Over the years British Methodism has produced scholars whose influence has extended far beyond the horizons of our tradition. The present issue explores the important legacy of two examples of this phenomena, Geoffrey Wainwright and Gordon Rupp.
In an insightful essay, based upon a lecture delivered at the Oxford Institute, Revd Dr Richard Clutterbuck critically examines Geoffrey Wainwright’s important contribution to the church Catholic. Weaving together his numerous studies on worship, liturgy and ecumenical dialogue, Clutterbuck identifies mission and eschatology as themes which provide coherence to Wainwright’s important theological legacy. The second article, a contribution on Gordon Rupp, is based upon a lecture delivered recently at Wesley House, Cambridge. Here Revd Dr Ian Randall moves beyond the popular conception of Rupp as Martin Luther’s famous apologist by exploring Rupp’s historical work through the lens of spiritual experience, a theme previously neglected in scholarly analysis of his writings.
This edition also contains three other important contributions. Captain (Dr.) Christopher Button offers an insightful analysis of how the Salvation Army transformed gender roles in late nineteenth-century Britain by challenging social norms. Another interesting contribution is made by the Revd Dr Mark Maddix who evaluates the use and misuse of Wesley’s dictum, “The World is my Parish.” The article calls for a post-colonial view of Christian witness that decentralizes Western dominance, embraces indigenous voices, and reframes mission as participation in the missio Dei-God’s mission-rather than the expansion of Western Christianity.
The final contribution in this edition is written by the Most Revd Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, President of the Africa Methodist Council. This fascinating article proposes a contextual reimagination of the Methodist Class Meeting using a traditional Ghanaian cultural concept (abusua).
It is our sincere hope that readers enjoy the stimulating contents of this issue of Holiness.
Revd Dr. Daniel Pratt Morris-Chapman, Wesley House, Cambridge.