Spring 1999 - Quarterly Review

Tore MeistadSystematic Theology and Ethics in theWesleyan Tradition: SomeMethodological Reflections'fter almost 150 years of Methodist preaching in LutheranScandinavia, research has shown that the message of theUnited Methodist Church can hardly be characterized as Wesleyan(Dysjeland 1987). But the fact is that this message never has beenpurely Wesleyan. In Norway, Lutheran theology and the Holinesstradition have been influential on Methodist preaching from thebeginning. From the 1930s on, these elements have proven to bemore influential in Methodism than have its Wesleyan roots(Meistad 1994).In 1992 I published a textbook in systematic theology and ethics forthe United Methodist seminaries in Scandinavia. 2My intention was tooffer to the students an alternative foundation for their theologicalreflection and to replace some of the Lutheran books which werebeing used to educate UM pastors in Scandinavia. The time has cometo revise that text. The UMC Annual Conference in Sweden theninvited me to write a catechism for adults in the Wesleyan tradition. ItTore Meistad, former Dean of the United Methodist Seminary in Norway, isAssociate Professor in the Christian Religion at Finnmark State College for HigherEducation, Alta, Norway. He is the author of many articles and books, includingChurch History: An Introduction, Kristiansand, 1993) and Studies in WesleyanTheology, Alta, 1994).SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY AND ETHICS IN THE WESLEYAN TRADITION 53