Wesleyan Vile-tality calls us back to the roots of our Methodist identity. Centered on the moment John Wesley “submitted to be more vile" in spreading the love of God to all people, author Ashley Boggan (General Secretary of the UMC's General Commission on Archives and History) argues that Wesleyan vile-tality is at the core of who we are as Methodists. As rule-benders, rabble-rousers, and outcast-embracers, those early Methodists stood out and stood up. She traces how that original identity was lost as the predecessor denominations to The United Methodist Church grew and began to embrace respectability over “vile-tality.” In an accessible and engaging account, these stories of our past call us to understand who we were, question who we are, and reclaim who we should be.
Camp people tend to be more willing to get dirty, think outside the box, push the limits of respectability, and find unexpected ways to live out God's love, so I expect we will have fun embracing our "vile" side as we delve into Methodist history. Join Camp & Retreat Ministry peers to discuss one short chapter at each session, using many of the reflection questions included in the book. Participants will need to purchase the book and prepare for each session by reading the assigned chapter. Members are encouraged to attend all 5 sessions so we can foster a sense of community and build on previous discussions. It's a short-term commitment!
Every other Thursday starting 9/18, 11:30 am-12:45pm PT / 12:30 MT / 1:30 CT / 2:30 ET. Sessions are 75 minutes.