The Mere Methodism Conference brought together world-class scholars and church leaders from across the Wesleyan world to explore the riches of our heritage, diving into the insights and contributions of faithful followers of Jesus Christ who have gone before us, and pointing us forward to a faithful future.
Participants gathered April 4-6 at the historic Lyceum in Alexandria, Virginia at the invitation of the John Wesley Institute. Below is video of Dr. Dale Coulter of Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee speaking on “Mere Methodism, Catholic Methodism: The Integration of Holiness and Love”.
To speak of “mere” Methodism is not to identify its distinguishing marks. Instead, it is to focus on Methodism’s fundamental catholicity. The renewal of the church was and is its heart. The purpose of the movement from the outset was to locate the wholeness of the church in the pursuit of holiness through the love of God whose fiery embrace caused all other loves to recede. Yet, one of the challenges throughout the movement has been the integration of holiness and love. To integrate holiness and love requires a return to the catholic impulse within Wesley.
Drawing on scripture and Christian tradition, Coulter explores how to integrate holiness and love by arguing for two claims:
1) Holiness is a condition that describes the sum total of who God is and therefore who we must be. Holiness is not a single quality or an attribute like a color or texture, but the proper order and full integration of every part of us.
2) Love is the catalyst that brings about this condition by facilitating our union with God, ordering our interior life, and integrating our movements into a singular end.
Holiness is the condition, love is the catalyst; holiness is the structure; love structures; holiness is the order; love orders; holiness is the form, love forms.
Additional talks from the conference will be posted in the coming days on the John Wesley Institute YouTube channel.
Downloadable podcast audio of this event is available on IRD’s SoundCloud account here:
Comment by David Gingrich on May 16, 2024 at 6:56 am
I attended a Wesleyan (a “holiness” denomination) church for several years. Membership required signing a pledge to not gamble or use tobacco or alcohol. Divorce (specifically proscribed by Christ) was permitted. I came to the conclusion that “holiness’, at least in that church (and maybe in the entire denomination) is an idol.
My (and, I believe, God’s) definition of holiness? Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.