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day, including the abolition of slavery and support for women preachers.Īlthough he was not a systematic theologian, Wesley argued for the notion of Christian perfection and against Calvinism. He appointed itinerant, unordained evangelists-both women and men-to care for these groups of people.
Moving across Great Britain and Ireland, he helped form and organise small Christian groups (societies) that developed intensive and personal accountability, discipleship, and religious instruction. He subsequently left the Moravians and began his own ministry.Ī key step in the development of Wesley's ministry was to travel and preach outdoors, embracing Arminian doctrines. On, he experienced what has come to be called his evangelical conversion. After an unsuccessful two year ministry in Savannah, Georgia, he returned to London and joined a religious society led by Moravian Christians. At Oxford, he led the " Holy Club", a society formed for the purpose of the study and the pursuit of a devout Christian life.
The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to this day.Įducated at Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxford, Wesley was elected a fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1726 and ordained as an Anglican priest two years later.
John Wesley ( / ˈ w ɛ s l i/ 28 June 1703 – 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who founded the Methodist movement within the Church of England.
0 kommentar(er)
