Author Archives: Kevin M. Watson

Top 5 Must-Read New Releases of 2024

22 Wednesday Jan 2025

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I like to read.

For several years now, I have tried to read 100 books a year. I have not hit the target more than I have. 

A quick random aside: How are your New Year’s Resolutions going? Did you make any? I realized this year with a simple clarity that I unapologetically love New Year’s Resolutions! It does not bother me at all if they are not your thing. My clarity came from a thought I randomly had in mid-Fall last year:

New Year’s Resolutions work for you if you are still thinking about them in October. 

This totally happened for me last year. In October, I realized I was way behind the pace (so far, I could not realistically catch up). But it motivated me to start reading again. I’m just better when I’m reading. 

Last year I ended up reading 88 books. This year, I am off to a good start and ahead of the pace. But there is a long way to go. We’ll see how it goes!

I not only enjoy reading, I enjoy a good book recommendation. I hope you do too! I read a lot of books I really enjoyed last year. Maybe the highlight for me was finishing reading the Chronicles of Narnia series out lout to my kids. (You should absolutely read them in the original publication order and not the chronological order imposed on them by later publishers.) My kids are all avid readers and do not need me to read out loud to them. But I wanted them to hear one of my favorite stories in their father’s voice. And there are just so many characters in those books that are so fun to read out loud. (Puddleglum!)

I decided I wanted to write a top five post to celebrate and share my favorite books from the year. I had a hard time getting my list pared down to a manageable size. For whatever reason, I noticed a handful of books I really liked that were also new releases last year. So, I decided to limit this to a top five of new release from the past year. Hope you like it! 

I am listing my top five new releases of 2024 in reverse order for one reason: It seemed more fun to me.

#5 Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America’s Political Crisis, James Davison Hunter

Of the five books I list here, this is the most demanding read. (Not coincidentally, it is the only one published by a University Press.) I do not mean this as an insult. I am only naming it to set expectations. You should read this book. But it will require a lot of you. And that’s ok, because, as I tell my kids: You are capable of great struggle!

James Davison Hunter, who previously wrote another very influential book – To Change the World – argues in Democracy and Solidarity that the roots of solidarity in the United States are breaking down and dissolving. There must be some degree of unity within any political organization for it to work. Hunter offers a detailed and sophisticated description of how this has worked in the history of the United States. He then makes the case that we are at a breaking point in terms of the solidarity required to persist as a stable political order. This is not a hysterical reactionary clickbait piece. It is a thoughtful, measured, and carefully argued book that people across the spectrum will find things with which they agree and disagree.

When I recently saw a clip of politicians refusing to shake hands during a ceremony related to the peaceful transfer of power, it bothered me in a way it would not have had I not read this book. Democracy and Solidarity is a sobering but deeply relevant book. 

#4 Life in the  Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture, Aaron Renn

I was already familiar with Renn’s Three Worlds of Evangelicalism framework and find it to be a helpful way of thinking about where we’ve been and how the church ought to respond in the present. I think Renn’s book is the first book I pre-ordered because I intentionally wanted to help the author have the best possible chance of a successful book launch that increased the book’s visibility. I am thankful for Aaron Renn because he has started many important conversations that people in more obvious positions should have started but were unable or unwilling to do so because of a lack of imagination, willingness to do the work to think deeply about hard things, or simple cowardice. I am thankful his ideas are gaining influence and being taken seriously.

Part I, where he explains and makes the case that we are in Negative World, is the best part of the book. I have come to think of the rest of the book as helpful suggestions or first drafts of what it looks like to live faithful as a follower of Jesus Christ (both personally and corporately) in Negative World. My guess is it will be practitioners who figure out how to most effectively do much of this work (and I’m pretty sure Renn himself would agree with this from his other work I’ve followed). In other words, Renn serves as a very helpful prod to recognize that the times have changed, and we need Negative World strategies to win in Negative World. 

#3 Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age, Rod Dreher

If I’m following correctly, I think Rod Dreher believes in aliens (see chapter 6). Ok, now that I have your attention, here is what really fascinated me and encouraged me about this book. Dreher lets the reader in to his very personal story with the supernatural. He has experiences which are not explainable in purely rational terms or through the laws of nature and what we know about how the world works.

I have walked a similar journey in the sense that I have had immediate and supernatural encounters with the Lord that defy academic explanation. That felt like a problem because, well, I am an academic. (I care more about being an effective pastor than being an effective academic, but I am trained as one and am a seminary professor.) In his previous book The Benedict Option, Dreher put his finger on the need for communities of belonging, deep formation, and strengthening in an increasingly anti-Christian context. In a way I did not expect when I began reading this book, I think Dreher may have named the reality that we are all charismatics now. By this, I do not mean that everyone is literally a charismatic in terms of some precise definition. What I mean is that the church, across the entire Body of Christ, is rediscovering the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. There is an openness to the work of the Holy Spirit in a way that I did not experience when I was in seminary. Dreher wrote in a way that seemed to me to come from a place of vulnerable sharing. I sensed it felt risky to him to share the parts of his story he shared. And something about this book made me think we have crossed a line where testimony to the “weird” stuff won’t seem weird or abnormal much longer. And that is a good thing! Again, I am thankful for Dreher’s courage in writing and releasing this book to the world.

#2 Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up, Abigail Shrier

Abigail Shrier has written two major books, and they are both amazing. Her first book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, courageously shone a light on the impact of transgender ideology on young women and the excesses of the hasty embrace of the movement by many in the cultural mainstream. In 2024, she wrote Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up. Shrier helped me think through two things that were concerns in the back of my mind but that I could not articulate. 

