Class Leaders: Recovering a Tradition

by Watson, David Lowes

• ISBN13: 9781579109547
• ISBN10: 1579109543
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Textbook Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers

Summary

In 1988, The General Conference of the United Methodist Church restored class leaders and class meetings to the Book of Discipline after an absence of fifty years. In this volume, David Lowes Watson explains what the recovery of this tradition can mean for congregations, and offers some guidelines for the revitalized office of class leader.Adapting the later Methodist class meeting as a pastoral subdivision of the congregation, Watson shows how class leaders, under the supervision of the pastor, can nurture the discipline of other church members in light of a ÒGeneral Rule of DisciplineÓ derived from the early Methodist societies: ÒTo witness to Jesus Christ in the world, and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.ÓThis volume is the second in a trilogy : Covenant Discipleship, Class Leaders, and Forming Christian Disciples.

Author Biography

David Lowes Watson is Director of the Office of Pastoral Formation for the Nashville Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Preface	p. xiii
Introduction: Recovering a Tradition	p. xv
Eventful Legislation	p. xv
The Genius of Methodism	p. xv
Clergy and Class Leaders	p. xvi
A Focus on Class Leaders	p. xvii
Small Groups	p. xviii
The Horse Before the Cart	p. xix
Covenant Discipleship	p. xix
An Echo of the Class Leader	p. xx
The Need for Leaders in Discipleship	p. 1
The Mystery of Christian Discipleship	p. 1
Loose Discipleship	p. 2
Moments of Resentment	p. 3
More Discipline?	p. 4
The Two-Fold Ministry of Jesus	p. 5
Feed My Sheep	p. 6
A Shepherd's Secret	p. 6
Too Much Expertise	p. 7
Getting the Job Done	p. 8
Practicing the Basics	p. 8
Delaying Tactics	p. 9
First Steps	p. 10
More Delaying Tactics	p. 11
Leading the Flock	p. 12
Guidance in the First Steps	p. 12
Leadership Credentials	p. 13
A Leadership Question	p. 14
A Touchy Question	p. 15
Amateurs and Professionals	p. 15
A Model from Early Methodism	p. 17
For Reflection	p. 18
The Origin of Class Leaders	p. 19
The Early Methodist Movement	p. 19
Affection for the Church	p. 20
True Freedom of Discipleship	p. 20
Privileged Servanthood	p. 21
Spirit and Structure in the Church	p. 22
Spiritual Renewal	p. 23
Obedient Discipleship	p. 24
Religious Common Sense	p. 25
Pastoral Oversight	p. 25
Mutual Accountability	p. 26
The Need for Mutual Support	p. 27
The Class Leader	p. 28
Disciplinary Oversight	p. 28
Resistance to Discipline	p. 29
Matters of Heart and Life	p. 30
Spiritualized Discipleship	p. 31
Disciplined Relationships	p. 31
Companionship with Christ	p. 32
An Early Methodist Class Leader	p. 33
A Return to Class Leaders	p. 36
For Reflection	p. 38
The Class Leader in North America	p. 39
Across the Atlantic	p. 39
Pastoral Concern	p. 40
Class Leaders in Their Prime	p. 42
Literature on Class Meetings	p. 42
The Duties of Class Leaders	p. 43
Signs of Decline	p. 44
From Society to Church	p. 45
The Mother Church of Methodism	p. 45
Uncertain Identity	p. 46
Churchly Responsibilities	p. 47
A Question of Leadership	p. 47
An "Unnecessary Wheel"	p. 49
An Unfortunate Irony	p. 49
Loss of Leadership	p. 50
Displacement of the Class Meeting	p. 51
The Question of Slavery	p. 52
Loss of Integrity	p. 52
Keeping the Tradition Alive	p. 53
African American Methodism	p. 54
An Extract from A.M.E. Polity	p. 55
African American United Methodists	p. 56
Other Methodist Traditions	p. 57
The Korean Tradition	p. 58
