Catalyst Publications
Publications by Category
Several years ago my wife, a UM pastor, had been appointed to a new congregation. As the movers were unloading our furniture, members of the congregation were stopping by and asking to talk with her for a few minutes. I was puzzled, because…
Apr/01/2003
Something Is about to Happen
“Apocalyptic” (apokalypsis, “revelation”) refers to the biblical literature that deals with the eschaton, or last things. From Amos onward, the prophets of Israel depicted a three-part drama to be played out …
Apr/01/2003
My ten years as a neighborhood pastor and community developer was the greatest ministry experience of my life. But in order to be effective, I learned it is important to be able to conceptualize the relationship between church and community…
Apr/01/2003
When in the 1970s Wesleyan and Pentecostal theologians introduced the term “orthopathy,” they had more in mind than simply insisting experience should be considered along with belief (orthodoxy) and practice (orthopraxis) in the doing of th…
Apr/01/2003
When the Fathers of the church sought to refute the twin perils of heresy and paganism, they drew on many of the arguments of the philosophers, especially Plato’s moral critique of the gods in his Republic. It was not only the moral critici…
Mar/01/2003
Speaking in a Christian Voice
I consider it an honor and a privilege to address you at this gathering of the representatives from the three great families of “Abraham’s children” — Jews, Christians, and Muslims. I am especially delighted t…
Mar/01/2003
In Preaching like Paul (Westminster John Knox, 2000), J. Thompson ventures the opinion that preaching from Paul is “unfashionable” these days. He is almost certainly correct. And if preaching from Paul is out of fashion, what shall we say a…
Mar/01/2003
The term “orthopraxis” was introduced into Christian theology by liberation theologians in the 1960s. It was meant as a corrective to an orthodoxy that affirmed all the right things about God and yet was complacent about (or worse, complici…
Mar/01/2003
This essay is meant to introduce readers to some fresh thinking on the doctrine of God—in particular, to a model known in evangelical circles as “the openness of God.” Sometimes, theology is called upon to defend traditions. At other times,…
Feb/01/2003
Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche communities, writes that “welcome is one of the signs that a community is alive.” To invite others into our lives “is a sign that we are not afraid, that we have a treasure of truth and of peace to share”…
Feb/01/2003
I sometimes joke with pastors that pastoral counseling is easy…refer, refer, refer. While referring parishioners to trained mental health professionals is essential, it is sometimes not possible or practical. On the other hand, I often wond…
Feb/01/2003
“Orthodoxy” is not a popular word these days. When someone announces they no longer believe in the Trinity or the deity of Christ, many consider it “fundamentalist” to suggest these beliefs are incompatible with Christianity. Those who do s…
Feb/01/2003
Getting Involved
News & Events
-
A Foundation for Theological Education (AFTE) John Wesley Fellowships have been awarded to three doctoral stud…
-
Announcing that 2026 John Wesley Fellowship Scholarship Applications are now being accepted. Please see the at…
-
JWF and Friends of AFTE, we look forward to you joining us Thursday-Sunday, January 15-18, 2026, for the AFTE …
-
Twenty John Wesley Fellows, spouses, and friends were able to experience a trip of a lifetime. The travel itin…
"The John Wesley Fellowship provides not only financial support, it is an extraordinary community of Christian scholars — and friends."