Communal Holiness in the Liberation and Methodist Movements

In this article, aspects of the Methodism tradition are put in dialogue with characteristics of Latin American liberation theology to explore communal holiness. The article focuses primarily on the words of John Wesley and Gustavo Gutiérrez, considered founders of these movements. The Wesleyan ‘means of grace’ by ‘works of mercy’ is a similar concept to Liberation's ‘encountering God in the poor and oppressed.’ Traits of liberation spirituality are compared to Methodism. The concluding section asserts that in order to be sanctified (made holy), Christians must do it together. This holiness can be activated through works of mercy with the poor and oppressed.