17 - Current debates over Wesley’s legacy among his progeny

Summary

It is clear that the small movement called “Methodism” that began in the eighteenth century within the Church of England has had a lasting impact. Millions of Christians today identify with or can trace their roots to Methodism in some way. As the primary leader and organizer of the original Methodists, John Wesley has a place in the histories of many churches and movements within Christianity, and, in this sense, his legacy is quite impressive. His legacy as a theologian, though, is less clear. As Methodism spread and splintered, the theological views of each new body that formed were shaped by new contexts. Because each context is itself complex, a multiplicity of theological views are held by members within the same ecclesial body, and not simply across ecclesial bodies. The variety that exists among these descendants raises the question: Along with the historical legacy that ties many churches and movements to Wesley, is there also a legacy of shared theological commitments? One way to think about this question is to start with the meaning of “legacy” itself. The word has several meanings in English usage, among the most common being “something handed down” or a “gift.” In this case, a legacy is received by someone, was valued by the giver, and is probably valued by the recipient. But, in the world of technology, a somewhat different meaning has recently come into use.