First, therapy does not seem to wrestle with iatrogenic injury. An iatrogenic injury is an injury that is caused by the intervention of a care giver. This is uncontroversial in medicine. The possibility of iatrogenic injury needs to be discussed more with therapy. Second, and related to the first, Shrier discusses the lack of an end goal in some approaches to therapy. Sometimes people come to a place where they feel they cannot cope in life in general without their counselor or therapists’ constant engagement and guidance of their lives. This seems unhealthy and the opposite of what you would expect at the outset when choosing to engage the services of a counselor or therapist.

I am tempted to qualify this in many ways because I know this is a tender area for many. I will just say here that if my summary does not sit with you, feel free to skip this book. Or, it might be that it would be especially worthwhile for you to read and consider Shrier’s analysis.

#1 The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, Jonathan Haidt

At some level, I think everyone knows that the rise of smartphones and social media has not been good for us. In The Anxious Generation, Haidt pulls the fire alarm and demonstrates just how detrimental the “phone-based childhood” is for kids. For parents who have already given their children smartphones and access to social media, there will be much temptation to defensiveness or feeling like the die has been cast and nothing can be done. I think this is a hopeful book, because it is always better to live in reality than deny it. We have reached a turning point where we collectively now know that smartphones and social media have a net negative impact on children and adolescents and it is not even close.

This book is the best new book I read last year because it is a piercing diagnosis of the problem. And it also offers hopeful and helpful practical suggestions for a way forward.

Bonus: Or, a Humble Brag

Ok, let’s be real. If you’ve follow me at all you know that none of these books are really my favorite new release in 2024. I had a new book come out in 2024. And it is my favorite. Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States is both a history of where the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition has been as it continues to fracture and divide. I also hope the book is a sign pointing to a hopeful and faithful future for those who carry the mantle of the Wesleyan theological heritage. If you haven’t read it yet, the price is the lowest right now on Amazon that I’ve seen. I hope you will check it out!

Links in this post are affiliate links and help support my work.

My Wesleyan Discipleship Class and What God Is Doing in Tulsa

15 Wednesday Jan 2025

Posted by in Class Meetings, Life, Ministry

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For the first time in my career as a seminary professor, I have had to be concerned about whether the classroom would fit all the students who were signing up to take my class. For the first time, I have had to tell people who wanted to take vacation time off work and pay their own way to travel to Tulsa just to sit in on the class as auditors (which means they get no academic credit!) that I could not let them in the class. 

Oh, and this class is just an elective. 

What is happening?!

A few years ago, I taught a class that was unlike any other I had taught. I have had a handful of great experiences as a seminary professor. But this class was different.

If you had asked me when I was teaching Methodist History at Candler School of Theology, for example, to describe the best class I’d taught, I would have talked about feeling like the students really “got it.” They left the class with a mastery of the key concepts and ideas I wanted them to receive. They were engaged and genuinely interested in the material. And having a better understanding of the meaning of Methodism, they had a deeper commitment to working, by the grace of God, to renew the Wesleyan theological tradition.

And yet, I often felt like something was missing. Or maybe better, it felt like something hadn’t quite come into alignment in terms of what I was trying to do overall.

In the Fall of 2022, I had the opportunity to teach a course that, at the time, I would have said was the best class I had ever taught. But it also occurred during the most painful and confusing time of my life.

On the one hand, I had certainty during the class that exactly what I was wanting to see happen was happening in my students during the class. As a teacher, you don’t always know what is happening with your students. But sometimes you do. Sometimes it is not awesome. And you know it. And sometimes you know that your students are experiencing exactly what you are hoping they experience. And that is so awesome you can’t really appreciate it until it happens, or at least I didn’t know it could be that good until it was.

On the other hand, I found out in the last half of the semester that I had not been selected for a position I had applied for and, as a result, I was being terminated at the end of the semester.

The class was a great experience for me. I loved those students so much. I was thankful I got to finish this class and the other one I was teaching. It was also one of the most gut-wrenching things I’ve ever done.

I walked through it the best I could. I’m sure I made mistakes. I am so thankful for the healing that has happened and continues to happen.

One thing that was really challenging was the sense that I had finally figured something out. It felt like magic in the classroom. And I was gutted that I was not going to get to continue doing the things I had learned that worked.

But God.

The Lord, in his kindness to me, opened a door to teach at Asbury Theological Seminary, the school I’d been yearning for more connection with for years, in the city (Tulsa, OK) I had been feeling drawn to for years.

Last Spring, I was given the opportunity to teach this same class again for Asbury at our main campus in Wilmore, KY. Seven students enrolled in a class that was brand new and not even in the ATS catalogue yet. I was so thankful to get to teach again. 

My second time through the class showed me that the previous class was not a fluke. 

The things I learned were repeatable, which is a key principle of disciple-making work.

But looking back I also think there was some spiritual interference. For example, just before the intensive part of the class (where we all gathered for 20 hours of class in 2.5 days), I lost my voice! I mean I really lost my voice, for the first time in my life. It was bizarre. The Lord gave me just enough strength to communicate each day of the intensive and it improved just enough for me to manage to preach in chapel after my class ended before I headed back to Tulsa.

Tomorrow evening, I will start teaching my Wesleyan Discipleship class for the third time. 

And this time 34 students are coming to Tulsa. 

34 students! 

As far as I know, this is the largest class we’ve ever had in Tulsa. And it is an elective.

And I have this deep confidence in my spirit that collectively this class is going to experience the blessing of the Lord’s presence with us.

At every intensive I’ve taught in Tulsa, the Spirit has been present in a powerful way. It has felt to me like Asbury Theological Seminary’s Tulsa Extension Site is a laboratory of the Holy Spirit. We dive deep into the content and information of the course, while also actively seeking to experience the things we are learning about. 

