Multiplying Love: A Vision of United Methodist Life Together

by Paul W. Chilcote

A Vision of United Methodist Life Together.
Our world needs love during these desperate days of radical polarization and division. Our United Methodist churches yearn to embrace love more completely because God first loved us. Our “faith” (including doctrine) is important; Christian “hope” (including renewal) is important; “love” of God and neighbor is more important. Multiplying Love underscores what matters most and stands in contrast to divisive misreadings of essential Methodist teachings. Chilcote helps us embrace anew the Wesleyan vision of love of Jesus as central to what we believe and how we live.

When I finished Multiplying Love, I found myself jumping up and down shouting, “Yes, yes, yes! Gosh, do we need this!” We are at a remaking moment in the church. Dr. Chilcote beautifully articulates the deeper theological vision that beckons and sustains us. Multiplying Love helped me more thoroughly embrace the kind of loving people we are hoping to become. That’s what it’s all about to me, and this book nails it!
—Rev. Christy Allen Holden, co-creator of The Channel UMC, a new hybrid community of faith (@christyallenholden)

Every United Methodist pastor would do well to invite their church council to read Paul Chilcote’s brief and powerful Multiplying Love. It recalls the power of the Wesleyan approach to the gospel and makes a compelling case for the future of The United Methodist Church. I loved this book!
—Rev. Adam Hamilton, Kansas pastor and author of Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith

Genres: Nonfiction

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Debbie Babbage · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read the book Multiplying Methodism, this is the rebuttal to some of the misinformation and negativity these authors wrote of in that book. Instead of being deep in the negative, Multiplying Love gives the UMC the positive guidance to prioritize love above all the division in our society. It's about being united in God, Jesus, and our neighbor. All churches experience ups and downs, but if we focus on what makes us God's children, we will find out way to unity.

[Lindsey Funtik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a balm for my weary soul. Paul demonstrated what it means to rebut the arguments of colleagues respectfully and prophetically. He has perhaps the most well-rounded understanding of the Wesleyan way in the world today and maps out a vision for the UMC that is invigorating, grace-filled, and abounding in love.

[George Donigian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiplying Love offers a glimpse of an inclusive church reformed through love and grace. While the book is Paul Chilcote's somewhat gentle rebuttal to a book by Jeff Greenway and Mike Lowry, Chilcote’s theological understanding of the divine will, revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus, guides readers to sense God’s unconditional love for all people. He emphasizes love and action over doctrinal purity. Chilcote supports his understanding with insights from the teaching of John Wesley and the poems of Charles Wesley.

In a time of polarization and deep division, Chilcote extends a quietly prophetic message concerning our universal need for grace and mercy, for healing and wholeness, and how the church, reaching out in love to others, may extend grace and mercy to all people. I am grateful for this quiet exposition of love in the midst of the greater cultural cacophony.

Multiplying Love contains some study and discussion questions, making it a helpful resource for Sunday school classes and other small groups. I look forward to engaging others in this conversation.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Vision of United Methodist Life together responds to Multiplying Methodism with support for and reflection on the United Methodist Church. With quotes from John Wesley’s sermons and Charles Wesley’s hymns, Chilcote seeks to ground the current Methodist practices in the long time movement and question the claims of the Global Methodism.
It is well formed and solid. My critique is that in the work of defense, there is limited forward looking.

[Heather Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful and amazing book for the times we are in right now in the wake of the disaffiliations from The United Methodist Church. The centrality of love as we seek to grow in holiness is a beautiful focus for our lives together.

[Maryjane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for a book study. The emphasis of the book was on maintaining the United Methodist Church and the practice of inclusivity. The opposing POV is to join the Global Methodist church which separates out those with same sex practices.

[John Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is explicitly written for a particular time (a few years ago), the general vision applies for Methodists--and Christians--throughout time. It is a little simplistic, along with its companion piece, but essentially Methodism is supposed to be simple as well.

[Sam Sisley]

A call to love more deeply in the United Methodist Church (or any church or just in life). Reframes the Christian life as receiving love from God, loving our neighbors more fully. A beautiful call for the future of the UMC.

[Andrew Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul does an amazing job of presenting a unifying message for a denomination fractured by harm. There is a place for us to come together despite our differences.

[Daniel Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book for our current state of the United Methodist Church.

[K Bowlus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The response to Multiplying Methodism