The Methodist Experience in America, Vol. 1

by Kenneth E. Rowe, Russell E. Richey, Jean Miller Schmidt

Beginning in 1760, this comprehensive history charts the growth and development of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren church family up and through the year 2000. Extraordinarily well-documented study with elaborate notes that will guide the reader to recent and standard literature on the numerous topics, figures, developments, and events covered.  The volume is a companion to and designed to be used with THE METHODIST EXPERIENCE IN A SOURCEBOOK, for which it provides background, context and interpretation.  

Contents
Launching the Methodist Movements 1760-1768
Structuring the Immigrant Initiatives 1769-1778
Making Church 1777-1784
Constituting Methodism 1784-1792
Spreaking Scriptural Holiness 1792-1816
Snapshot I- Methodism in 1816: Baltimore 1816
Building for Ministry and Nuture 1816-1850s
Dividing by Mission, Ethnicity, Gender, and Vision 1816-1850s
Dividing over Slavery, Region, Authority, and Race 1830-1860s
Embracing the War Cause(s) 1860-1865
Reconstructing Methodism(s) 1866-1884
Snapshot II- Methodism in 1884: Wilker-Barre, PA 1884
Reshaping the Church for Mission 1884-1939
Taking on the World 1884-1939
Warring for World Order and Against Worldliness Within 1930-1968
Snapshot III- Methodism in 1968: Denver 1968
Merging and Reappraising 1968-1984Holding Fast/Pressing On 1984-2000

Genres: History, Theology

768 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2010

Reviews

[Will Waller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tome of the past two semesters is done! It was quite a pull there at the end since the final hundred pages simply weren't discussed in class.

Reading about our history as American Methodists was truly insightful and I would advise any of any faith tradition to investigate their heritage to learn more about who they are today. If you miss out on that, you won't know the trajectory of your church or tradition.

Methodism is not the prettiest of denominations and that makes me incredibly proud. They're compromising but euphenize this under the title "big tent" folks.

How the church runs despite the sundry number of caucus and focus groups, you've got me. And is the church dying? Probably. But it's bound to be renewed by people who are passionate about what we claim as Methodists. When someone starts including all people with any belief, you have no direction but move simply because demagogues or strong leaders move you there. If Methodism, Wesleyanism is going to be surviving this significant Methodist downturn here in America, it's going to have to be distinct.

[Thomas Irby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very informative and helpful. However it needs to be re-edited and released as a new edition. It could be about 100 fewer pages.

[Casey Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, comprehensive history of Methodist bodies in the US. Tends to get politically lopsided the closer to the present it gets.

[Cathy Sweeney]

Excellent resource for anyone wanting a thorough discussion on the history of the United Methodist Church. At times, the information became repetitive, but overall, a great resource.