A course on Wesleyan Discipleship is tailor made for just that. We will learn about band meetings and class meetings, laying the historical and theological foundation for these core practices. And we will not only learn about the class meeting, we will experience it in a laboratory where we can do the real thing, talk about it, and discuss how we can practice it more effectively.

By the grace of God, we will learn about the stages of growth in faith and how to help people move from being spiritual infants all the way to spiritual parents.

And the Father will be given permission to do whatever He wants to do during our time together.

The past year and a half has been so good. So fun. 

Today, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. I cannot wait to see what God does tomorrow and this weekend! 

Please pray for me to teach well and for all of us to be open and receptive to receive what the Spirit has for us!

Thank you, Jesus.

Interested in studying with me in Tulsa? Check out Asbury Theological Seminary here: https://asburyseminary.edu

Podcasts Featuring My New Book: Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline

21 Thursday Nov 2024

Posted by in Book Review, Life, Methodist History

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This is a short post to share two podcasts appearances from this week.

The prompt for both invitations was the release of my new book Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States. #affiliate I did quite a few interviews in the weeks the book was released in late June. The first print run sold out in a few weeks. The timing of these conversations is great because Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline is back in stock!

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, I think you’ll enjoy both episodes as they went in significantly different directions.

I was interviewed by Dr. Brian Russell on his podcast Deep Dive Spirituality. This was my second time on Dr. Russell’s podcast. I really enjoyed the conversation with him about my new book. My favorite part of the conversation, however, was when he asked me what I am most hopeful about the future. He set it up with a great image. Audio only is available here.

YouTube version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EYBwB2T2aw

I was also interviewed by Rev. Jeffrey Rickman on his podcast Plain Spoken. We also talked about the book and spent time talking about implications of the book’s argument for theological education and developments in the Global Methodist Church. Check out my conversation with Rev. Rickman here: https://plainspokenpod.substack.com/p/american-methodist-history-and-its

Thanks to Brian and Jeffrey for having me on their podcasts! I hope you’ll check them both out.

Three Thoughts on Educational Requirements in the Global Methodist Church

30 Wednesday Oct 2024

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I have been tracking the education requirements for ordination in the Global Methodist Church (GMC) since the denomination’s beginning. In conversations in the church and in the academy, I see some consequences of decisions the GMC has made that I’m not sure are recognized for a variety of stakeholders.

This post is specifically about the requirements for theological education in the GMC. This is not a major emphasis of mine here. I am writing this post because I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit of late and wonder if I may be seeing some things that would be helpful to name. The overall intent of this post is to flush out what I think are some unexamined assumptions in hopes that it might help both the GMC as an institution and individuals pursuing ordination in the GMC. To be clear: I am operating on the assumption that the GMC is operating in good faith and doing the very best they can!

Brief Background

Let me offer a summary of my understanding of ordination itself and the educational requirements for ordination in the GMC to provide context.

 First, one can be ordained a deacon in the GMC after completing 10 required courses. All 10 courses are required (i.e., there are no electives).

Second, all elders have been ordained a deacon. If one is called to be ordained an elder, one must first complete all requirements to be ordained a deacon (and be ordained as a deacon). One then must complete 10 additional required courses. 8 of these 10 courses are required for all elders. 2 additional courses much be taken from a choice of, I think, 12 elective options.

All elders have been ordained deacons. Not all deacons will become elders. (This is following historical precedent, but that is another post.)

So, 10 required courses for ordination as a deacon.

10 additional courses for ordination as an elder.

20 courses total to be ordained an elder.

These courses do not have to be taken from one institution, and they do not have to be of the same level academically. Prospective ordinands can take courses in an “alternative educational pathway” (the GMC’s language) which is like what Course of Study was/is in the United Methodist Church, or they can take accredited Master’s level courses from a list of approved schools.

Ok, that is the basic context/background. Here are some implications I see that are significantly different than the way the process worked in the UMC.

First, in my opinion, the GMC has created a disincentive for people to complete accredited Master’s degrees.

There are pros and cons to this.

The most obvious pro is that this approach lowers the financial bar substantially for people who feel a calling to ministry to meet the requirements for ordination. The GMC approach also makes it significantly more convenient to check the boxes in terms of ordination requirements. In one video I heard from a GMC Board of Ordained Ministry, it was discussed that students can take courses at multiple different institutions according to preference/convenience. Finally, this approach comes out of a desire to have a process that serves the entire global church, where there is not consistent access to Master’s level theological education.

There are a few cons as well. The academic quality of the various options will vary quite a bit. If someone takes a non-accredited Course of Study type class for one class and an accredited Master’s level course for another class, they are getting a significantly different educational experience across the classes. Another con is that the GMC approach (particularly compared to that of the UMC) will hurt seminaries. Seminaries are expensive and the current models are not built on guessing which a la carte classes students not enrolled as degree seeking students might want to take any given semester. I can understand why the GMC would not find this a compelling concern for a variety of reasons. But in my view, the GMC approach is asking academic institutions to work in a way that is not viable. Again, I think the first is a more significant con than the second. I do think there is room to think about academic requirements for ordination as a partnership between the GMC and the parts of the theological academy they choose to work with.

Second, related to the above, the GMC has created an incentive to meet educational requirements through “alternative educational pathways.”

The category of “alternative educational pathways” is hard for me to completely pin down. I think it is supposed to be what Course of Study was in the UMC. 

However, there is a major difference in how Course of Study functioned in the UMC than how the “alternative educational pathway” functions in the GMC. In the UMC, the Course of Study was a way to meet some standard of education for people who were serving as local pastors, which was a distinct (and confused) category of non-ordained pastoral leadership. I agree with the GMC’s move to simply delete this theologically problematic position in the church. Local pastors were second-class citizens in the UMC. And yet, within that context (the problems and limitations on being a local pastor) there are ways in which a more expedient and much cheaper approach to education makes some sense. (For what it is worth, I taught in multiple Course of Study Schools during my time as a United Methodist seminary professor, and I loved the students I had in these classes!)

