{Also sharing this comment as a note so people might find their way back to this post. I recommend it highly for those interested in the methodist movement and those that follow in those traditions, even if not in practice as much}
Such important stuff here about the societies, class meetings, and bands of the Methodist movement. I like that chart and those recommendations are bold but correspond. I suspect that few of us contemporary folk are ready for the fairly extreme level of commitment they had back in the seminal days.
I reflect that several elements of this social holiness meeting substructure are very difficult and in some cases impossible for a crowd to do even in a "society": love feasts and testimonies might take place in a society meeting but not mutual accountability... thus the critical need for the C meetings and bands.
Randy Maddox reflects on John Wesley's insistence on accountability in this way:
"Given the subtleness and deceitfulness of sin, Wesley was convinced that every Christian needed spiritual direction to provide accountability for their growth in holiness." -see Maddox, 1994, p212.
Great insights, and yes, it does seem that "few are ready for the extreme level of commitment," as you mentioned. In the research for this article, I appreciated the way Wesley continued to adapt this structure to spread "Scriptural holiness" first with the classes, then with the bands. The final pillar will address this idea of Adaptive Change which needs to continue today.
If the "social gospel" Wesley spoke of is most opposed to an individualistic approach to Christianity, then we must ask ourselves what models of church are most averse to individualism. Presentational forms of church life do little to counter individualism. None would say that going to a multiplex movie theatre to watch a new release is all that more communal than gathering your neighbors to do the same in your living room. So smaller communities may in fact be the kind of gathering that executes the social gospel vision of John Wesley
It could be that the stage-centered presentational forms of church life and having a direct erosion on the way holiness is developed via the means of grace in believers. The "decisionistic" psychology, was perhaps even accelerated in the decision-focused and sermon-centric worship services of the west.
I will say that Methodist field preaching, societies, class meetings, and various kinds of bands sparked tensions in the Church of England, not only for ecclesial jurisdictions but also theologically. I wonder if a reintroduction of any of these practices, and their intense demands and upending of current norms and emphases, might cause ecclesial (institutional) and ecclesiological (regarding the very nature of the church theologically) tensions not felt since Wesley's days.
Can you imagine not letting people into larger worship services without showing proof that they also attended their class meeting? Wesley was hardcore.
I’m grateful for this article because I am trying to reshape our church’s structure to be more Kingdom from castle type models. I’m grateful for Wesley’s work and pray that as Alphie and I grow in our education and leadership we will be able to grow this Kingdom for the glory, joy, and delight of our Father.
{Also sharing this comment as a note so people might find their way back to this post. I recommend it highly for those interested in the methodist movement and those that follow in those traditions, even if not in practice as much}
Such important stuff here about the societies, class meetings, and bands of the Methodist movement. I like that chart and those recommendations are bold but correspond. I suspect that few of us contemporary folk are ready for the fairly extreme level of commitment they had back in the seminal days.
I reflect that several elements of this social holiness meeting substructure are very difficult and in some cases impossible for a crowd to do even in a "society": love feasts and testimonies might take place in a society meeting but not mutual accountability... thus the critical need for the C meetings and bands.
Randy Maddox reflects on John Wesley's insistence on accountability in this way:
"Given the subtleness and deceitfulness of sin, Wesley was convinced that every Christian needed spiritual direction to provide accountability for their growth in holiness." -see Maddox, 1994, p212.
Great insights, and yes, it does seem that "few are ready for the extreme level of commitment," as you mentioned. In the research for this article, I appreciated the way Wesley continued to adapt this structure to spread "Scriptural holiness" first with the classes, then with the bands. The final pillar will address this idea of Adaptive Change which needs to continue today.
If the "social gospel" Wesley spoke of is most opposed to an individualistic approach to Christianity, then we must ask ourselves what models of church are most averse to individualism. Presentational forms of church life do little to counter individualism. None would say that going to a multiplex movie theatre to watch a new release is all that more communal than gathering your neighbors to do the same in your living room. So smaller communities may in fact be the kind of gathering that executes the social gospel vision of John Wesley
It could be that the stage-centered presentational forms of church life and having a direct erosion on the way holiness is developed via the means of grace in believers. The "decisionistic" psychology, was perhaps even accelerated in the decision-focused and sermon-centric worship services of the west.
I will say that Methodist field preaching, societies, class meetings, and various kinds of bands sparked tensions in the Church of England, not only for ecclesial jurisdictions but also theologically. I wonder if a reintroduction of any of these practices, and their intense demands and upending of current norms and emphases, might cause ecclesial (institutional) and ecclesiological (regarding the very nature of the church theologically) tensions not felt since Wesley's days.
I for one welcome such tensions.
Can you imagine not letting people into larger worship services without showing proof that they also attended their class meeting? Wesley was hardcore.
exactly... i've seen artifacts of those little "tickets" and that blows my mind!
I’m grateful for this article because I am trying to reshape our church’s structure to be more Kingdom from castle type models. I’m grateful for Wesley’s work and pray that as Alphie and I grow in our education and leadership we will be able to grow this Kingdom for the glory, joy, and delight of our Father.
Amen!
I have really appreciated and enjoyed these articles and thankful for the individuals that participated in this group!
y'all, this is good stuff.