Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism

What does it mean to have a scriptural imagination, and how do we develop this kind of imagination in Christian community? How can a scriptural imagination help us become more active participants in God’s unfolding story of redemption? This Duke Divinity+ course explores the common values and scriptural framework that is at the heart of Methodism. Throughout four weeks, you will learn the definition of scriptural imagination — and how to connect this to your church and individual practices and forming diverse communities of faith. In each week of the course, you’ll be asked to reflect on scripture to guide you to take practical steps in how to incorporate theology in your own worship, fellowship, teaching, and mission. This course is part of the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism series. This is one of five 4-week online courses designed to help engaged laypeople and clergy (including local pastors in licensing schools) develop core capacities for innovative leadership within the Wesleyan tradition. If you are a pastor or ministry professional in need of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits for your professional development, CEU credits are available for this course. Upon successful completion of this course, you can provide your Coursera certificate and the course description to your employer for recognition of earning 0.5 CEUs. Contact divinityonline@duke.edu with any questions regarding CEUs for this course. Each of the 5 courses in the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism specialization is worth 0.5 CEUs, for a total of 2.5 CEUs for completing all of the courses. Through this series, we hope you will experience a deeper grounding in the distinctive elements of Methodism at its best, and a renewed capacity for hopeful, imaginative participation in the mission of God.

We invite you to join Duke Divinity School in “Rediscovering Wesleyan Mission,” the second of five courses in the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism series, designed to help engaged laypeople and clergy (including local pastors in licensing schools) develop core capacities for innovative leadership within the Wesleyan tradition. This course is designed to help individuals and Christian communities rediscover the Wesleyan mission at its finest. It introduces Methodism’s history as a missionary movement and teaches us to recenter our histories within the story of God’s mission to the world. In addition, it explores key practices and commitments that undergird a Methodist sense of mission, including convictions about salvation. Above all, it gives us opportunities to attend to the Holy Spirit and discern how God may be prompting us and our communities to engage in mission today. If you are a pastor or ministry professional in need of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits for your professional development, CEU credits are available for this course. Upon successful completion of this course, you can provide your Coursera certificate and the course description to your employer for recognition of earning 0.5 CEUs. Contact divinityonline@duke.edu with any questions regarding CEUs for this course. Each of the 5 courses in the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism specialization is worth 0.5 CEUs, for a total of 2.5 CEUs for completing all of the courses. Each course includes four weeks of interactive video lessons from Duke Divinity School faculty and Methodist leaders, plus an interactive course workbook PDF that includes exercises to accompany each video lesson and discussion guides for group meetings.

Welcome to Emphasizing Christian Formation. This course examines how Methodism’s deep-rooted attention to Christian formation can nurture both gifts and character in our communities. We’ll see how Methodist formation hinges upon the Methodist doctrine of holiness. We’ll consider how innovations in the complementary practices of preaching and fellowship were directed to holiness and fueled the growth of Methodism in 18th-century England. We will also consider how education contributes to our growth as disciples of Christ. Drawing on these lessons allows us to rethink the practices of our own communities. Finally, we will learn that the Methodist way of Christian formation finds its fullest expression in prayer. Throughout four weeks, you will learn the definition of Christian formation— and how to connect this to your church and individual practices and forming diverse communities of faith. In each week of the course, you’ll be asked to reflect on scripture to guide you to take practical steps in how to incorporate theology in your own worship, fellowship, teaching, and mission. If you are a pastor or ministry professional in need of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits for your professional development, CEU credits are available for this course. Upon successful completion of this course, you can provide your Coursera certificate and the course description to your employer for recognition of earning 0.5 CEUs. Contact divinityonline@duke.edu with any questions regarding CEUs for this course. Each of the 5 courses in the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism specialization is worth 0.5 CEUs, for a total of 2.5 CEUs for completing all of the courses. This course is part of the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism series. This is one of five 4-week online courses designed to help engaged laypeople and clergy (including local pastors in licensing schools) develop core capacities for innovative leadership within the Wesleyan tradition. Through this series, we hope you will experience a deeper grounding in the distinctive elements of Methodism at its best, and a renewed capacity for hopeful, imaginative participation in the mission of God.

Welcome to Nurturing Entrepreneurial Mindsets! In this course, we’ll see how Methodism’s history of entrepreneurism has fueled innovative ministries. We will consider how gifts of wisdom, virtue, and vision came from Wesley’s ministerial failure in Savannah, Georgia. Lastly, we will discuss how that spirit of innovation can help us faithfully meet our current moment. As we reflect on how we can nurture entrepreneurial mindsets wherever we are called to serve, we pray your discussions around these questions may be beneficial for your ministry. If you are a pastor or ministry professional in need of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits for your professional development, CEU credits are available for this course. Upon successful completion of this course, you can provide your Coursera certificate and the course description to your employer for recognition of earning 0.5 CEUs. Contact divinityonline@duke.edu with any questions regarding CEUs for this course. Each of the 5 courses in the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism specialization is worth 0.5 CEUs, for a total of 2.5 CEUs for completing all of the courses. This course is part of the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism series. This is one of five 4-week online courses designed to help engaged laypeople and clergy (including local pastors in licensing schools) develop core capacities for innovative leadership within the Wesleyan tradition. Through this series, we hope you will experience a deeper grounding in the distinctive elements of Methodism at its best, and a renewed capacity for hopeful, imaginative participation in the mission of God.