I feel like it is often missed that in the GMC because there are no local pastors, the “alternative educational pathways” are an equally valid pathway to ordination as a more traditional seminary education. 

There is also confusion within the GMC about what the standard for these pathways is exactly. I have been told the “alternative educational pathways” were 1/3 the work of a master’s level course. I have heard from others that it should be 2/3. And I have recently heard a Board of Ordained Ministry presentation on Zoom that seemed to suggest they were supposed to be Master’s level quality. In my mind there is a lack of clear thinking about how all of this fits together. An accredited seminary, for example, should not be expected to offer a non-accredited class at a steep discount that is essentially the same course. If they are expected to do that and try to do so, they will be competing against themselves. It would be like Rolex selling the “really good deal” on a “Rolex” you can find on the sidewalk in New York.

The “alternative educational pathway” will be easier and cheaper. And as a result, the GMC has created an incentive structure for prospective ordinands to meet educational requirements through this easier path, particularly because there is not the downside that there was with the UMC in terms of ordination.

Pros: Each course is cheaper than master’s level course work. These courses range from $200-$500 per course. They are less work and so easier to complete practically.

Cons: The GMC is, unintentionally I assume, incentivizing expediency and pragmatism on the road to ordination. I would advocate for doing the exact opposite. If someone wants to serve as an ordained deacon or elder in the church, they should be called to more and greater challenge. In fairness, my sense is that most who advocate for the easier path do so because of the need they see for getting folks serving in empty pulpits now. The need is great! I totally get that. I just think there are other ways that can be addressed while still calling people who want to be ordained to more. The most obvious con is that students who take the alternative educational pathway will get an inferior education to those who pursue Master’s level education. (If that is not assumed, I need help understanding what the distinction is.)

Note: I realize that there are a variety of challenges and nuance needed here. There are socio-economic challenges that are valid and real. And there are realities in the global church that are different than those in the U.S. I would maintain, however, that we ought to work to address these challenges in ways that raise the bar everywhere rather than lowering the bar in places that may have greater access to resources.

Third, the GMC may not be setting people up to succeed after ordination when they enter the job market.

If I am understanding GMC polity correctly, there is no guaranteed appointment in the GMC (as there was in the UMC). This is a big difference! In the UMC, you could meet ordination requirements however you wanted and once you got ordained the playing field was level. Everyone was guaranteed an appointment. I.e., you would get a job.

This is not the case in the GMC. A new GMC ordinand will either already have a job or be looking for one. And they will be competing with other GMC ordinands for the same jobs. GMC polity does not guarantee an ordained pastor employment. 

My assumption, then, is that credentialing will be more important in the GMC for employment than it was in the UMC. Imagine 3 people apply for a position as the sole pastor of a GMC church that averages 100 people in person in worship on Sunday morning. All other things being equal, here are the ways they met their educational requirements for ordination:

Candidate 1: Completed a GMC approved “alternate educational pathway” that was 1/3 to 2/3 as rigorous as Master’s level accredited coursework.

Candidate 2: Completed educational requirements through a grab bag of courses, some unaccredited and some a la carte classes at various seminaries in Master’s level courses.

Candidate 3: Completed an accredited Master’s degree that satisfies all GMC educational requirements.

Who do you think will get the job?

I would guess that all other things being equal Candidate 3 gets hired every time. Of course, there is a ton of simplification there. But I have not seen much reflection on the real-world realities of trying to get a job after you get ordained and how the decisions you make in the ordination process may help or hinder your job search. 

And there are a variety of other ways the educational pathway one chooses can potentially help or hinder the likelihood of them being hired. For example, does taking the easier route now to get through the ordination process more quickly make it less likely you would be selected to be the lead pastor of a large church down the road?

Final Thoughts

A part of me feels like the GMC is of two minds about education in preparation for ministry. And I can understand much of this. UMC seminaries did not serve orthodox Wesleyans very well. There is a reason many laity referred to seminary as “cemetery” when I was going through the ordination process. There was a real concern that I would lose my faith or be deformed in such a way that I could no longer effectively serve in Christian ministry. And I actually believe that concern was understated rather than overstated. 

I think it would be an improvement to restrict “alternative education pathways” to cases of necessity. Many I’ve talked to suggest this is informally the case. It has not seemed clear to me in the GMC’s official statements.

I believe the M.Div. will continue to be the gold standard for theological education in preparation for full time vocational ministry. Of course, I could be wrong about that. 

I think the burden is going to be more on the ordinand him or herself to make choices that are in their own long-term interest. And considering that, I think people preparing for ordination, particularly in the United States, will be best prepared to lead in the church and actually get a job if they complete a Master’s level theological education. 

In addition to the M.Div., I have worked to create a 60 credit degree at Asbury Theological Seminary that exactly meets all requirements for ordination in the GMC. This is a concrete expression of our commitment to a partnership with the GMC. If someone can get an M.Div., I would recommend that they do. If they cannot, I would encourage them to check out our Master of Arts in Christian Ministries (MACM) degree, which is exactly the GMC ordination requirements. The degree can be completed through online and hybrid classes, or residentially in Wilmore, KY. So, you can do it from anywhere. (Though, of course, I want you to come to Tulsa!) When you complete the degree, you will be fully eligible for ordination and you will have a Master’s degree that you will have for the rest of your life.

If you want to know more, please reach out to me here (scroll to the bottom of the page).

These are some of the things I’ve been thinking about over the past few years re. GMC educational requirements. I hope it can serve the GMC!

