Editorial

It is matter of great reflection to be writing this editor’s note for one of the first two issues of my tenure in this post, gaining in the process an unequivocal sense of the deep history of Wesley House as an institution and of the individuals that have gone before me, both in this role and across the college. To be joining Wesley House as it embarks on its second century as a place of theological inquiry, of scholarly endeavour, of fellowship, is both immensely exciting and, only very slightly, disconcerting, and the size of shoes of previous generations is made abundantly clear. Truly, this makes the honour of taking up the role of editor all the greater, and I dearly hope both this and issue 8.1 offer readers a great amount of thought and contemplation.

This issue represents the first of a two-part special edition which collects together an array of material produced for the centenary celebrations at Wesley House over the course of 2021/22, marking what was the 100th year in 2021. This took various forms: reflection on a century of establishing a prospering and nurturing theological institution; examining the role Wesley House might play in contemporary conversations around race; exploring how the Christian tradition ‘remembers’ its engagement with slavery and imperialism; establishing a conversation on what it is to lead like a Methodist; seeking to understand the plurality global Methodist perspectives on climate change. What connects them all is a simultaneous gazing forward as the college gazes back, attempting to define what the next 100 years might, or perhaps should, look like whilst engaging with the past 100. These two issues largely represent papers and writings which featured in all of the discussions described above, and Holiness is deeply thankful to all contributors for their willingness to disseminate these materials further.

As well as the authors I am also indebted to my predecessor Revd Dr Richard Clutterbuck both for his safe and secure handing of the baton and for his gracious support and guidance in all aspects of the journal since I have taken the reins. These centenary issues are almost entirely the products of his curation and I hope they represent the swansong he richly deserves.

Jane Leach opens this issue with a collection of material considering a ‘Century of Theological Reflection’ as one who has made the journey from Wesley House’s student sets to the Principals Lodge. In it we’re offered several sermons including the Wesley House Centenary Sermon delivered at Wesley Church in October 2021 and the University’s Pentecost service, the ‘Ramsden Sermon’, as well as a deeply emboldening hymn embodying the power of Methodist educational collaboration.

Greg Bergquist offers his keynote address from the ‘Leading Like a Methodist’ symposium as part of the centenary event as he highlights the essentiality of recognising intercultural perspectives in engaging in effective leadership. Reflexivity is required in this as we are walked through what a ‘jazz’ inspired approach to leadership might offer us and those around us.

Since taking on this role, Wesley House has bid farewell to an integral figure in this 100 year period as former college student, tutor and principal Brian E. Beck passed on. This issue is fortunate enough to contain the last of Brian’s innumerable number of sermons which, fittingly, offers us a reaffirmation of the critical role of faith, as well as an accompanying tribute written by Chair of Trustees Stuart Jordan written before his passing. Here Stuart encapsulates the sentiments of so many of those who had the pleasure of absorbing Brian’s preaching over 70 years of his spiritual career. The latter of this years two Centenary Editions will feature tributes to Brian written after his passing, examining both his contribution to Wesley House and to Christian thought more broadly.

Fittingly, with Wesley House now inextricably defined by its international ties and connections, Paul Chilcote presents a ‘mapping’ of global Methodist theological outlooks. Reflections on the essential ‘character’ of Methodist theology bookend a historical exploration of key thinkers, schools of thought and thought evolutions to offer a sense of the deeply multi-faceted picture of Methodist spirituality today.

Ruby Quantson Davis writes of the necessity of accepting and indeed embracing the ‘discomfort’ that comes with conversations around decolonisation and consideration of imperialist legacies. Such an embrace is vital in giving those still deeply affected by colonialism in the present the time and space to be heard and understood. It is only in sitting ‘long enough’ in these spaces, she states, that we might be then able ‘to act’.

In reaching a historic milestone as the centenary unquestionably represents it is apt to engage in something explicitly historical. Paul Glass offers just this in the first of a two part set of articles written for this issue on the history and development of Wesley House, in this instance up to the outbreak of World War Two. Glass combines historical record with student interviews to offer a deeply informed historical journey that takes us from foundation up to the middle of the century.

Jonathan Chaplin’s article invokes the bravery of 109 Zimbabwean clergy in attempting to hold truth to power in at the height of Robert Mugabe’s excesses of control, an act of immense courage in the face of seemingly intractable authoritarian rule. Through it we are reminded of the possibility of taking democracy for granted, as well as of the crucial influence individuals and bodies of faith worldwide offer in supporting it, or not. Chaplin offers a multi-faceted engagement with political theology to state his case that, in light of recent lurches towards authoritarian leaders, churches and the Christians within them must now stand up and be counted to ensure constitutional democracy doesn’t fade into historical memory.

If you’ve been connected to Wesley House or otherwise, I dearly hope all of this stirs some thoughts and reflections of your own.

Joseph Powell, Editor