Mutual Learnings from a Common Tradition	p. 59
For Reflection	p. 60
Recovering the Tradition of Class Leaders	p. 61
Tradition and Traditioning	p. 61
Faithful Traditioning	p. 62
The Presence of the Risen Christ	p. 63
The Methodist Tradition	p. 63
A Detraditioned Office	p. 64
Retraditioning the Office	p. 64
The United Methodist Church and Its Context	p. 65
A Counter-Cultural Office	p. 66
Careful Traditioning	p. 67
The Importance of the Pastor	p. 67
First Things First	p. 68
A Climate of Accountability	p. 69
Covenant Discipleship	p. 69
The General Rule of Discipleship	p. 70
Extending the General Rule	p. 71
Classes as Pastoral Groupings	p. 72
"Tracking Them Down"	p. 73
Why Not Class Meetings?	p. 74
A "New Frontier"	p. 75
The Class Leader as Coach	p. 75
The Class Leader as Drill Instructor	p. 76
The Class Leader as Guide	p. 76
The Class Leader as Co-Pastor	p. 77
Why Class Leaders?	p. 78
A Foundation and a Catalyst	p. 79
Hearing the Call	p. 80
For Reflection	p. 81
Discerning the Call: Preparing for the Task	p. 83
The Inward Call	p. 83
The Outward Call	p. 84
A Good Reason to Hesitate	p. 85
A Good Reason Not to Hesitate	p. 86
Seemingly Impossible Standards	p. 87
The Most Important Question	p. 89
He Did the Best He Could	p. 90
They Did the Best They Could	p. 91
Ready to Go Professional	p. 91
Preparation through Covenant Discipleship	p. 93
A Condition of the Office	p. 94
Accepting the Office	p. 94
Prayerful Preparation	p. 95
The Leaders' Meeting	p. 97
Co-Pastor of the Congregation	p. 98
Your Accountability	p. 98
Getting to Know Your Congregation	p. 99
Getting to Know Your World	p. 100
Training "On the Job"	p. 100
Forming Your Class	p. 101
For Reflection	p. 103
Getting to Know Your Class	p. 105
Diversity of People	p. 105
An Open Mind	p. 106
Diversity of Gifts and Graces	p. 106
Human Qualities and Talents	p. 107
Spiritual Gifts	p. 108
The Fruit of the Spirit	p. 109
Diversity of Needs	p. 110
Diversity of Faith	p. 112
Faith as a Human Universal	p. 112
Religious Faith	p. 113
Religious Beliefs	p. 113
Stages of Faith	p. 114
"Degrees of Faith"	p. 115
The Christian Life	p. 116
The New Birth	p. 116
Growth in Christ	p. 118
Maturity in Christ	p. 119
Constancy of Grace	p. 121
Diversity of Discipleship	p. 122
Growth in Discipleship	p. 123
Christ-Centered Discipleship	p. 123
A Word of Encouragement	p. 125
For Reflection	p. 126
Forming the Discipleship of Your Class	p. 127
Establishing Contact with Your Members	p. 127
The First Visit to Your Members	p. 127
The Agenda of the Visit	p. 128
The General Rule of Discipleship	p. 130
This Is Just the Beginning	p. 131
An Intensive First Few Weeks	p. 132
What Not to Do with Your Class	p. 133
At Ease and Alert	p. 135
Reactive Resistance	p. 136
In Covenant with an Active God	p. 137
Joyful Surrender	p. 138
Getting Caught in the Crossfire	p. 139
A Christ-Centered Relationship	p. 139
Becoming Informed about Your Congregation	p. 140
Further Contact with Your Members	p. 141
Applying the General Rule	p. 142
Witnessing to Jesus Christ in the World	p. 142
Acts of Compassion	p. 143
Acts of Worship	p. 143
Acts of Justice	p. 144
Acts of Devotion	p. 146
The Guidance of the Holy Spirit	p. 146
Connecting Your Class Members	p. 147
For Reflection	p. 148
Conclusion: In Harmony with One Another	p. 149
Knowing Who You Are	p. 149
Spiritual Discernment	p. 149
A Dangerous Gift	p. 150
Deal Charitably with Your Members	p. 151
Deal Charitably with Your Pastor	p. 152
A Question of Calling	p. 152
True Christian Collegiality	p. 153
A Final Word	p. 154
Endnotes	p. 155
Resources	p. 163
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