Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States [Hardcover]

'A faithful witness to the people called Methodists in England and in America, this colossal volume expeditiously moves from Wesley to American Methodism and its extended branches to the current state of Wesleyanism today. Watson masterfully retells a well-chronicled narrative in terse, accessible, lucid prose, covering not just the contours of Wesleyan history with its highs and lows but also its various doctrinal developments and disputes and ecclesial divisions. The moral of the story, as indicated by the quote from which the title is taken, is that Methodism at its best is a blazing, fiery force of renewal and at its worst an inert, acculturated institution. Although coming in at nearly 500 pages, this volume is concise and highly accessible. Well-illustrated, highly detailed, and informative, Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline is suitable for the classroom and will make a fine addition to any shelf of classic volumes on Methodist history.''Credible, creative, and such a contribution to our Methodist tribe that not only reflects our rich history but calls forth a hope filled future. As I read Dr. Kevin Watson's gold mine of history, my spirit resonated with hope for God's church today. Indeed, the faithful foundations that launched our movement is as relevant today as when they were first enacted. Two questions raised within these pages must continually be asked and answered: What does it mean to be a Methodist today? And how do we know? If we can answer these questions in our seminaries and on the front lines, our world and our communities will reflect his kingdom.''Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline by Kevin Watson provides a fresh, panoramic overview of the history of the Methodist movement. Watson's extensive treatment from Methodism's early rise as a renewal movement with the Church to England to a worldwide movement with over eighty million members promises to be a standard textbook on the history of Methodism for years to come. Watson's fair and thorough trealó(