Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia
Encyclopedia
The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia is a Christian denomination
with its origins in Wesleyan Methodism
. It is the organizational name for The Wesleyan Church
in Australia.
in 1843 with a strong commitment to the abolitionist
(anti-slavery) movement. Subsequently the Wesleyans became a crucial part of the 19th century interdenominational Holiness Movement
which saw itself as raised up to renew interest in Wesley’s teaching about holiness. They are not sinless perfectionists but believe, with John Wesley, that Christians can know the fullness of God’s sanctifying grace in a definite experience subsequent to their conversion .
The beginnings of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Australia may be traced to 1945, when the Rev. Dr. Kingsley Ridgway offered himself as a Melbourne
based "field representative" for a possible Australian branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America
, after meeting an American serviceman who was a member of that denomination.
Kingsley Ridgway's legacy continued to be felt in the church, with his son, the Rev. Dr. James Ridgway, providing denominational and institutional leadership over many years, and grandson the Rev. Kent Ridgway serving as Southern District Superintendent.
Contrary to a popular assumption, it is not a "continuing Methodist Church," formed as a result of the merger in 1977 of Congregationalist
, Methodist
and Presbyterian
congregations to form the Uniting Church in Australia
. It was never a part of the merger negotiations with those bodies that formed the Uniting Church, though some members and ministers, unhappy with the Basis of Union, switched allegiance to the Wesleyans.
, much of this as a result of the aggressive church planting strategies of the Rev. Don Hardgrave , who also wrote the only denominational history of the church. As well as aiming at new convert growth, Wesleyan Methodists have welcomed into their membership those seeking an alternative to more liberal
Protestant denominations, as well as Pentecostals looking for a church more grounded in historic Christianity. The 45th National Conference held in January 2004 reported 77 local churches, 96 ordained ministers, 2017 members and an average main Sunday service attendance of 3702 persons.
The previous National Superintendent, the Rev. Stan Baker has led the church through a period of stabilization and maturity , including a re-evaluation of its membership covenant and a period of influence in the wider Pacific region. From the late 1990s, the Australian church has fostered and encouraged the emergence of Wesleyan Methodist churches in New Zealand
, the Solomon Islands
, and Bougainville
, Papua New Guinea
.
At the 2008 South Pacific Convention and National Conference held at Philip Island, Victoria, a new National Superintendent was appointed, Rev. Lindsay Cameron. Lindsay brings to the position a desire to see denomination strengthened through the upholding and proclamation of the uniqueness of Wesleyan doctrinal teaching.
. It appreciates both its revivalist and holiness heritage as well as its roots in John Wesley's Anglicanism
. Along with Nazarenes and the Salvation Army
, it has a strong commitment to the ordination of women
, a position that in part arises out of its interpretive approach to the Bible and in part out of its revival
ist heritage.
Historically, the church may be seen both as a new religious movement, emerging out of the post-war
context of greater engagement between Australians and Americans and at the same time as a continuation of the long-standing Holiness and Revivalist strain within Australian evangelicalism
.
The associated Kingsley College, Melbourne provides Bachelor of Theology, and Master of Arts degrees as well as other academic awards. It is a Member Institute of the Sydney College of Divinity, of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools, and of the South Pacific Association of Bible Colleges.
. Both churches are Wesleyan-Holiness denominations that emerged in Australia after the Second World War, largely as the result of interaction between Australian evangelicals and American servicemen. Nazarenes advertise themselves as “a Church in the Methodist tradition” and both Wesleyan and Nazarene churches are member churches of the World Methodist Council
(The Wesleyan Methodist Church being a charter member of that organization) .
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
with its origins in Wesleyan Methodism
Wesleyanism
Wesleyanism or Wesleyan theology refers, respectively, to either the eponymous movement of Protestant Christians who have historically sought to follow the methods or theology of the eighteenth-century evangelical reformers, John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley, or to the likewise eponymous...
. It is the organizational name for The Wesleyan Church
Wesleyan Church
"Wesleyan" has been used in the title of a number of historic and current denominations, although the subject of this article is the only denomination to use that specific title...
in Australia.
Background and formation
The "Wesleyan Methodist Connexion" (later Church) had formed in Utica, New YorkUtica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
in 1843 with a strong commitment to the abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
(anti-slavery) movement. Subsequently the Wesleyans became a crucial part of the 19th century interdenominational Holiness Movement
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
which saw itself as raised up to renew interest in Wesley’s teaching about holiness. They are not sinless perfectionists but believe, with John Wesley, that Christians can know the fullness of God’s sanctifying grace in a definite experience subsequent to their conversion .
