Vol. 4 1 July 1997 Number 3 Interdisciplinary session a one- or A Note from M. Douglas Meeks: two-page précis of both papers will be In a very short time we will be shared with the members of both gathering at Somerville College, Groups. The objective in the Oxford, singing, "Are We Yet Alive." Interdisciplinary sessions is not so I do believe a lively experience awaits much to give further scholarly us. Here are a few notes on the analysis of to the papers as to deal at programme. the interface of the disciplines with As in 1992 there will be a Pre- the general questions facing the Institute Conference of Two-Thirds church and its mission as raised by World Members. The conference is the papers and emerge in the designed to give participants an respective disciplines. The Working opportunity to get to know each Group conveners and paper writers another on a deeper level and to will provide questions and guidance discuss the Institute themes from the for the discussion. various contexts of the Two-Thirds Most days at the Institute will follow World. The conference will be this agenda: Morning worship will be convened by George Mulrain. We at 7:15 to 8:00 in the Chapel (see the look forward to their report on worship schedule on pp. 3-4 of this Wednesday evening. issue of OXFORDnotes); there will be A new feature at this Institute will be a plenary lecture at 9:00 in Wicks Interdisciplinary Group sessions in auditorium; coffee will be at 10:45; which on six occasions two Working Working Groups or Interdisciplinary Groups will be paired to discuss the Sessions will meet at 11:15 to 1:00 themes of the Institute across the PM; there will be free time from 2:00 disciplines. These sessions will begin to 4:00; tea at 4:00; Working Groups or Interdisciplinary Sessions at 4:30 with a consideration of one paper to 6:30; dinner at 7:00; at 8:15 on from each Working Group. Each several evenings there will be a paper will have been discussed in the variety of events, including Working Group of which the author ecumenical dialogues, a celebration of is a member. Prior to the various cultural expressions from OXFORDnotes Page 2 across the world (come prepared!), Centuries): Russell Richey and Jean and an opportunity for various Miller Schmidt; Practical : academic and church societies or Pamela Couture and Manfred individuals to share what they are Marquardt; Spirituality and doing. Evening will be in the Discipleship: David Lowes Watson Chapel at 9:30. and Roberta Bondi; Systematic On Sunday the Institute worship Theology: Randy Maddox and Josiah service will be held at Wesley Young; Wesley Studies: Ted Memorial Church. Kenneth Campbell and Hoo-Jung Lee. Carder will be the preacher and Lecturers are: Roberta Bondi, José members of the Institute will be Miguez Bonino, Jürgen Moltmann, liturgists. We hope that all Institute Gabriel Setiloane, Philip Wogaman, members will take part in this service, and Frances Young. Lorna Khoo and so please make your plans Karen Westerfield Tucker are accordingly. On Friday evening, planning worship. August 15th, we will have a Until we meet in Oxford, God's peace celebration to inaugurate the Dow and be upon you and travel well! Marjorie Kirkpatrick lectureship. The Institute banquet will be held on M. Douglas Meeks Thursday evening, August 21, at Wesley Theological Seminary 7:00. There will also be several excursions about which members A Note from Timothy Macquiban: have already been informed. Could members of the Institute please The conveners of the Working note that there is no accommodation Groups are: Biblical Studies: Bruce available at Somerville after the close Birch and Katheryn Darr; Contextual of the conference. You may wish to Theology: Mary Elizabeth Moore book further accommodation else- and Rui Josgrilberg; where when in residence. and Oikoumene: Theodore Runyon and Norman Young; Evangelism: The telephone/fax number at Steve Gunter and Raquel Caceres; Somerville for incoming messages during the Institute is Oxford (1865- Global Mission and Political 270689). Otherwise, during the week, Economy: David Deeks and Philip messages could be left on 1865- Wogaman; History of Wesleyan 253359 or 247644 Ext. 5366 at the Traditions (19th and 20th Page 3 July 1997

Wesley and Methodist Studies Night Devotions: The Methodist Centre. Church, UK and Ireland: Rev. Dr. John Newton. Those arriving by coach or train from airports or London will arrive at Wednesday 13 August Gloucester Green Coach Station or Morning Eucharist: United Methodist Oxford Rail Station. You should get a Church: Rev. Dr. Karen Westerfield taxi to Somerville which is on Tucker; Night Devotions: Methodist Woodstock Road and a ten minute from Africa: Rev. Grace Imathiu. walk from these.

