Preached at Wesley Chapel Free Methodist Church, March 29, 2024. Text: Isaiah 53
Watch the video of the service on Wesley Chapel’s Youtube Channel
The Punishment that Brought Us Peace: A Good Friday Sermon
The Catholicity of the Heart: Pathologies and Prospects
It was my honour and privilege to serve as President of the Wesleyan Theological Society for the past year. The President of the society chooses the theme for annual meeting and delivers the Presidential Address. I chose the theme “evangelical catholicity,” a term that has been used to describe John Wesley’s theological outlook, but has also been used to describe other thinkers and movements within the church.
The Annual Meeting was held March 1-2 at Trevecca Nazarene University, and I was delighted to see the way the theme was taken up by the many presenters who gave papers. My biggest frustration was that I was unable to be in multiple places at the same time, and I couldn’t hear all the papers that caught my interest.
The Presidential Address took up the theme, “The Catholicity of the Heart: Pathologies and Prospects.” It began by considering the two key figures from the closing chapter of my recently-published book, Samuel Chadwick and Arthur Samuel Peake. Chadwick was a theological conservative, and Peake a liberal, but they shared a kind evangelical catholicity that was more characteristic of eighteenth and nineteenth century evangelicalism. That is, their evangelicalism was, broadly speaking, about fostering the “religion of the heart” and struggling to eliminate nominal Christianity. I employed a threefold typology proposed by Donald Dayton to distinguish this type of evangelicalism from twentieth century evangelicalism. Then I noted some of the evident weaknesses of framing evangelical catholicity as the “catholicity of the heart,” and attempted to respond to some of those weaknesses with reference to John Wesley’s own evangelical catholicity. I concluded with my reasons for holding out hope for the catholicity of the heart.
I have an audio recording posted below; it is not very good quality, but I hope it is audible throughout. The written version of the address still needs some polish, but it will be published in next spring’s issue of the Wesleyan Theological Journal.
New Book on Revivalism and Ecclesiology in British Methodism
My book, British Methodist Revivalism and The Eclipse of Ecclesiology is now available. After many years of work and several delays (pandemic-related and personal) it is a pleasure to have the hard copy in my possession. I hope it will make a solid contribution to our understanding of the history and theology of Methodism, especially as it deals with some figures who have received little attention from a theological perspective.
The book is rather expensive for personal purchase, but, if you are interested, please encourage your librarian to pick up a copy for their collection. This flyer provides a discount code for 20% off the list price until March 1.
If you would like a preview, you can read the introduction and a good portion of chapter 2 on Google books.
In many ways, the book extends my previous work on the Salvation Army backwards to the time of Wesley, as well as considering the trajectory of British Methodist revivalism into the early twentieth century, In brief, the book demonstrates that the personal work of the Spirit was magnified by revivalists at the expense of the Spirit’s corporate work through the church, and argues that this pneumatological imbalance contributed to the division of British Methodism. The theology of revivalism was empowering to ordinary people, but was less successful at grounding the personal discernment of the Spirit in the broader community. The book points to the need for a full-orbed understanding of the Spirit’s work in the church through the means of grace–a pneumatology that recognizes that the Spirit’s work is personal and corporate, immediate and gradual, innovative and institutional. Crucially, the I argue that the means of communal discernment must include the ministry of oversight, or there will be no lasting unity in any ecclesial body.
Sermons on 1 Peter
While I preach 10-12 times a year, it is rare that I can do anything like a preaching series, since my opportunities are typically occasional Sunday morning services. This summer and fall I was able to plan a three-part series on 1 Peter. I have always been drawn to this epistle, no doubt because of its emphasis on holiness and the rich ecclesiological content in chapter 2. Since I only had three sermons to work with, I could only go as far as chapter 2 verse 12, but I hope I will be able to continue the series in the future.
The ultimate occasion for this series was an invitation to preach at a Salvation Army Men’s Camp in September, but the versions of the sermons below are the versions I preached at my home church, Wesley Chapel.
Elect Exiles: 1 Peter 1:1-12
Ready, Holy, Loving: 1 Peter 1:13-2:3
A Peculiar People: 1 Peter 2:4-12
Coming Soon: British Methodist Revivalism and the Eclipse of Ecclesiology
I am pleased to announce that my second book will soon be published by Routledge in their Methodist Studies Series.
The book analyzes the theology of the Spirit and the church in British Methodist revivalism and argues that seemingly subtle theological differences between the revivalists and other Methodists contributed significantly to the division and eventual reunion of British Methodism.
The book should be available late this year or early next. I’ve pasted the “blurb” and table of contents below, and I’ll post excerpts / highlights in the coming weeks.
