Historical Dictionary of Methodism

by Charles Yrigoyen Jr., Susan E. Warrick

Overview

Methodism is growing, both in numbers and influence, according to the World Methodist Council there are 78 Methodist, Wesleyan, and related Uniting and United churches representing over 80 million people in more than 130 nations. There are clear reasons for its success. Among them are commitment to evangelize and nurture people with the message of God's presence, love, and direction. That includes an appreciation for, and practice of, the holistic nature of the Wesleyan tradition which involves faith nurtured in the biblical narrative, disciplined personal and communal spirituality and holy living, vibrant preaching, worship, and fellowship, and a faith which rejoices in personal and social reform.

This third edition of Historical Dictionary of Methodism presents the history of Methodism through a detailed chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important institutions and events, doctrines and activities, and especially persons who have contributed to the church and also broader society in the three centuries since it was founded. This book is an ideal access point for students, researchers, or anyone interested in the history of the Methodist Church.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810878938
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/07/2013
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	524
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Charles Yrigoyen, Jr. was the general secretary for the General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church for many years. He taught history and theology at Drew University and Union Theological Seminary and presently Lancaster Theological Seminary, and has authored and coauthored several publications including John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life.

Susan E. Warrick was the assistant general secretary of the General Commision on Archives of the United Methodist Church for many years. Along with Dr. Yrigoyen, she coordinated and partially wrote the first, second and third editions of this work.

Table of Contents

	Editor's Foreword	vii
	Preface	ix
	Acronyms	xi
	Chronology	xiii
	A Brief History of Methodism	xxvii
	Photos	x1
	Dictionary	1
	Bibliography	349
	Contributors	411

Editorial Reviews

With the assistance of 20 additional contributors, the editors of the two earlier editions of this dictionary offer a third edition 71 pages longer than the second (CH, Sep'05, 43-0020), updating readers' understanding of Methodism by revising, adding, and deleting entries. New entries include 'Africa University,' 'Architecture and Buildings,' 'Calvinism,' 'Willis Collins,' 'Nuelsen, John Louis,' 'Pakistan, Methodist Church of,' 'Perseverance of the Saints,' 'Piety,' 'Polity,' 'Predestination,' and 'Rupp, E. Gordon.' The general entries allow for Methodist interpretations of the topics. Statistics have been updated. The book includes a chronology from 1703 (birth of John Wesley) to 2012; an introduction (a brief history of the Methodist movement around the world, barely revised); topical entries for significant persons, places, events, documents, ideas, concepts, and church organizations; and an extensive bibliography. The bibliography emphasizes biographies and autobiographies of famous Methodist persons and includes a brief list of websites. More black-and-white illustrations are included than in the second edition.. . .This will be a useful book for all libraries collecting reference works on Christian denominations. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.

Choice Reviews

Editors Charles Yrigoyen, Jr., general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church, and Susan E. Warrick, former assistant general secretary, once again serve as co-authors of this well-received reference title. The text, an alphabetically arranged dictionary of church leaders, events, and doctrines, is preceded and augmented by a list of acronyms used in the work, a chronology of important dates, and a brief history of Methodism. Entries about the history of Methodism in specific geographic regions are understandably longer than those that provide information about doctrine and people. Entries about doctrine are longer than entries about people. Coverage of the subject of Methodism is very broad. Entries range from a short paragraph to several pages in length and some provide black-and-white photographs (mainly of influential church leaders). Additional information on topics in this work can be found in sources that comprise the extensive bibliography. This work will be useful for students, researchers, and the general layperson interested in the Methodist church and its history.

American Reference Books Annual

With the assistance of 20 additional contributors, the editors of the two earlier editions of this dictionary offer a third edition 71 pages longer than the second (CH, Sep'05, 43-0020), updating readers' understanding of Methodism by revising, adding, and deleting entries. New entries include 'Africa University,' 'Architecture and Buildings,' 'Calvinism,' 'Willis Collins,' 'Nuelsen, John Louis,' 'Pakistan, Methodist Church of,' 'Perseverance of the Saints,' 'Piety,' 'Polity,' 'Predestination,' and 'Rupp, E. Gordon.' The general entries allow for Methodist interpretations of the topics. Statistics have been updated. The book includes a chronology from 1703 (birth of John Wesley) to 2012; an introduction (a brief history of the Methodist movement around the world, barely revised); topical entries for significant persons, places, events, documents, ideas, concepts, and church organizations; and an extensive bibliography. The bibliography emphasizes biographies and autobiographies of famous Methodist persons and includes a brief list of websites. More black-and-white illustrations are included than in the second edition.. . .This will be a useful book for all libraries collecting reference works on Christian denominations. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.

Choice

With the assistance of 20 additional contributors, the editors of the two earlier editions of this dictionary offer a third edition 71 pages longer than the second (CH, Sep'05, 43-0020), updating readers' understanding of Methodism by revising, adding, and deleting entries. New entries include 'Africa University,' 'Architecture and Buildings,' 'Calvinism,' 'Willis Collins,' 'Nuelsen, John Louis,' 'Pakistan, Methodist Church of,' 'Perseverance of the Saints,' 'Piety,' 'Polity,' 'Predestination,' and 'Rupp, E. Gordon.' The general entries allow for Methodist interpretations of the topics. Statistics have been updated. The book includes a chronology from 1703 (birth of John Wesley) to 2012; an introduction (a brief history of the Methodist movement around the world, barely revised); topical entries for significant persons, places, events, documents, ideas, concepts, and church organizations; and an extensive bibliography. The bibliography emphasizes biographies and autobiographies of famous Methodist persons and includes a brief list of websites. More black-and-white illustrations are included than in the second edition. . . .This will be a useful book for all libraries collecting reference works on Christian denominations. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.

CHOICE

An historical dictionary of the Methodism movement from its roots in the Church of England under John and Charles Wesley to its present position as a major world religion. An introduction supplies a general historical context for the movement, and the dictionary entries, written by 40 theologians and historians, contribute brief information about the major persons, doctrines, events, and activities within Methodism. The volume also includes a chronology and detailed bibliography for research scholars. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

Its 400-plus pages contain a list of acronyms, a chronology, a full bibliography and a dictionary, the latter consisting of 379 items varying in length from a paragraph to eight pages with headings such as 'Antislavery movement' and 'Jacobus Arminius' to 'Enoch Wood' and 'Worship'....those readers needing to update their knowledge of America's Methodist heritage need to consider getting hold of a copy.

Methodist Recorder

Contributors explain or describe important ideas, people, events and locations in the 300-year history of Methodism, which now includes over 300 denominations and 39 million members. Topics include the Methodist concepts of grace and salvation, the historical role of women in the church, the lives of circuit-riding preachers and missionaries, and modern Methodism’s approach to significant social issues and controversies. This edition expands its focus from North America and Great Britain to include information about Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands. The illustrations include period engravings and photographs.

Reference and Research Book News

Most useful, perhaps, will be the biographical entries...The bibliography, though, is excellent, and includes a few journal articles....Scarecrow Press have improved the appearance of their volumes greatly in recent years and any library that has a complete set of the volumes in this series will be a library worth using.

Reference Reviews

A comprehensive and precise collective study of Methodism and Christianity in whole...very highly recommended for students of the history of Methodism for its expansive and through coverage of the many variables and constructs of its church and philosophies.

Midwest Book Review