413 - The Future of the Methodist Theological Traditions

The Future of the Methodist Theological Traditions
By M. Douglas Meeks, ed.
Nashville. Abingdon, 1985. 224. pp. $9.95

I doubt whether there is any quicker way to orient oneself in the worldwide Methodist theological situation today than w with this small volume.

The book reproduces the main papers and reports of the Seventh Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies in August 1982. The Sixth Institute, four years earlier, had been dominated by the theme of "Sanctification and Liberation." This time, the aim was more diversified: the agenda for Wesley studies; salvation, justice and the theological task; ecclesiology and the sacraments; evangelism; Wesleyan spirituality and "faith development."Introductory papers by Albert Outler, Elsa Tamez, Geoffrey Wainwright, Wesley Ariarajah, David Watson, and James Fowler are answered by readable, often interesting group reports and proposals for desirable future studies.

Where, then, is Methodist theology today? Both co-chairpersons, Douglas Meeks of Eden Seminary and Brian Beck of Wesley House, Cambridge, ask the basic question implied in the Institutes theme: "Why should there be a future for Methodist theology?"

The volume speaks to that question on four levels. First, there is solid evidence of growing historiographical as well as theological maturity in WesIey studies, with the new critical edition of Wesley's works as the focal point of interest. Second, there are urgent Third World questions addressed to Methodist tradition: Latin American liberation and individualist salvation, Asian inter-religious dialogue and conversion, and African culture and "denominations." Third, in the contemporary crisis of authority there is serious interest in defining the theological interactions implied in the much-discussed "Wesley quadrilateral": Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. And, finally, there is a pervasive ecumenical probing of Methodism's ecclesiological self-understanding and of the right way to express this as "a contribution to the future of the church universal" (Beck).

In sober, realistic, cautiously hopeful terms, this book says "Yes" to its thematic question.

John Deschner
Perkins School of Theology
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX.