Research Catalog

Title

Polity, practice, and the mission of the United Methodist Church / Thomas Edward Frank.

Author

Frank, Thomas Edward.

Publication

Nashville, TN : Abingdon Press, c2006.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

361 p.; 24 cm.

Subject

United Methodist Church (U.S.) > Government

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 329-355) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Foreword: On Learning the Connection 15 -- Introduction: The Rhetoric of Crisis and United Methodist Polity 21 -- A Rhetoric of Power 22 -- Change as Loss 24 -- A Broader View of Denominational Change 27 -- Outlines of a New Church 31 -- A Connection of Vital Congregations 34 -- Chapter 1 Polity as Ecclesial Practice and Practical Discipline 41 -- Polity as Discipline 46 -- Polity as "Connexion" 51 -- Lines of Political Development 55 -- Pietism and Puritanism 55 -- Anglicanism 56 -- Catholic Tradition 59 -- Reformation 60 -- Evangelical Revival 61 -- Wesley's Synthesis in America 65 -- Chapter 2 Denomination and Polity in the U.S.: The Case of United Methodism 69 -- Evolving Functions of Denominations 71 -- Perspectives on Denominations 74 -- Denominations as Local 74 -- Denominations as Assembly and Community 76 -- Denominational Culture 77 -- Denominations as Economic Institutions 86 -- Denominations and Social Location 89 -- Theology and Practices of Faith 101 -- Contemporary Ecclesiological Issues 103 -- Polity 107 -- Book of Discipline Today 111 -- Chapter 3 Constitution of United Methodism 115 -- Two Constitutive Principles 118 -- Principle of Conference 118 -- Principle of Episcopacy 124 -- Meeting of Principles 128 -- Constitutional Place of the Annual Conference 130 -- Constitutional Place of the Local Church 135 -- What the Constitution Is and Is Not 138 -- Chapter 4 History, Theology, and the Discipline 141 -- A Narrative Disposition 141 -- Pragmatic Authority 143 -- Doctrinal Standards 144 -- Theological Method 148 -- Working Toward Consensus 150 -- Scriptural Holiness 152 -- Tests of Consensus 155 -- Toward Ecumenical Consensus 156 -- Chapter 5 Ministry of All Christians 159 -- An Emerging Ecumenical Consensus 160 -- Lay and Specialized Ministries 162 -- Unity of Ministry 169 -- Chapter 6 Local Church in United Methodism 173 -- Emergence of the Local Church 174 -- A Connection of Local Churches 178 -- Church Membership 180 -- Organization of the Local Church 185 -- Balancing Local and Connectional Mission 191 -- Chapter 7 Called and Set Apart: Ordered Ministry in United Methodism 195 -- A Dual Framework of Preaching Ministry 195 -- Specialized Ministries 199 -- Lay Speakers and Lay Ministers 200 -- Diaconal Ministers 201 -- Deacons 204 -- Local Pastors 206 -- Traveling Ministers in Full Connection 210 -- Tensions in the Itineracy 218 -- Tensions Between Laity and Clergy 218 -- Tensions Within the Clergy Covenant 220 -- Chapter 8 Superintendency in United Methodism 229 -- General Superintendency 231 -- Travel 237 -- Presidency 237 -- Issues in the Episcopal Role 240 -- Election of Bishops 243 -- Episcopal Assignments 244 -- District Superintendency 248 -- Chapter 9 General, Jurisdictional, and Central Conferences and the General Agencies 255 -- General Conference 255 -- Delegates 258 -- Petitions and Procedures 261 -- Resolutions 264 -- A Diverse Public 264 -- Jurisdictional Conferences 268 -- Central Conferences 272 -- General Agencies 275 -- Chapter 10 Annual Conference 285 -- Annual Conferences and the Connection 288 -- Conferenre Structures and Functions 290 -- Ministry 295 -- Districts 296 -- Chapter 11 Church Property 299 -- Model Deeds 300 -- Trust Clause and the Local Church 302 -- Property and Prosperity 304 -- Other Church-Owned Property 306 -- Legal Issues 307 -- Stewardship 308 -- Chapter 12 Judicial Administration 311 -- Judicial Council Decisions 312 -- Current Legal Issues 315 -- Conclusion: Issues for the Future of United Methodist Polity 321.

ISBN

0687335310 (alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2005057168

OCLC

• 62525237
• SCSB-12442840

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library