A book recently published by Continuum in New York and London throws useful light on recent developments in Methodist theology in England.
Methodist Theology Today has four editors and 22 contributors, and it is unusual in that the contributors of the later chapters are able to comment on the contents of the earlier chapters.
Methodism has made its own particular contribution to the interpretation of Christian doctrine. Some scholars have tried to dismiss John Wesley as a poor theologian, but increasingly this view is being challenged as his relevance to the sort of lives people live is being recognised.
Not the least important aspect of this excellent little book is the way in which the writers explore what Methodists believe in terms of its constitution, and the statements that have been issued by its governing body - the conference - since 1932.
It is a fact that people don't necessarily believe what they say they believe; they believe the principles on which they act.
The fact that the writers make this use of the church's statements arises from the fact that at the heart of Methodist belief is the conviction that doctrine is not determined by an intellectual elite (although scholars have an important input) but by the people of God in representative assembly.
At this time, with increasing agreement among the Christian churches, this book makes a very useful contribution to the understanding of Methodism, where it has come from, and how it is developing.
Irish Methodist statements on ethical issues have not always coincided with their English counterparts, but they are sufficiently close for the book to have relevance here. It is distributed by the Columba Press.
The European Methodist Council comprises representatives from churches in 25 countries. Its meeting this year will take place in Ireland, the venue being Gurteen College in north Tipperary.
It gathers on September 2nd and is expected to complete its business on September 5th. On the Sunday morning the members of the council will divide into two parties to lead worship in churches at Roscrea and Birr. Presiding over the sessions will be Bishop Hans Vaxby of Russia and the Rev Winston Graham of Ireland.
We apologise to Ms Grace Imathieu for an error in this column on July 30th, where we described her as the wife of Bishop Lawi Imathieu. She is his daughter.