Join My Seminary Course in Wesleyan Discipleship in Tulsa [January 2025]

24 Thursday Oct 2024

Posted by in Accountability, Class Meetings, Holiness, Methodist History, Ministry

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I am teaching a course on Wesleyan Discipleship in Tulsa as a January-Term course at Asbury Theological Seminary this coming January (2025). You should join me! 

What is the course about?

Here is my description of the course:

Wesleyan Discipleship explores the history, theology, and practice of discipleship through a Wesleyan lens. Particular attention is given to the role of communal formation in eighteenth-century Methodism. John Wesley’s theology of discipleship is explored, along with a variety of aspects of Christian formation in community in early Methodism. Particular attention is given to the way Wesley’s theology of social holiness was expressed in early Methodist small groups, especially the class meeting and the band meeting. Students will apply the historical and theological understanding of Wesleyan discipleship to contemporary ministry contexts.

Why I am FIRED UP about this class:

This class will have an intensive on site here in Tulsa from the evening of January 16th through January 18th, 2025. I LOVE the time together with students at intensives! This class beautifully lends itself to teaching in this format. 

Hybrid classes have 20 hours of in-person instruction over 2.5 days. (The rest of the course requirements are met through online engagement and completion of online modules.) It is intense! But I have also found, perhaps surprisingly, that it is also an opportunity for a spiritual retreat for students. 

The in-person experience gives us the opportunity to worship together. We will start the class by attending worship at the Thursday evening service at Asbury Church, where Rev. Andrew Forrest will be preaching. Andrew is an exceptionally gifted preacher of the Scriptures and a brilliant communicator. I love being able to start class off by tangibly connecting the church and academy by walking across the parking lot to go to worship.

We will also have an Asbury Theological Seminary – Tulsa chapel service for the class and students in the area on Friday January 17.

I will get to spend hours talking about my scholarly passion – the importance of community and connection for the Christian life. I love getting to teach students and engage their questions around these topics!

And most important, we will spend time talking about and practicing ways to reintroduce these tried and tested methods that gave Methodism its name.

At the end of the course, students will have the kind of knowledge gain you would expect from a typical seminary course. But they will also have experience participating in class meetings, experiencing small group dynamics, and reflecting on various challenges and opportunities of leading small groups like class and band meetings.

I think of this course as like a laboratory. We will learn a lot about the concepts, but we will also engage them in a hands-on way. In a laboratory you can not only experience a class meeting, but you can also talk about your experience of a class meeting. In my view, this is essential for becoming an expert practitioner. You need not only a theoretical framework and some practical experience, but you also need a place to talk about your experience so you can acknowledge, address, and overcome obstacles and challenges.

I am more confident than I have ever been that groups like the Wesleyan class meeting and band meeting will be at the center of Christian discipleship in these new and strange times we are entering.

These intensives are aptly named. They are not easy. J-term is not a short cut. In fact, it is a three-week academic sprint. My goal is to maximize the 20 hours we get to spend together to suck the marrow out of the class and be as fully equipped to make disciples of Jesus Christ in the contemporary church as possible. 

I want students who come hungry and ready to learn and grow. And that is what we are seeing here in Tulsa. It is SO FUN!

How is the course being taught?

I am teaching this course as a hybrid course at Asbury Theological Seminary at our Tulsa, OK Extension Site (housed at Asbury Church).

What is a January-Term, or J-Term, course?

A J-Term course is a full three credit course that is offered entirely within the month of January. This coming J-Term will start on January 2, 2025 and conclude on January 24, 2025.

What is a hybrid course?

A hybrid course is a course that has parts that are online and parts that are in person. This specific course will have four online modules based on four main sets of reading, students will write a reflection paper that summarizes the content of the reading, critically engages it, and applies it to their own ministry context.

The in-person part is January 16-18, 2025 at Asbury Church’s Development Center in Tulsa, OK. The in-person meeting will be from 6:00pm-9:00pm January 16, 8:30am-5:30pm January 17, and 8:30-5:30pm January 18. The in-person meeting is required for completion of the course. It is also the highlight of the entire course!

Does this course meet the Wesleyan Discipleship and Spiritual Formation requirement for ordination in the Global Methodist Church?

The Convening General Conference of the Global Methodist Church, which met a few weeks back, updated the educational requirements for ordination. And one of the changes that was made was the addition of a course called “Wesleyan Discipleship and Spiritual Formation.” I don’t mean to brag, but I believe this course hits the bullseye for what the GMC is looking for here! So, yes, if you are seeking ordination in the GMC, this course meets the Wesleyan Discipleship and Spiritual Formation course requirement. You can take this course and meet all GMC ordination requirements with either an Asbury Theological Seminary M.Div. or our 60 credit (exactly 20 courses) Master’s in Christian Ministry (MACM).

Should I take this course if I am not in the Global Methodist Church?

Yes! 

If you want to help your church more effectively make discipleship of Jesus Christ, this course is for you. 

I am passionate about Wesleyan Discipleship, not because I am most passionate about John Wesley, but because I believe the Wesleyan theological tradition has a proven track record of excellence in intentional and effective disciple making. We do well to learn from experts who have gone before us. This course is not specifically for students from any one denominational tradition. I mentioned the GMC above only because there is obvious relevance for the GMC because they just made this exact course a required course to be ordained an elder in the GMC. (Your church or denomination should too. This topic really is that essential for succeeding in the 21st century church.)

Can I take this course if I am not an Asbury Theological Seminary student?

Yes! The easiest way to do this would be to apply now to become an Asbury Theological Seminary student. We have a variety of degree programs, and I would be thrilled to talk to you about any of them! There is time to apply now and start this January.

