Category Archives: Essays

Does the Congregational History Have a History?

Anyone who has attended a Christian church has probably encountered the “congregational history.” But does this form of Christian commemoration have a history?

Sacred Subjects: Remembering Religion at the Ephrata Cloister

As readers of this blog know, I contributed an essay to a forthcoming book on commemoration, to be published Rowman & Littlefield for the American Association for State and Local History. The editor has pitched the book as a practical, how-to guide for would-be practitioners. It is not an academic text. Rather, it’s intended for publicContinue reading “Sacred Subjects: Remembering Religion at the Ephrata Cloister”

Mennonites and Charismatic Renewal (Part 2)

After an all-too-long gap, I’m finally sharing a bit more about my ongoing research into the ways in which North American Anabaptist (such as Mennonites and Brethren in Christ) participated in the charismatic renewal movement. Here’s a taste from my post over at the Anabaptist Historians blog: . . . while some Anabaptists cut loose their denominational tiesContinue reading “Mennonites and Charismatic Renewal (Part 2)”

Whither Brethren in Christ Holiness Theology?

Last week, I gave a paper at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society on the shifting role of holiness theology in the Brethren in Christ Church. The paper was generally well received. Several esteemed historians of the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition were in the audience and they asked good questions and prodded me to tightenContinue reading “Whither Brethren in Christ Holiness Theology?”

Mennonites and the Charismatic Movement (Part 1)

Over at Anabaptist Historians, I have a new post about my current research related to Mennonites, Brethren in Christ, and other North American Anabaptists’ engagement with the mid-twentieth century charismatic movement. Here’s a taste: Anabaptist-Mennonite historians have paid very little attention to charismatic expressions within the traditions they study. While much—though not enough—ink has beenContinue reading “Mennonites and the Charismatic Movement (Part 1)”