See more of this title: The Recovery of a Contagious Methodist Movement

Methodism started out as a missional alternative to establishmentChristianity, but is now like the establishment Christianity it once critiqued. In this book, Dr. Hunter asks whether enough NewTestament Christianity exists in any institutional form of Christianity, includingThe United Methodist Church, to change the world. If United Methodism is to survive, it must recoverbold directions in ministry, in addition to Wesley 's theological vision. If only itwas so simple as to stand on Wesley 's shoulders to see our way forward. This meansthat laity and clergy must be biblically informed, spiritually energized, andsystematically organized. If United Methodism is to thrive, it needs to focus on mission, recalling that early Methodism was an extravagantexpression of missional Christianity. Net membership decline is not from losing morepeople but from reaching fewer people than it usedto. The need for the gospel of Jesus Christ is greaterthan ever. United Methodists must create structures and serve God and neighbor inorder to spread, as Wesley admonished, scriptural holiness throughout theland. George G. Hunter III is Distinguished Professor of Church Growth andEvangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author ofseveral books, including Radical Outreach and TheCeltic Way of Evangelism, both published by AbingdonPress.