If you are interested in applying to Asbury Theological Seminary or for this course in particular, reach out to me here (scroll down to the bottom of the page) and I will get back to you soon. Be sure to include your email so I know how to reach you. 

Not ready to apply to one of our Master’s degree programs? You may be able to apply to take the course as a non-degree seeking student. You also may be able to audit the course. Both require an application and auditing requires permission from the instructor. For either of these, reach out to me at the link immediately above.

I am open to considering some auditors. Auditors do not receive any academic credit for the course and do not turn in any assignments. They are given permission to sit in on the in-person part of the class and participate in class discussions and activities. However, I will only open the class up to auditors if there are open seats after the registration period closes. (I would assume auditing the course would not satisfy denominational ordination requirements, but you should check with your own denominational leaders.)

What is the official title of the course?

The course is cross listed as a Spiritual Formation course and a Theology course. So you can sign up for either TH650 Wesleyan Discipleship or SF650 Wesleyan Discipleship.

What are the assigned readings in the course?

Students will read a few short essays from John Wesley. And they will read these three books (affiliate links):

The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Group Experience, Kevin M. Watson

The Band Meeting: Rediscovering Relational Discipleship in Transformational Community, Kevin M. Watson and Scott T. Kisker

Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches that Make Disciples, Jim Putman

I cannot wait for this class! I hope to see you here in Tulsa January 16-18, 2025.

5 Things I Learned My First Year at Asbury

03 Tuesday Sep 2024

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1. I love living in Tulsa as much as I thought I would. 

I grew up spending a few weeks with my grandparents every summer. When I graduated from college, my parents moved to Tulsa. So, my entire life, I have had close family that lived in Tulsa. But I had never lived here. And it hadn’t even occurred to me that I could live here. A few years ago, I started sensing a draw to Tulsa. I had never felt a sense of calling to a place. I am so thankful for God’s goodness in bringing us here!

2. I love teaching at Asbury Theological Seminary as much as I thought I would.

My first time on Asbury Theological Seminary’s campus was 2017. That seems impossible to me. I had been curious about Asbury for a long time but had not actually been on campus until I was invited to preach in chapel just before the 2017 meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society, which was held at ATS that year. (You can watch that sermon here, if you want to take a trip down memory lane!) I remember walking around campus and sensing the Spirit’s presence in an almost overwhelming way.

In my first year, I taught Church History One, Basic Christian Doctrine, and a new course on the history and practice of Wesleyan Discipleship. And the students in every class have been fantastic! It has been such a gift to me to be at a place where my convictions are deeply in sync with the institution where I serve, with my colleagues, and with my students. I am blessed!

3. Hybrid classes are fun!

Every class I have taught to date has been in the hybrid format. This means that the classes have online modules where students complete assigned readings and other assignments. Once during the semester, there is a three-day intensive where everyone gathers together in the same place. (Asbury Theological Seminary offers hybrid classes in Wilmore, KY as well as at each of our Extension Sites: Tulsa, OK; Orlando, FL; Colorado Spring, CO; Memphis, TN; and Tampa, FL.)

As I was praying about my first hybrid last Fall, I felt like the Lord kept giving me the word “retreat.” As in, the hybrid is supposed to be a retreat for students. And to be honest, I thought to myself: there is no way students are going to buy that 20 hours of time in class over three days is going to feel like a retreat!

As the Lord usually does when I argue, I just kept hearing the word “retreat.” Finally, I embraced it and sent an email that felt very naïve to my students. I encouraged them to come expecting the time to be a retreat. I invited them to make a plan to put aside all other distractions and be present to the Lord and each other.

And that first hybrid just might be my favorite teaching experience I’ve ever had. We spent time together in prayer, even praying for one another. We worshipped together. Oh, I also lectured some. Several students confessed that my email about the retreat seemed crazy to them, but that to their surprise the hybrid did indeed feel like a retreat. 

Only God!

I am learning to relax into the time we have together in the intensives and shift from trying to cram 20 hours of lecturing into the class to being present to the Holy Spirit and his agenda for our time together. I still have a lot to learn. But the journey has been so fun. 

I can’t wait to see what God does in my classes this year!

4. Asbury Church is more of a blessing than I could have asked or imagined.

I cannot express what a gift it has been to me personally and to my entire family to be at Asbury Church. Rev. Andrew Forrest is an exceptional preacher. I don’t know how he does it week after week. And he is as good or better of a leader than he is a preacher. Serving on the Asbury pastoral team under his leadership has been a gift. 

A highlight for me at Asbury Church was our Summer of Prayer series for six weeks right in the middle of the summer. We invited the church to press in to prayer in a deeper way. We preached through the book of James. We had a night of Prayer and Worship on a Wednesday during the series. The Holy Spirit was present in a powerful way that I believe broke something new open in the church. I got to preach the last sermon of the series and preached on James 5:13-16 and invited people to respond by coming forward to receive prayer for healing. The interest in healing and testimonies to healing seems to be building from the Summer of Prayer. (You can check that sermon out here, if interested.)

More Lord!

The sermon I preached felt like releasing something that has been in me for a long time. It was really important to me to know that I was operating under the authority of the leadership of the church. And throughout the series I experienced spiritual covering and blessing to be who I am in Christ in a way I have never experienced. I still can’t really describe what a blessing it has been. I am so thankful!

5. Asbury Theological Seminary is trusted by an even broader section of the church than I realized.

I knew that Asbury Theological Seminary was viewed as the premier seminary across the Wesleyan evangelical family throughout the world. I did not realize the degree of interest there is in building relationships with Asbury in many nondenominational and independent churches that have typically done most of their preparation for ministry in house.