Please ensure that the balance of your Thursday 14 August fees can be paid in sterling by check Morning Eucharist: Methodists from or cash. We cannot accept credit Latin America: (to be confirmed); cards. Night Devotions: Methodists from We look forward to your arrival. Any Europe: Bishop Walter Klaiber. late minute changes in accom- modation requirements should be Friday 15 August notified to Jenny Impey (Tel/Fax. Morning Eucharist: Methodists from 181-672-8387) Asia: Rev. Gah-Hing Ting; Night Devotions: Methodists from the Tim Macquiban, Uniting and United Churches Westminster College Oxford (Australia and Canada): Rev. Dr. Work: Tel: 01865-247644 Ext. 5359 Norman Young. (study) or Ext. 5291 (Theology Office where message can be left) or Ext. Saturday 16 August 4253 (home). Home: Tel: 01865- Morning Eucharist: Methodists 242665; best between 6 PM and 7 representing the sacramental tradition PM or after 10 PM. (Order of St. Luke and Methodist Sacramental Fellowship): Rev. Dr. Ron Anderson. INSTITUTE WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday 17 August WORSHIP AT WESLEY MEM- Tuesday 12 August ORIAL CHURCH, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford. OXFORDnotes Page 4

Westerfield Tucker; Rev. Lorna Monday 18 August Khoo. Morning Eucharist: Methodists from Africa: Rev Grace Imathiu; Night Devotions: United Methodist Church: Rev. Dr. Karen Westerfield Tucker.

Tuesday 19 August Practical Theology Morning Eucharist: Methodists from Europe: Bishop Walter The new working section on Klaiber; Night Devotions: Method- practical theology will feature ists from Asia: Rev. Navreen Rao. papers on liturgy, pastoral care, ministerial formation, literature and Wednesday 20 August art, religious education, and Morning Eucharist: Methodists evangelism. These papers all have in representing the evangelical and view the theology of contemporary charismatic traditions: Rev. Dr. Bob praxis and draw on a range of Tuttle; Night Devotions: Methodists historical and contemporary from Latin America: (to be con- materials. The working group will firmed). engage in special conversations centered on two published Thursday 21 August documents: the Episcopal Initiative Morning Eucharist: The Methodist on Children and Poverty: Biblical Church in UK and Ireland: Rev. Dr. and Theological Foundations (found John Newton. at http://www.umc.org/bishops/) and the new accrediting standards of the Friday 22 August Association of Theological Schools Morning : Methodists from the (found at http://www.ats.edu). South Pacific, New Zealand and Tonga: Rev. Tevita Sinhengalu. - Pamela Couture CLOSING SERVICE: Rev. Dr. Karen Westerfield-Tucker. Biblical Studies Working Group The Biblical Studies Working Group OXFORD INSTITUTE WORSHIP has generated considerable interest COORDINATORS: Rev. Dr. Karen for this summer’s Oxford Institute. An unusually large number of papers Page 5 July 1997 have been proposed, and their diverse • Unity in Diversity: Accepting topics and perspectives promise lively Those Who Are Wrong, Romans sessions for our days together. 14:1-15:13 The topics in the area of Hebrew Some topics may relate to both include: testaments: • God, Community, and Power in • Narrative as Power: The Dia- the Psalms logue Between the Biblical Stories and Our Own Stories • God and Wisdom: The Power of Relationship • Salvation as a Central Message of the Bible • Divine Power and Human

Politics: Saul’s Rejection as King Papers to be Offered in the of Israel Wesley Studies Group • Doctrine of God in Exodus 6:1-5 (Religious Pluralism) Tom Albin, paper on Trinity in Charles Wesley's Hymns • Power, Otherness, and Gender in the Biblical Short Stories Ted A. Campbell, "Classical Trinity and Evangelical Personality: Towards • God’s Role in the World: The a Wesleyan Doctrine of God" Informing but Disturbing Description in Job Kenneth J. Collins, "The Recon- figuration of Power: The Basic In the topics include: Trajectory in " • Faith as Historical Challenge Ann M. Dallenbach, paper on John Wesley and the of women • The Character of God and in Wesleyan communities Community in the New Testament R. Bruce Johnson, "The 'Whole Economy of Grace': Trinity and • Paul and Power, Revisited Perfection in the Wesleyan Trinitarian • Spirit, Community and Power Hymns" According to the Acts of the Hong Ki Kim, "John Wesley and the Apostles Jubilee Movement" • Trinity, Community and Power in 1 Cor. 15 OXFORDnotes Page 6

