Wesley's influence still strong

He started one of the world's largest denominations — unintentionally — but never joined it himself.

He died with 70,000 devoted followers, but never found a happy marriage.

A man of astounding accomplishment — and not a few paradoxes — John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, stands among the tallest figures in Christendom.

June 17 marks the 300th anniversary of his birth. Methodists worldwide will commemorate the tercentenary with conferences, festivals and special worship services. Expect to find many a Methodist in period clothing, reciting passages from Wesley's prolific works.

But don't mistake John Wesley for a mere historical curiosity. Even though he died in 1791, his influence is still very much alive.

"He not only founded a church," said the Rev. William K. Quick, a visiting professor at Duke Divinity School. "He founded a movement that has grown faster (worldwide) in the last 10 years than in any other period of its history."

Even though Wesley, an ordained priest, never left the Church of England, some 78 denominations within the World Methodist Council — with 76 million members worldwide — consider him a spiritual father today.

Just as many a Christian asks, "What would Jesus do?" modern Methodists still consider, "What would Wesley say?" His writings remain part of the United Methodist Church's official teachings and a timely yardstick. When delegates at the United Methodists' general conference considered their stance on homosexuality a few years back, Wesley's words were quoted from both sides of the debate.

The term "Methodism" came from Wesley's description of his approach to Christianity: the methodical pursuit of holiness. "A Methodist," he wrote, "is one who lives according to the method laid down in the Bible." Members were to live a life of prayer and discipline.

Wesley viewed the practice of religion as more pragmatic than dogmatic. He balked at the Calvinists' notion of predestination and at the idea that faith alone could bring salvation. He insisted that conversion to his method — he did not envision it, at first, as a separate denomination from the Anglican church — must be followed by a life of personal holiness.

Wesley offered no great innovations in doctrine but packaged his Christian views in a way that transformed individuals — and English-speaking society.