I hosted a gathering of pastors from a variety of nondenominational churches here in Tulsa to talk about the work they are doing to raise up the next generation of leaders for the church. I was humbled that they would make time to come to Tulsa and consider a partnership with Asbury. Everything about the time together was fun! Great conversation. Exceptional leaders in parts of the Body of Christ I’m eager to get to know better. Openness to the Holy Spirit. Deeply committed to basic Christian orthodoxy. And aware of what time it is. Check out this description of the gathering. 

The thing I most enjoyed about this meeting was spending time with leaders in the broader church who sharpen me and help me be better at what I do. My calling is to raise up the next generation of leaders for the church. It is all about the church. And so, the more I can be around excellent pastors the better!

Asbury Theological Seminary is known throughout the church. And as people are sensing that some places may be shifting away from their historic commitments, there is growing openness and interest in partnering with Asbury. I am so curious to see what God does!

The first year in Tulsa has been better than I could have hoped. But do you know my favorite thing about where I am at right now? I am even more excited by several things I am working on now than what I have experienced in the past. I have a deep confidence that the best is yet to come.

Stay tuned! 

Understanding the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States: Interview at Asbury Church

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Christian Living, Life, Methodist History, Sermons, Wesley

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The Rev. Andrew Forrest, the senior pastor at Asbury Church in Tulsa, OK, interviewed me about my new book this past weekend in all of our services. It was so fun!

Andrew is not only a gifted communicator, he also has the ability to help other people refine and clarify their own ideas. It was really fun to see his mind work in terms of distilling what was most important from the book for people at Asbury Church.

Here is a screenshot of the interview. Click the link below to view it.

https://asburytulsa.org/sermon/why-and-how-churches-lose-their-way/

Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States has already sold out of the first print run! (It continues to be available as an e-book and an audio book.) I am thrilled by the interest the book has received and look forward to seeing it continue to build.

As I’ve talked with people about the book, I’ve only become more convinced of its importance for such a time as this. As we move into new futures, it is essential that we be able to recognize real Methodism from cheap imitations. In order to do so, we have to know where we have come from and be regrounded in our identity. I believe John Wesley was right to lay out the following as the litmus test for Methodist vitality:

“I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” – John Wesley “Thoughts upon Methodism” (1786)

My book describes the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which Methodists first set out and traces adherence to them across the history of the Wesleyan family in the United States.

Methodists were at the center of the First Great Awakening and the Second Great Awakening. I am convinced that one way or another, the DNA of real Methodism will be at the center of the Third Great Awakening.

May it begin with us!

Powerful Divine Healing Prayers at Asbury Church Tulsa, OK

07 Wednesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Life, Ministry, Sermons

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The video above is the sermon I preached at Asbury Church here in Tulsa, OK on July 28th. It was such a special Sunday. I’d like to share a bit of what I experienced with you.

This summer at Asbury Church, we have been working through the book of James. We created a prayer guide to help our congregation read the entire book of James and commit to a daily rhythm of prayer. We called the series “Summer of Prayer.” And it was awesome! 

I was given the opportunity to preach the last week in the series. I preached on James 5:13-16, focusing on the instructions related to praying for divine healing. Here is the passage: 

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  

I still don’t feel like I can adequately describe how special the weekend was and what a blessing it was to me.  

Caroline Ewy, a college intern at Asbury, shared her testimony and a song she wrote. She did a fantastic job – so cool to see. Caroline’s story was so powerful! Even if you have zero interest in my sermon, you should check out her story and the song she wrote and performed live. You will not regret it! 

In the weeks before I preached, I had a pretty strong sense that we were supposed to do what James says to do, not just talk about it. Basically, I knew I needed to invite people to come forward, be anointed with oil, and receive prayer for divine healing. 

For me, one of the most vulnerable things in ministry is standing in the tension of saying I think God wants to do something. It is vulnerable for me because I am always acutely aware that this requires response by the people you are speaking to. Will anyone respond? And even more than that, I am deeply aware that I am asking them to pray for something that I do not have the power or ability to do myself. God is the one who does the work. 

It was a precious gift to me the way Asbury Church leaned in collectively. And even more, though I am often tempted to shrink back, the Lord is faithful!

At our Thursday night service there were 137 people in attendance and 26 came forward to receive prayer. We had more than 2,300 in attendance at our four services last week. And there was a significant response at each service. The 11 AM service went past 12:30 because we were still praying with people! I think it is safe to say 10% of the people who came to worship in person came forward for prayer.

And since then, we’ve had people asking to come by the church to be anointed and prayed for. We have also received some wonderful testimonies to the ways the Lord has answered our prayers. 

God is so good!  

The Sunday that I preached was also the one year anniversary of our move to Tulsa, OK. I am so thankful for the ways the past year have brought both healing and blessing. The partnership with Asbury Theological Seminary in Tulsa and Asbury Church have been more than I could have dreamed. I am so thankful. And this summer has just been SO FUN!

I may write a bit more about my first year in Tulsa in the coming days. For now, I hope you’ll watch the video above and check out Caroline’s story and song with my sermon following. 

Kevin M. Watson is Director of Academic Growth and Formation at Asbury Theological Seminary and Scholar in Residence at Asbury Church in Tulsa, OK.

Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States – Book Release

25 Tuesday Jun 2024

Posted by in Book Review, Holiness, Methodist History, Wesley

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After working on this book for seven years, my new book Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States is officially released.

I am so thankful to the Lord that this day has arrived!

If you haven’t picked up a copy of the book, I hope you will today!

