Serving the Present Age: Methodism and Modernity course

This course begins by placing Methodist theological emphases in their original historical contexts, then examines their implications and potential benefit for today’s Church.

The morning will be divided into three sessions which take as their starting point key Methodist theological tenets as illustrated by primary texts. All were controversial in their day and speak to the challenges and labours of the Church today.

1) “Things so long disjoined”: Methodism and a holistic faith
This session focuses on the tendency in the Church to prioritise or emphasise particular activities or approaches based on one’s theological “stable” and explores the way in which the Church might learn from early Methodism by embracing a more rounded appreciation of the Christian life.

2) “Opinions” and a “Catholic” spirit: division, disagreement and mission
This session will explore current major disagreements among Christians and seek to refocus them in the light of some Wesleyan ecclesiological convictions.

3) Growing into Love: the possibility of human transformation
This session will reflect on Wesley’s often-contested notion of Christian “perfection” in dialogue with current topical questions including those relating to violence, marginalisation and human flourishing.

This is a half-day hybrid course. Participants can choose to attend the course at Sarum College or via Zoom. The fee for both modes of participation is £40. Those who attend onsite may choose a ticket which includes lunch (£11 extra).

You may also like the following events from Sarum College:

• This Thursday, 19th June, 10:00 am, Reading Scripture Together: Moses and the Myth of the Solitary Leader in Salisbury
• Next Monday, 23rd June, 10:00 am, Sarum Study Day June 2025 in Salisbury
• Next month, 23rd July, 11:00 am, Clare of Assisi and Female Expressions of Franciscan Spirituality and Theology in Salisbury

Also check out other Workshops in Salisbury.