Revivalism was one of the main causes of division in nineteenth century British Methodism, but the role of revivalist theology in these splits has received scant scholarly attention. In this book, James E. Pedlar demonstrates how the revivalist variant of Methodist spirituality and theology empowered its adherents and helped foster new movements, even as it undermined the Spirit’s work through the structures of the church. Beginning with an examination of unresolved issues in John Wesley’s ecclesiology, Pedlar identifies a trend of increasing marginalization of the church among revivalists, via an examination of three key figures: Hugh Bourne (1772-1852), James Caughey (1810-1891), and William Booth (1860-1932). He concludes by examining the more catholic and irenic theology of Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932), the leading Methodist revivalist of the early twentieth century who became a strong advocate of Methodist Union. Pedlar shows that these theological differences must be considered, alongside social and political factors, in any well-rounded assessment of the division and eventual reunification of British Methodism.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. ‘A Division of Heart’: Separation and the Spirit in the Later Wesley
3. ‘We shall have no mastery’: Hugh Bourne and the Emergence of Primitive Methodism
4. Revival and the Reformers: James Caughey and the Schism of 1849
5. Separate but Non-Sectarian: The Salvation Army’s Ecclesiological Ambiguities
6. Catholicity of the Heart: Samuel Chadwick and Methodist Union
7. Conclusion: Revivalism’s Mixed Legacy
2023 Wesley Studies Symposium at Tyndale University
Heritage and Hope: Wesleyan Wisdom for the Future of Ministry
Celebrating 30 Years of the Bastian Chair of Wesley Studies
We are living in a time of tremendous challenge for the church: global instability, the continuing collapse of Christendom, an ever-changing technological landscape, the challenges of intercultural ministry, evolving patterns of church attendance and affiliation…in many ways we are sailing in uncharted waters. How might John Wesley and the Wesleyan heritage keep us on an even keel as we navigate toward a brighter future for the church and its ministry? How does the Wesleyan “optimism of grace” keep us oriented in a disorienting time?
We will consider these questions and more at our annual Wesley Studies Symposium on April 25, 2023 at Tyndale University. This year we are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Donald N. and Kathleen G. Bastian Chair of Wesley Studies by welcoming back the two previous occupants of the Chair as our keynote speakers: Dr Victor Shepherd and Dr Howard Snyder. Both men are outstanding scholars who are well known to the Canadian Wesleyan community. Dr Shepherd held the chair from 1993-2003, and has continues to serve at Tyndale as Professor Emeritus of Theology. Dr. Snyder was the Chair from 2007-2012, and is presently the International Representative of the Manchester Wesley Research Centre.
Online and In-Person tickets available. Order by March 31 to receive the early bird discount. Student discounts also apply.
The 2022 Samuel Chadwick Lecture
On October 17, I was pleased to deliver the annual Samuel Chadwick Lecture for the Samuel Chadwick Centre at Cliff College. I visited the beautiful Cliff College campus in May, where I spent several days (and evenings!) going through the Chadwick material housed in their archives. I am so thankful for the warm and generous welcome I received from the Cliff community, and for the invitation from Dr Ben Pugh to give the Chadwick lecture. Revd Dr George Bailey also offered an insightful response to my lecture.
Chadwick is featured in my forthcoming book, British Methodist Revivalism and the Eclipse of Ecclesiology. He is a contrasting figure in the arc of the book, which focuses on how British Methodist Revivalists marginalized the church in their theology, emphasizing the personal work of the Spirit at the expense of the Spirit’s corporate work. Chadwick, on the other hand, had a very robust ecclesiology and a balanced pneumatology, which, I argue, helped to blunt the sometimes-divisive impulses of his revivalism.
I went to Cliff not knowing quite how much relevant material I would find; when I got there I was overwhelmed by how much Chadwick wrote about the church and questions of Christian unity. In fact I ended up with much more material than I needed, and I hope I’ll be able to continue writing about Chadwick in the future.
Sermon: The One Thing Needed
Preached at Wesley Chapel Free Methodist Church, Toronto.
July 17, 2022
Luke 10:38-42
Toe to Toe: A Sermon for Easter
Preached at Wesley Chapel Free Methodist Church
April 17, 2022
1 Corinthians 15:12-26
One Day Conference – Women in the Holiness and Pentecostal Traditions
Since 2009, Tyndale Seminary has gathered scholars, students, and church leaders for an annual Wesley Studies Symposium. The symposium exists to highlight and foster scholarly work on the Wesleyan tradition, as well as research on related topics undertaken by Wesleyans, with a particular focus on Canadian contributions. Our presenters have included senior scholars, emerging scholars, pastors, and students.
This year, we are following up our joint Wesleyan-Pentecostal Symposium from 2016 and hosting another partner event with Master’s Pentecostal Seminary. Information is posted below – register by April 8 to receive the early-bird discount for in-person attendance.
Sisters of the Spirit
Women in the Holiness and Pentecostal Traditions
April 26, 2022, Tyndale University (in person and online)
Co-sponsored by Tyndale Seminary and Master’s Pentecostal Seminary
Keynote Speakers:
Priscilla Pope-Levison (Southern Methodist University)
Linda Ambrose (Laurentian University)
The Holiness and Pentecostal Traditions have been on the forefront in empowering women to serve in church leadership. John Wesley’s tentative recognition of women preachers and the extraordinary example of early Methodist women such as Mary Bosanquet and Mary Barritt Taft laid the groundwork for the seminal ministries of women such as Phoebe Palmer, Amanda Berry Smith, Catherine Booth, Maria Woodworth-Etter, and Aimee Semple MacPherson. And yet, women have still struggled, in various ways, to overcome patriarchal structures and assumptions within the Holiness-Pentecostal family.
This conference will explore the contributions and experiences of women in the Holiness and Pentecostal traditions. We invite submissions for 30-minute papers that will address the topic from a variety of academic disciplines, and we would particularly welcome any exploration of the connections between the two traditions.
Registration cost:
In-person Early Bird (by April 8): $50
In-person (after April 8): $65
Student in-person (with lunch): $15
Student in-person (no meal): $0
Online registration: $25
Online Student registration: $0
James Pedlar 