A system of aggression : motives, methods and margins of Methodist growth with special reference to the growth of Methodism on Cannock Chase 1776-1893
A System of Aggression; Motives, Methods and Abrgins ofMethodist Growth with special reference to the growth ofIVkthodism on Cannock- Chase 1777-1893. This study treats Methodism as a self-conscious religious phenomenon in its own right and not as the answer to some other related historical problem The aim of the study is to examine the influence of concepts of ministry and church growth formulated by John Wesley upon the ways in which Methodism approached the task of promoting its own growth. The analysis of Wesley's concepts of ministry and church growth reveals an unresolved dilemma between the evangelical task of making converts and the pastoral task of providing spiritual nurture for them. Tracing the development of Methodist revivalism shows how the pastoral task prevailed over the evangelical one to the extent that revivalism became the province of specialised, revivalists. The study of the growth of Methodism on Cannock Chase shows how the trend towards professional revivalists led to the decline of lay participation in promoting the growth and vitality of Methodism. The evangelistic fervour of revival prayer meetings gave way to the excitement of fund raising activities designed to maintain the connexional
Goodwin, Charles H.
Revivalism
A system of aggression : motives, methods and margins of Methodist growth with special reference to the growth of Methodism on Cannock Chase 1776-1893. A System of Aggression; Motives, Methods and Abrgins ofMethodist Growth with special reference to the growth ofIVkthodism on Cannock- Chase 1777-1893. This study treats Methodism as a self-conscious religious phenomenon in its own right and not as the answer to some other related historical problem The aim of the study is to examine the influence of concepts of ministry and church growth formulated by John Wesley upon the ways in which Methodism approached the task of promoting its own growth. The analysis of Wesley's concepts of ministry and church growth reveals an unresolved dilemma between the evangelical task of making converts and the pastoral task of providing spiritual nurture for them. Tracing the development of Methodist revivalism shows how the pastoral task prevailed over the evangelical one to the extent that revivalism became the province of specialised, revivalists. The study of the growth of Methodism on Cannock Chase shows how the trend towards professional revivalists led to the decline of lay participation in promoting the growth and vitality of Methodism. The evangelistic fervour of revival prayer meetings gave way to the excitement of fund raising activities designed to maintain the connexional
system aggression motif method margin methodist growth special_reference growth methodism system aggression methods growth special_reference growth study treat methodism self_conscious religious_phenomenon right answer related historical problem aim_study examine influence concept ministry church_growth formulate john_wesley upon way methodism approach task promote growth analysis concept ministry church_growth reveals unresolved dilemma evangelical task make convert pastoral task provide spiritual nurture them tracing development methodist show pastoral task prevail evangelical extent become province specialise revivalist study growth methodism show trend_towards professional revivalist lead decline lay participation promote growth vitality methodism evangelistic revival prayer meeting give_way excitement fund_raising activity design maintain