As part of its celebrations of “Wesley Day” and the future strategies recently approved by the IAMSCU Board of Directors, IAMSCU has upheld its commitment to “visibly affirm the Wesleyan heritage of education.” The IAMSCU Strategic Committee working on this theme is being renewed with new members representing five continents and including countries such as Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, England, Philippines, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. To celebrate “Wesley Day” and the new phase in the work of this committee, IAMSCU is publicizing the Wesleyan-Methodist Heritage Statement which was approved by the IAMSCU General Assembly gathered in a very historical place, the John Wesley’s New Room in Bristol, in England – the oldest building still standing which was erected by John Wesley in 1739.
The IAMSCU statement calls for a public reclaiming of the Wesleyan and Methodist theological heritage, so that a new generation of leaders emerging as stewards of schools, colleges, seminaries, and universities affiliated to IAMSCU can not only receive and affirm this tradition but also project it into the future as they respond to new global challenges and opportunities. May 24 is a good day to be reminded of this commitment.
Wesleyan-Methodist Heritage Statement
Our Wesleyan and Methodist theological understanding is based on:
- the Reformation doctrine of justification by grace through faith;
- the Catholic emphasis on sanctification, which must be followed by good works;
- the Orthodox belief in the possibility of humanity’s participation in the divine;
- the Arminian understanding of our cooperation with God’s grace in response to God’s loving invitation;
- the Anglican approach of bringing Scripture, tradition, and reason into conversation with one another as sources of theological reflection, and we, as Wesleyans and Methodists, add experience;
- the Pietist and evangelical emphasis on conversion to Christ and the manifestation of this in inner spiritual renewal and outward ministry to all of God’s creation.
As Wesleyans and Methodists, we value all these accents of Christian faith that have emerged throughout history and inspire our faith.
- We participate in the means of grace to be inwardly renewed by the Holy Spirit and empowered to engage in God’s mission in the world.
- Specifically, we believe as Wesleyans and Methodists that personal sanctification is always manifested in everyday life as social sanctification that leads us to work toward inclusivity of others in different contexts and with different religious traditions.
- Our way of reflecting our Wesleyan and Methodist theological heritage reveals our deep willingness to work and engage in ecumenical and interreligious contexts and realities.
- God sends us out into the global world to participate in God’s mission to all of creation.
For more information, please visit the IAMSCU website (www.iamscu.org) or contact IAMSCU at iamscu@iamscu.org