The beginnings of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Australia may be traced to 1945, when the Rev. Dr. Kingsley Ridgway offered himself as a Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
based "field representative" for a possible Australian branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America
Wesleyan Church
"Wesleyan" has been used in the title of a number of historic and current denominations, although the subject of this article is the only denomination to use that specific title...
, after meeting an American serviceman who was a member of that denomination.
Kingsley Ridgway's legacy continued to be felt in the church, with his son, the Rev. Dr. James Ridgway, providing denominational and institutional leadership over many years, and grandson the Rev. Kent Ridgway serving as Southern District Superintendent.
Contrary to a popular assumption, it is not a "continuing Methodist Church," formed as a result of the merger in 1977 of Congregationalist
Congregational Union of Australia
The Congregational Union of Australia was a Congregational denomination in Australia.Two hundred and sixty of its congregations joined the Uniting Church in Australia, which was formed in 1977 by the union of congregations of the Congregational Union, Methodist Church of Australasia, and...
, Methodist
Methodist Church of Australasia
The Methodist Church of Australasia was a Methodist denomination based in Australia.It ceased to exist in 1977 when most of its congregations joined with the many congregations of the Congregational Union of Australia and the Presbyterian Church of Australia to form the Uniting Church in...
and Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church of Australia
The Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. .-Beginnings:...
congregations to form the Uniting Church in Australia
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
. It was never a part of the merger negotiations with those bodies that formed the Uniting Church, though some members and ministers, unhappy with the Basis of Union, switched allegiance to the Wesleyans.
Recent times
The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia saw increased growth in the 1980s, particularly in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, much of this as a result of the aggressive church planting strategies of the Rev. Don Hardgrave , who also wrote the only denominational history of the church. As well as aiming at new convert growth, Wesleyan Methodists have welcomed into their membership those seeking an alternative to more liberal
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
Protestant denominations, as well as Pentecostals looking for a church more grounded in historic Christianity. The 45th National Conference held in January 2004 reported 77 local churches, 96 ordained ministers, 2017 members and an average main Sunday service attendance of 3702 persons.
The previous National Superintendent, the Rev. Stan Baker has led the church through a period of stabilization and maturity , including a re-evaluation of its membership covenant and a period of influence in the wider Pacific region. From the late 1990s, the Australian church has fostered and encouraged the emergence of Wesleyan Methodist churches in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, and Bougainville
Bougainville Province
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, previously known as North Solomons, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. The largest island is Bougainville Island , and the province also includes the island of Buka and assorted outlying islands including the Carterets...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
At the 2008 South Pacific Convention and National Conference held at Philip Island, Victoria, a new National Superintendent was appointed, Rev. Lindsay Cameron. Lindsay brings to the position a desire to see denomination strengthened through the upholding and proclamation of the uniqueness of Wesleyan doctrinal teaching.
Theology
The church is theologically conservative, Arminian in theology and typically non-charismaticCharismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
. It appreciates both its revivalist and holiness heritage as well as its roots in John Wesley's Anglicanism
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
. Along with Nazarenes and the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, it has a strong commitment to the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
, a position that in part arises out of its interpretive approach to the Bible and in part out of its revival
Christian revival
Christian revival is a term that generally refers to a specific period of increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation or many churches, either regionally or globally...
ist heritage.
Historically, the church may be seen both as a new religious movement, emerging out of the post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
context of greater engagement between Australians and Americans and at the same time as a continuation of the long-standing Holiness and Revivalist strain within Australian evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
.
The associated Kingsley College, Melbourne provides Bachelor of Theology, and Master of Arts degrees as well as other academic awards. It is a Member Institute of the Sydney College of Divinity, of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools, and of the South Pacific Association of Bible Colleges.
Similarities to other denominations
The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia is similar in many respects to the Church of the NazareneChurch of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
. Both churches are Wesleyan-Holiness denominations that emerged in Australia after the Second World War, largely as the result of interaction between Australian evangelicals and American servicemen. Nazarenes advertise themselves as “a Church in the Methodist tradition” and both Wesleyan and Nazarene churches are member churches of the World Methodist Council
World Methodist Council
The World Methodist Council, founded in 1881, is an association of churches in the Methodist tradition which comprises most of the world's Wesleyan denominations.- Extension and organization:...
(The Wesleyan Methodist Church being a charter member of that organization) .