One of more memorable experiences I had with my District Committee of Ordained Ministry during seminary was a discussion around my theology. Being a very liberal seminary, I had been exposed to several theological orientations that were outside the normal dead white Europeans that my church was accustomed to. Feminist, Eco, Queer (this was not quite a thing yet), and Open Theism immediately put me at odds with my church and I was called theologically transient. I would argue that Wesleyanism is and can be theologically diverse. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In this post, I want to explore several traditions that Wesley would have bumped up against in his travels in England and America. The traditions that most influenced Wesley\u2019s were the Church of England, the Puritans, the Pietists from Halle, the Roman Catholics and the Moravians. The first four traditions influenced Wesley\u2019s decision to go to Georgia and his early missiology. Yet on the voyage and during the next five years of his life, the Moravians would influence not only his missiology, but his personal, professional and spiritual life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps the most memorable Moravian experience was when Wesley had his heart \u201cstrangely warmed\u201d at Aldersgate. This transformative experience would forever shape and change the direction of Wesley\u2019s ministry. Peter Bohler, a close friend was a Moravian is credited with the line, \u201cpreach until you have faith.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>Moravians<\/span><\/a> are a Protestant church founded in the 18th century but tracing its origin to the Unitas Fratrum (\u201cUnity of Brethren\u201d) of the 15th-century Hussite movement in Bohemia and Moravia. A predecessor to Luther\u2019s movement by 100 years, the Moravians believe in standing for basic religious principles.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wesely\u2019s theology, spirituality and format of ministry would be influenced by his time with the Moravians. According to <\/span>Julian Pace IV<\/span><\/a>, \u201cWesley appropriated a modified version of the Moravian band system for his own Methodist program, embodied the \u201cheart religion\u201d of the Moravians, and his desire to see the Church return to a more \u201cprimitive\u201d Christian practice was strengthened due to sustained contact with the Moravians.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n John Wesley would go on a mission trip to Georgia with the hopes of evangelizing to the Native population there. To sum up his experience though, it was a failure. He would get wrapped up in a romantic relationship that would go sideways, and he would have to return to England because of this scandal. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Native population that Wesley was going to minister to was the Was Cherokee Tradition. By time Wesley would arrive in Georgia, the Cherokee had aligned themselves with the British for trading and military affairs. An agrarian people, a well-known tradition is the Green Corn ceremony. John Wesley\u2019s approach with the Cherokees was indicative of the overall English and later American experience with not only the Cherokee\u2019s but other tribes, \u201cAfter he had met with some Native Americans, he was very severe with them. He said, \u201cThey are liars, thieves, and murderers. They murder their own babies, and they murder their own parents! They do not wish to learn and are not willing to be taught.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n John Wesley\u2019s views would evolve as he spent more time with the Cherokee people. His respect for their culture and custom would grow. He would also eventually come to recognize their intelligence, spirituality, and resilience. He also acknowledged the challenges they faced, including the encroachment of European settlers and the loss of their land. While Wesley continued to believe in the importance of Christian conversion, he became more open to cultural exchange and dialogue. He emphasized the need for missionaries to learn from the Cherokee people and to adapt their approach to their unique circumstances. It is unlikely 18<\/span>th<\/span> century Wesley\u2019s faith was impacted by the faith traditions he experienced with the Cherokee.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another cultural experience that Wesley would have had in Georgia was his exposure to slavery. The African people who were brought to America had their own tribal traditions, values and languages that would eventually be appropriated into their Christian faith. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wesley\u2019s <\/span>exposure to slavery<\/span><\/a> had a profound impact on his views. Initially, he accepted slavery as a part of the social and economic order of the time. However, as he spent more time in Georgia, he began to question the morality of the practice. He observed the injustice and cruelty of slavery and came to believe that it was incompatible with Christian principles.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While Wesley did not immediately become a vocal abolitionist, his experiences in Georgia laid the groundwork for his later opposition to slavery. He eventually wrote and preached against slavery, arguing that it was a violation of human rights and a sin against God. His writings and sermons helped to raise awareness of the issue and contributed to the growing abolitionist movement in England. Given his English views of Africans and his role of a minster in the 18<\/span>th<\/span> century, it is unlikely his exposure to the native traditions impacted his faith. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How Deep Ecumenism\/ Pluralism Influence\/Deepen our Spiritual Journeys?<\/p>\n In the section above, we can observe how cultural exposure impacted the future of Methodism. While we are uncertain of the influences the Cherokee or Native Africans had on Wesley\u2019s faith, it can be safely assumed he was exposed to these traditions. From these experiences, we can learn that our faith does not exist in a vacuum. \u00a0In college, I was first exposed to pluralism through the dialogues (interfaith dialogue) between Thomas Merton, Thich Nhat Hahn, and the Dalai Lama. These experiences changed my spirituality forever.<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s define a few terms:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Religious pluralism<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cReligious pluralism is the state of being where every individual in a religiously diverse society has the rights, freedoms, and safety to worship, or not, according to their conscience. This definition is founded in the American motto e pluribus unum, that we, as a nation, are gathered together as one out of many\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Interfaith dialogue<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cThe term \u2018Interfaith Dialogue\u2019 refers to the positive and cooperative interaction between people of different religions, faiths or spiritual beliefs, with the aim of promoting understanding between different religions to increase acceptance and tolerance\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nJohn Wesley\u2019s Moravian experience<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
John Wesley\u2019s Experiences in Georgia\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n