IST2024-1-FA15 - United Methodist History

Instructor: Cathie Kelsey  contact me via email at ckelsey@iliff.edu through the summer before Sept 10

Course Synopsis

THERE IS A READING ASSIGNMENT FOR THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS! check the grid on pages 5-6 of the syllabus

THE SYLLABUS - including all reading assignments, graded assignments, grading criteria, and other good things to know before Sept 15th The "grid" on the last pages is a great way to stay organized week by week.

Course Texts - Required and Otherwise

Required Texts:

Reuben Job, A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader, Abingdon, 1998.

Richard Heitzenrater, Wesley and the People Called Methodists, Abingdon, 2nd rev ed. 2013. (1995 edition is ok also)

John H. Wigger, American Saint: Francis Asbury, Oxford University Press, 2009.

Russell E. Richey, Kenneth E. Rowe, and (former Iliff professor) Jean Miller Schmidt, American Methodism: A Compact History, Abingdon, 2012.

Optional Texts:

Albert Outler & Richard Heitzenrater, eds, John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology, Abingdon, 1991. This book is also required for UM Doctrine, and is an essential resource for UM clergy. If you are in the Denver area, this is on reserve at Taylor Library.

 OR Kenneth J. Collins & Jason Vickers, eds, The Sermons of John Wesley: A Collection for the Christian Journey, 2013. This is also a good option for the Wesley sermons. The introductions are different from the Outler version and each sermon is outlined.

Wesley’s sermons are also available online, but watch for (avoid) sermons that have been re-worded to make them more accessible for today's readers; as is generally the case with graduate work, you are expected to engage the original texts!

Randy Maddox and Jason E. Vickers, eds, The Cambridge Companion to John Wesley, Cambridge, 2010. An interesting – and relatively new – resource for Wesley studies, it contains articles targeting specific areas of Wesley’s life and thought by a variety of authors. The Cambridge series is available online from some libraries.

If you like looking at original documents, volume 2 (the sourcebook) of The Methodist Experience in America: A Sourcebook by Richey, Rowe and Schmidt, Abingdon 2000. This was required for some years in lots of courses at other schools, so you can find it used cheap.

Course Overview

Course Objectives

Degree Learning Goals: Please take some time to look over the Professional Degree Learning Goals (MDiv, MASC, MAPSC) and the Academic Degree Learning Goals (MTS, MA).

Incompletes:  If incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.

Pass/Fail:  Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.

Academic Integrity and Community Covenant:  All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate.  All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.

Accommodations:  Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.   Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146. 

Writing Lab:  Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments.  Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft. 

Inclusive Language:  It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.