Promotional Information

Offers a fresh perspective on the American version of Methodism, its organization, leadership, and form of training and incorporating new members.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword Introduction Bishops America Episcopacy Constitutional Methodism Two Patterns of Episcopacy Conference The Methodist Conference General Conference: A Continental Order Conference Politicized Fratricide Formalization Pluralism Members Making Moral Christians and Loyal Methodists Class Meeting and Sunday School, 1816-1866 Sunday School for All, 1866-1915 From Class Meeting to Probationer's Class, 1866-1915 The Sunday School Renaissance, 1915-1935 Making Methodist Disciples, 1939-1968 A Biographical Dictionary of Methodist Leaders Abbreviations used in This Volume Biographical Entries A Chronology of American Methodism Bibliographical Essay Index

About the Author

JAMES E. KIRBY is Professor of Church History at Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology. His interests are in the history of Methodism and the American 19th century. He is currently working on a biography of Bishop William C. Martin, President of the National Council of Churches in 1952. RUSSELL E. RICHEY is Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Professor of Church History at The Divinity School at Duke University. His most recent books include Early American Methodism (1991) and Reimagining Denominationalism (1994). KENNETH E. ROWE is Professor of Church History at Drew University Theological School and Librarian of the United Methodist Archives and History Center. He is the author of United Methodist Studies: Basic Bibliographies (1992), of the multi-volume Methodist Union Catalog (1975 -) and editor with Richey of Perspectives on American Methodism (1993).

Reviews

?Scholars and students of religion in America will find this volume and the bibliographic essay included at the end helpful and enlightening.?-Choice

?Seminary libraries should definitely add this work to their collections. Public and academic libraries that serve large populations of Methodists and those that collect in American religions or American studies should also purchase the book...?-RQ

?The book's strength is its detailing of Methodist organizational structures and its honest presentation of American Methodism's struggles with racism and sexism...this is an essential addition to academic collections in religion and American history and is also appropriate for public libraries with collection strengths in those areas.?-Library Journal

"Scholars and students of religion in America will find this volume and the bibliographic essay included at the end helpful and enlightening."-Choice

"Seminary libraries should definitely add this work to their collections. Public and academic libraries that serve large populations of Methodists and those that collect in American religions or American studies should also purchase the book..."-RQ

"The book's strength is its detailing of Methodist organizational structures and its honest presentation of American Methodism's struggles with racism and sexism...this is an essential addition to academic collections in religion and American history and is also appropriate for public libraries with collection strengths in those areas."-Library Journal