Doing Theology in the Tradition of the Wesleys, by Jane V Craske (Grove Doctrine D5)

Jane V Craske, Doing Theology in the Tradition of the Wesleys. Grove Doctrine D5 (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2020)

As I’m on the editorial group for Grove Doctrine, I plan to promote (but not review) each of the books released in the series as and when they’re published.

The Grove Books website says ‘we are evangelical and Anglican, and seek to engage with, learn from and speak to others.’ I can’t speak for every series in the Grove Books range, but this desire to ‘engage with, learn from and speak to others’ is certainly true for Grove Doctrine: three of the six titles published so far are written by Methodists, and one of the others was written by an Anglican (me!) who nonetheless worked as part of the Methodist Church of Great Britain’s Connexional Team for exactly ten years. Perhaps like the denomination itself in many local communities, Methodism has a subtle but sure influence on the Grove Doctrine series.

Jane Craske’s Doing Theology in the Tradition of the Wesleys is an explicit look at what Methodism contributes theologically – or, putting it differently, on what theological priorities the Church catholic can find in Methodism for its own practices. Arguably, Doing Theology is best summed up by this lengthy quotation from towards the end of the book:

I describe the characteristics I draw together here as engaged theology. I have drawn from the Wesleys, in particular, a pattern of doing theology that focuses on what God does in human lives and in the world, through Jesus Christ, in response to what needs to change (the story of salvation). It is a theology that emphasizes, within that overall focus, the continuing transforming change that God brings about (holiness), without setting limits to it. Doing theology in the tradition of the Wesleys means giving attention to how all this is communicated, to whom and by whom (from Wesleyan preaching). We will need a holistic sense of theology that includes physicality, emotion, celebration (such as in singing), as well as nurture and the development of disciples (moving on together). We will have to attend to context, to the heart and the head, and to what disciples do. And theology will be done, as a practice, in community. (p. 25)

This book is ideal for anyone interested in what theology is and how it is practised, but perhaps especially for those who are involved in some form of Methodist ministry, including local preachers, worship leaders, and persons ‘on note’ and ‘on trial’.

Doing Theology is available for £3.95 from the Grove Books website (in both print and electronic formats), as well as through Christian bookshops.