The Radical Wesley and Patterns for Church Renewal

by Howard A. Snyder

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Genres: Theology, Church, Ecclesiology, Biography, Nonfiction, Faith

204 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

About the author

Howard A. Snyder serves as Professor of Wesley Studies, at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Previously he was Professor of the History and Theology of Mission in the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, 1996-2006. He has also taught at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, and pastored in Chicago, Detroit, and São Paulo, Brazil.

Reviews

[Heather Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some wonderful insights on renewal in the church. I loved this:
"The fundamental fact here: the church is always a voluntary community. This is the church’s strength, not its weakness. The whole idea of covenant is based on willing commitment, not coercion. Because the commitment is earnest and serious, the covenant provides for excluding from the committed community those who flagrantly violate the covenant, those who Wesley styled disorderly walkers."

Voluntary but seriously engaged discipleship = renewal.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Wesleyan theology professor recommended this book when I expressed my struggles of trying to make sense of my place in the Methodist movement, having found my way to it via an Anabaptist upbringing. I found this book extremely helpful to that end, in articulating the points of connection between the understanding of discipleship that emerged from my upbringing and how I find resonance in Wesley, but not necessarily in 'his church that was never meant to be a church' today. It's a good synopsis of Methodism as a renewal movement and the implications for the church today, even as it ultimately raised more questions for me about the nature of how one begins to form a Methodist understanding of ecclesiology and ordination to ministry. It would be a worthwhile read for any later comers to Methodism, particularly if you are coming to the movement from a believer's church background.

[richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Radical Wesley & Patterns for Church Renewal ~ Howard A. Snyder

⭐⭐⭐ 3/5

If you want details of John Wesley's mission and what he did then this book will answer those questions for you. I couldn't finish the last two chapters as it became a struggle to read in the end. However if you don't know much about John Wesley and the Methodist church then this book will help you in understanding the history.

We have a lot to learn from both John and Charles Welsey about getting back to real Christianity, a faith that takes over your life, works love in you to overflow to God and other people. John Wesley was such a kind hearted man as evident in how he spent his life.

[Lillian Kopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on the structures and methodologies of John Wesley, looking at his influences (both experientially and doctrinally). The book looks at how the impact of early Methodists stemmed from their community apart from the institutionalized church, while still being involved in the institutionalized church body. It also communicates the ways that Wesley held seemingly dichotomous views, being both traditional and radical at the same time.

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and a decent history of John Wesley. As one who could be identified with radical Protestantism in the 1700's, Wesley's life and methods can give instruction for the church today, positives and negatives.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine read.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a much earlier version of this, published by Inter-Varsity, 1980.