“Holy conferencing”
Wesley never said that.
This phrase has become a bit of a buzzword in contemporary Methodism and it is almost always connected to John Wesley. Wesley did use the phrase “Christian conference.” And most people who use “holy conferencing” make a connection to “Christian conference.”
In the “Large Minutes” Wesley listed “Christian conference” as one of five instituted means of grace (practices that were instituted by Christ). The instituted means of grace in the “Large Minutes” are: prayer, searching the Scripture, the Lord’s Supper, fasting, and Christian conference.
Here is what is said about Christian conference in this context:
5. Christian Conference.
Are we convinced how important and how difficult it is to order our conversation right?
It is always in grace? Seasoned with salt? Meet to minister grace to the hearers?
Do we not converse too long at a time? Is not an hour at a time commonly enough?
Would it not be well to plan our conversation beforehand? To pray before and after it?
[Bicentennial Edition of the Works of John Wesley, edited by Henry D. Rack, 10:856-7.]
“Christian conference” is often used as a synonym for “holy conferencing,” which seems to mean polite conversation, or being nice when we disagree. But is that what Wesley meant by the phrase? I am writing a post that explores this question, which will be up in a day or two.
For now, there is no evidence that Wesley used the phrase “holy conferencing.” We can add it to the list of things he did not say:
“personal and social holiness” [Original post here.]
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” [Original post here.]
“I set myself on fire and people come to watch me burn.” [Original post here.]
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and, in all things, charity.” [Original post here.]
Kevin M. Watson is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology & Wesleyan Studies at Seattle Pacific University. You can keep up with this blog on twitter @kevinwatson or on facebook at Vital Piety.
Thank you Kevin! Another excellent post.
looking forward to your further thoughts on this!
Pingback: Holy Conferencing: What Is It? (Part 1) | Vital Piety
Thanks Steve! And thank you Randy.
Pingback: Holy Conferencing: What Did Wesley Mean? (Part 2) | Vital Piety
Pingback: Things John Wesley did not say | John Meunier
Kevin, thank you for this post. In Wesley’s sermon “The Means of Grace” he never mentions “Christian Conference”. He cites the “chief of these means of grace” Prayer, Holy Communion, and Searching the Scriptures. Obviously Wesley cites other means of grace, i.e. baptism. . What is even more interesting is the Walk to Emmaus clergy talk on “Means of Grace” never cited “Searching the Scriptures” as a means of grace, yet Wesley believed this was essential in keeping the ordinances of faith. Thank you again for your scholarship.
Pingback: More on Holy Conferencing | Hopeful
Pingback: Wesley (and Watson) on Christian Conference
Pingback: Wesley Didn’t Say It: “Be present at our table, Lord…” | Vital Piety
Pingback: Holy Conferencing: A Presentation to the UM Council of Bishops | Vital Piety
Pingback: Wesley Didn’t Say It: Do all the good you can, by all the means you can… | Kevin M. Watson
Pingback: Wesley Didn’t Say It: Set Myself on Fire… Watch Me Burn | Kevin M. Watson
Pingback: Wesley Didn’t Say It: Unity, Liberty, Charity | Kevin M. Watson