Here is the summary of the book from the dust jacket:

An expansive, substantive history of the Wesleyan tradition in the United States, Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline offers a broad survey of the Methodist movement as it developed and spread throughout America, from the colonial era to the present day. It also provides a theological appraisal of these developments in light of John Wesley’s foundational vision. Beginning with Wesley himself, Watson describes the distinctiveness of the tradition at the outset. Then, as history unfolds, he identifies the common set of beliefs and practices that have unified a diverse group of people across the centuries, providing them a common identity through a number of divisions and mergers. At a time when sweeping changes continue to transform Methodism and the pan-Wesleyan movement, Watson shows that the heart of the Wesleyan theological tradition is both more expansive and substantive than any singular denominational identity.

For more information check out the post I wrote here.

Zondervan has created a fantastic page for the book here.

Buy the book at Amazon here (affiliate link) or through Zondervan directly here.

I have been interviewed on several podcasts about the book. I will update interviews as they go live.

I was on Art of Holiness with Rev. Dr. Carolyn Moore. Check it out here.

I was on Spirit & Truth with Rev. Dr. Matt Reynolds. Check it out here.

The interest in this book has been so encouraging to me. Thank you so much to each of you who have bought the book. I am grateful! 

Powerful Moments at West Plains Annual Conference: A Reflection

21 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by in Christian Living, Class Meetings, Life, Ministry

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When Rev. Mike Schafer, President pro tem, of the West Plains GMC Annual Conference reached out to me last fall and asked me to preach and teach at the upcoming conference, I was thrilled! And the West Plains Annual Conference exceeded my expectations.

One of my favorite moments of the conference was when Mike described something he had never had happen in his entire ministry: an Annual Conference attendee asked if they could bring a friend! That gives an idea of the atmosphere and spiritual environment in West Plains.

I showed up planning to preach one message, and instead spoke on Matthew 13:44:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sees all that he has and buys that field. [NRSV]

I shifted because the Spirit did something when Mike prayed for me right before my sermon. I don’t remember exactly what he prayed, but it had something to do with the Spirit opening me up to receive what he wanted to say, even if it was different than what I’d planned. I had been wrestling with a sense that what I had prepared was not quite right and Mike’s prayer brought clarity that I was supposed to change courses and trust the Lord.

The truth is that I don’t really remember most of what I said because it was so unscripted. That is not a comfortable place for me. And I didn’t think I did a great job. When Mike gave an altar call after my sermon, I went to the altar and repented and apologized to the Lord because I just felt like I missed it with my message.

I am grateful for the exceptionally gracious feedback I received from many people in West Plains about how the Lord had used the sermon for them.

God is good!

The ordination service was powerful as well. A few things really stood out to me. First, the unity in the room, not only among the ordinands, but also among the clergy and laity in attendance was palpable and a joy. When Bishop Jones went through the Historic Questions, it was the first time in my ministry I wasn’t wondering if people meant “No” even though they were saying “Yes.”


Bishop Jones led in a way that kept the focus on the main thing and the seriousness of what was happening. That was a gift to experience. 

Two other things happened in the ordination service that were beautiful. First, immediately after ordination, Bishop Jones celebrated Communion and the newly ordained served the rest of the congregation. It was so well done! Second, after Communion, Bishop Jones gave an invitation to receive a call to ministry during the final song. I saw at least three people from the congregation respond to that invitation! I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed that before. It was so hopeful and encouraging to just have a strong focus on the significance of ordination and even more so on the Triune God who speaks and calls us to serve.

Rev. Schafer asked me to speak on Wesleyan discipleship, focusing on class and band meetings on Saturday morning. If you know me, it is pretty easy to convince me to do that! I have been thinking quite a bit about the old(er) Barna survey that is outlined in the book Maximum Faith (you can find a summary of the ten stops of the Christian life here). I summarized those findings and the way they point to the need for relational connection and deeper discipleship across the church in the United States. This, in my view, only increases the importance of returning to our Wesleyan heritage of intentional discipleship through small groups.

I had a blast teaching that material!

Finally, I got to experience two of the three TED-style talks given by folks in West Plains. Wow! The first talk was about a fire ministry after the massive fires in Texas last year. Even more than that, it was a powerful testimony about God’s work in one woman’s life. The second talk was by a rancher and a lawyer who felt called to co-pastor the GMC church in their town. The commitment to the local church and the authority of Scripture was powerful! I wish I’d been able to stay for the final one and the rest of the afternoon!

Preaching and teaching at a place like the West Plains Conference is an enormous privilege. It still surprises me to be asked to speak in places like this. I love doing it and it is a blessing to me. Every time, I think, I can’t believe I get to do this! God has been so kind to me and I am thankful.

One final thing about my time at this conference. Mike Schafer will become the first Connectional Operations Officer for the Global Methodist Church, starting August 15, 2024. Leadership in West Plains recognized Mike for his service as the first President of the West Plains Conference and gave thanks for this new role. One of the people who praised Schafer’s leadership in West Plains commented that he was exactly the right person to serve in this new key leadership role in the GMC because he had not spent his entire career trying to receive this kind of position. I loved the way that was put! And it rings true of my experience with Mike. His selection for this role is encouraging to me and a hopeful sign of things to come for the Global Methodist Church. (You can read more about Rev. Schafer and his new role here.)

Thank you, West Plains, for having me! And special thanks to Emma Stonum for sharing the photos I’ve used in this post.

Reminder: My new book releases next Tuesday, June 25th

My new book Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States releases on Tuesday, June 25th. I wrote a post about the book here. Please check it out. This is the first book I’ve directly asked folks to pre-order. Doing so helps the long-term success of the book in a variety of ways. It would really help me out if you would take a moment to head to Amazon (affiliate link) or Zondervan and order the book now. I am really encouraged by the early interest in this book! Thank you so much to all of you who have already pre-ordered it.

In this time of rapid change and chaos, it is imperative that we reground ourselves in our identity. This book explains the core identity of the Wesleyan theological tradition and points to lessons from the past that will help us be more faithful in the present and future.

Thank you!