Catalyst Publications
Publications by Category
Most of my essays in Catalyst have focused on Christian formation, catechesis, and various aspects of the catechumenate. These essays might not have been written if it had not been for one of my teachers, Thomas Oden, who catechized me and …
Apr/10/2017
Focusing in the first instance on the Protestant reformers’ exegetical methods tends to obscure the significant shared aspects of their vision of Scripture with which this series began (see parts 1 and 2), such as shared assertions of Scrip…
Apr/05/2017
Vice President Mike Pence recently made headlines because he said he will not eat alone with a woman who is not his wife. This principle is modeled after Billy Graham, who refused to travel, meet, or eat with a woman alone.
To those on t…
Apr/03/2017
As seen in part one of this series on “Reading Scripture with the Protestant Reformers,” the reformers established claims for Scripture’s perspicuity precisely on a profound optimism about the clear, unified work of the Holy Spirit as the t…
Mar/29/2017
The Protestant reformers have long been known for their turn to the “literal sense” of Scripture in the history of biblical interpretation. For some this entails an “inflated literal sense,” in which the reformers collapsed the medieval fou…
Mar/22/2017
The Wesleys’ renewal movement within the Anglican Church was an audacious, if imperfect effort to proclaim, to embody, and to advance what is truly good. Starting with Jesus Christ, himself, and his righteousness, those Methodists went on t…
Mar/20/2017
Biblical interpreters have been blessed with a number of excellent recent commentaries on Psalms. Many of these deal extensively with theological and literary issues. Ellen Charry explores the context, structure, and “theological pedagogy” …
Mar/15/2017
Since November 2016, my faith in the church has been rattled more than usual. The complicity of the church in the US presidential election and the current administration’s call for an intensified nationalism leaves me saddened and filled wi…
Mar/13/2017
Wesley’s life was forever changed when in 1735 he was convinced salvation was at its heart about fully and unreservedly loving God and neighbor. Then in 1738 he found through his own experience and the testimonies of others that salvation i…
Mar/08/2017
“The trouble is that they’re so quarrelsome. As soon as anyone arrives he settles in some street. Before he’s been there twenty-four hours he quarrels with his neighbour. Before the week is over he’s quarreled so badly that he decides to mo…
Mar/06/2017
Some movies should not be seen alone. To experience the full pathos of the film requires the collective, emotional reaction of the whole audience. Hotel Rwanda is one such movie. It tells the story of Paul Rusesabagina, manager of the Mille…
Feb/20/2017
This year we are looking at some of the key turning points in Wesley’s theology and ministry. We have seen that in 1725 he became convinced the goal of salvation was to restore us to the image of God in which we were created, such that we w…
Feb/15/2017
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A Foundation for Theological Education (AFTE) John Wesley Fellowships have been awarded to three doctoral stud…
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Announcing that 2026 John Wesley Fellowship Scholarship Applications are now being accepted. Please see the at…
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JWF and Friends of AFTE, we look forward to you joining us Thursday-Sunday, January 15-18, 2026, for the AFTE …
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Twenty John Wesley Fellows, spouses, and friends were able to experience a trip of a lifetime. The travel itin…
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