CHIST 260, United Methodist History

Fall 2009

Drew University

Prof. Morris Davis

mdavis@drew.edu

Office phone ext. 3078

 

Seminar Meets: Tues and Thurs, 9:55-11:20

Room: SEM 109

 

Course Description and Objectives

 

(Catalog description): “A study of origins, organization, outreach, religious life and key ideas, issues, events, and figures in the development of United Methodism. Aims at enabling the student 1) to understand and evaluate United Methodism in the light of its antecedent organizations and the broader context of those traditions historically related to the Methodist movement; and 2) to engage in responsible participation in the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church, to communicate effectively the tradition, and to participate perceptively in the ecumenical dialogue.”

 

Required Texts

 

  • Richard P. Heitzenrater, Wesley and the People Called Methodists
  • Frederick A. Norwood, The Story of American Methodism
  • Russell E. Richey, Kenneth Rowe, Jean Schmidt, eds., The Methodist Experience in America: A Sourcebook Vol. II.
  • McEllhenny, Rowe, and Yrigoyen. United Methodism at Forty: Looking Back, Looking Forward.

Course Requirements

 

  • You must attend this class.  This course is designed as a seminar, and thus its success depends on your substantive engagement with the readings and your active participation in the class discussions. If you have 4 or more absences the professor may ask you to drop the course.  You must take the initiative to inform the professor about the nature of an absence or it will be marked as unexcused.
  • Each student will offer two oral presentations in class on one or more of the readings from the Methodist Experience in America sourcebook. The presentations should reflect not only a close reading of the chosen text, but also an informed reading. An informed reading means that you will research the author and the context of the piece and incorporate what you learn into the presentation. These presentations should spur class conversations about the topics at hand.
  • Students will take either a final in-class exam or turn in a research paper.  If a student chooses the paper option, it must be turned in by the last class.  All students who have not turned in a paper on time will take the exam. No incompletes will be given for the paper.
    • Paper instructions: the research paper should be 8-10 pages, and address a topic approved by the professor.  A written proposal for the paper should be submitted by October 29.  The proposal should include a description of the topic (including the questions being asked), sources to be used for the paper, and a preliminary thesis statement.  Papers should be well-written and use appropriate scholarly citation style.

 

Grading:

 

  • The two presentations are also worth 33% each of the course grade.
  • The exam or paper is worth 33% of the course grade, graded on a 100-point scale.
  • The final percentage point will reflect absences and general quality of participation.

 

 

Initial Course Schedule and Readings

All dates in brackets [] refer to readings in The Methodist Experience in America: A Sourcebook

 

September 1: Course Introduction

 

September 3: Tours of Methodist Library and United Methodist Archives

 

September 8:  The early Methodist movement: Heitzenrater, chapters 1 and 2

·         Suggested reading: Norwood chapters 1 and 2

 

September 10:  The early Methodist movement: Heitzenrater, chapters 3 and 4

·         Suggested reading: Norwood chapters 3-5

 

September 15:  The early Methodist movement: Heitzenrater, chapters 5 and 6 and epilogue.  William Otterbein, Joseph Pilmore, Mary Parker, other early American Methodists, [1760, 1769]; Norwood chapters 6 and 7.

 

September 17:  Asbury, Coke, other early leaders of American Methodism; Harry Hosier, other early Methodists, [1773, 1775b, 1784a, 1784b, 1784c]; Norwood chapters 8-10.

 

September 22:  Jarena Lee, Fanny Newell, Slavery: [1791c, 1800a, 1802, 1809, 1810a, 1811a]; Norwood chapters 11-13

 

September 24:  Catherine Livingstone Garrettson, Richard Allen, Jacob Albright, Daniel Coker, Cherokee Missions: [1785a, 1785c, 1787, 1791b, 1813b, 1816, 1824, 1829]; Norwood chapters 14 and 15.

 

September 29:  19th century Churches, from cabins to Gothic revival style; Sally Thompson, Bp. William Capers and slave missions:  [1830a, 1832b, 1833, 1841a]; Norwood chapters 16-18

 

October 1:  Orange Scott, La Roy Sunderland and abolition of slavery; Bp. James O. Andrew [1834, 1836, 1842a, 1842b, 1844a-c, 1856]; Norwood chapters 19-20.

 

October 6:  Bishop Simpson, Civil War, Methodists and the rise of the American Nation: [1860, 1864d, 1864e, 1865b, 1897,1928]; Norwood, chapters 21 and 22.

 

October 8:  Phoebe Palmer, Camp meetings: [1853c, 1859, 1867b, 1869a]; Norwood chapters 23, 24, and 26.

 

October 13 and 15, Reading Week

 

October 20:  Anna Oliver, Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Frances Willard; Georgia Harkness: [1876a, 1880a, 1883b, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1920, 1924b]; Norwood chapters 25 and 30.

 

October 22:  Methodist Missions going strong.  Appenzeller, Bp. Ryang:  [1885, 1886, 1898, 1908, 1918b, 1919b, 1931, 1932b, 1934a]; Norwood chapters 27-29. 

 

October 27:  [1870c, 1876c, 1876d, 1912a]

 

October 29:  [1921, 1922, 1934b, 1936a, 1936b]

 

November 3:  [1963b, 1968a, 1968b, 1969]

 

November 5:  No Class

 

November 10:  No Class

 

November 12: [1970, 1972, 1972d, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978]; United Methodism at 40, chapters 1 and 2.

 

November 17:  [1891, 1904, 1933, 1950, 1953, 1966a]; United Methodism at 40, chapter 3

 

November 19: [All of 1980’s readings]; United Methodism at 40, chapter 4

 

November 24: [All of 1990’s readings]; United Methodism at 40, chapter 5

 

November 29: No Class (Thanksgiving)

 

December 1:  Review and catch-up; United Methodism at 40 chapters 6-8

 

December 3: Last Class. Read articles in initial volume of Methodist Review,, at http://www.methodistreview.org/index.php/mr/index