Hoo-Jung Lee, "Jubilee and University grew from a collection of Spirituality in John Wesley" monastic houses near the site of the old St. Frideswide’s Abbey (the old W. Thomas Madron, "Eucharistic abbey grounds are now part of Christ Practices in Wesley's Societies" Church college). In the fourteenth K. Steven McCormick, "Transcripts century, John Wycliffe was warden of of the Trinity: The Mystery and a now-defunct Oxford “Hall” until he Meaning of Persons" was ejected by the Bishop of Oxford and began his crusade for the reform Tore Meistad, “Towards a Textbook of medieval Catholicism. in Systematic Theology and Ethics in the Wesleyan Tradition: A Method- During the Protestant Reformation, ological Discussion” Oxford was the scene of the public execution of Protestant W. Douglas Mills, paper on Robert Ridley, Latimer, and Cranmer. A Cushman on Predestination and cross in Broad Street marks the site Divine Grace where they were burned at the stake, Victor A. Shepherd, paper on and the nearby Martyrs’ Memorial Wesley's Doctrine of Christian commemorates them. Perfection In the seventeenth-century struggles Patrick Streiff, "Trinitarian Teaching between “Cavaliers” and “Round- in Fletcher of Madeley" heads,” Oxford sided with the Crown against Parliament. One of the John L. Topolewski, "Mr. Wesley's windows of Lincoln College has an Trust Clause: Methodism in the image of Christ crucified, and a Vernacular" charge brought against Archbishop Emmanuel Vargas Alavez, "Empow- William Laud for his execution was ering Community through Trinitarian that he had “erected a crucifix” in Worship" Lincoln College, possibly a reference to this window. The lead around Christ’s head, in this image, is very Oxford in the History of heavy, giving rise to the local legend Christianity (undocumented) that it was poked out Oxford University has been the scene by a pikestaff wielded by one of of many events and movements in the Cromwell’s soldiers. history of Christianity. The Page 7 July 1997

In the eighteenth century, of course, large number of papers and the Oxford is known as the place where limited time for many working group Methodism “first arose.” John sessions (some only 1 hour and 15 Wesley’s father, Samuel, had been a minutes) we would be severely scholar at New Inn Hall, no longer in hampered by having papers read in existence but on the street where their entirety in our sessions. We Oxford’s Wesley Memorial Church is would either be forced to limit what now located. John and Charles were promises to be a very diverse and both scholars at Christ Church, and lively discussion or to reject some of John later became Fellow of Lincoln the proposals for papers. We have College. chosen to use our time in brief highlighting of papers that most, we In the nineteenth century, the believe, will have read, followed by University was the center of the interaction in the group. This format “Oxford” or “Tractarian” movement, proved very successful in the last and the Church of St. Mary the Oxford Institute Biblical Studies Virgin, where John and Wesley had working group largely because the preached, provided the venue for backgrounds and experience of the sermons by Keble, Newman, Pusey group members was so richly diverse. and others. We believe from our list of members - Ted Campbell this will be the case again. Although we are grateful for the stimulus Gutenberg’s Gift: The Case for provided by thoughtful papers, we Distributing Papers in Advance believe that the maximized The editor of Oxford Notes in a opportunity for exchange between the previous issue ventured his discussants may be the real goal of stimulating opinion that papers ought the Oxford Institute enterprise. not be read in advance but presented Katheryn Pfisterer Darr, for the first time orally in the sessions. Bruce C. Birch, Although our choice does not grow Co-Convenors, Biblical Studies out of a carefully considered Group pedagogy, we have consciously chosen to go a different route and have papers distributed in advance and read beforehand as much as this proves possible. Considering the

OXFORDnotes is the Newsletter of the Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies, published at:

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Editor: Ted A. Campbell voice: USA (202) 885-8677 fax: USA (202) 885-8683 email: [email protected] Associate Editors: Richard P. Heitzenrater Kenneth H. Thompson Contributing Editor: Rex D. Matthews