| Acknowledgments | p. 11 |
| Foreword: On Learning the Connection | p. 15 |
| Introduction: The Rhetoric of Crisis and United Methodist Polity | p. 21 |
| A Rhetoric of Power | p. 22 |
| Change as Loss | p. 24 |
| A Broader View of Denominational Change | p. 27 |
| Outlines of a New Church | p. 31 |
| A Connection of Vital Congregations | p. 34 |
| Conclusion | p. 39 |
| Polity as Ecclesial Practice and Practical Discipline | p. 41 |
| Polity as Discipline | p. 46 |
| Polity as "Connexion" | p. 51 |
| Lines of Political Development | p. 55 |
| Pietism and Puritanism | p. 55 |
| Anglicanism | p. 56 |
| Catholic Tradition | p. 59 |
| Reformation | p. 60 |
| Evangelical Revival | p. 61 |
| Wesley's Synthesis in America | p. 65 |
| Denomination and Polity in the U.S.: The Case of United Methodism | p. 69 |
| Evolving Functions of Denominations | p. 71 |
| Perspectives on Denominations | p. 74 |
| Denominations as Local | p. 74 |
| Denominations as Assembly and Community | p. 76 |
| Denominational Culture | p. 77 |
| Denominations as Economic Institutions | p. 86 |
| Denominations and Social Location | p. 89 |
| Theology and Practices of Faith | p. 101 |
| Contemporary Ecclesiological Issues | p. 103 |
| Polity | p. 107 |
| The Book of Discipline Today | p. 111 |
| The Constitution of United Methodism | p. 115 |
| Two Constitutive Principles | p. 118 |
| The Principle of Conference | p. 118 |
| The Principle of Episcopacy | p. 124 |
| The Meeting of Principles | p. 128 |
| The Constitutional Place of the Annual Conference | p. 130 |
| The Constitutional Place of the Local Church | p. 135 |
| What the Constitution Is and Is Not | p. 138 |
| History, Theology, and the Discipline | p. 141 |
| A Narrative Disposition | p. 141 |
| Pragmatic Authority | p. 143 |
| Doctrinal Standards | p. 144 |
| Theological Method | p. 148 |
| Working Toward Consensus | p. 150 |
| Scriptural Holiness | p. 152 |
| Tests of Consensus | p. 155 |
| Toward Ecumenical Consensus | p. 156 |
| The Ministry of All Christians | p. 159 |
| An Emerging Ecumenical Consensus | p. 160 |
| Lay and Specialized Ministries | p. 162 |
| The Unity of Ministry | p. 169 |
| The Local Church in United Methodism | p. 173 |
| The Emergence of the Local Church | p. 174 |
| A Connection of Local Churches | p. 178 |
| Church Membership | p. 180 |
| The Organization of the Local Church | p. 185 |
| Balancing Local and Connectional Mission | p. 191 |
| Called and Set Apart: Ordered Ministry in United Methodism | p. 195 |
| A Dual Framework of Preaching Ministry | p. 195 |
| Specialized Ministries | p. 199 |
| Lay Speakers and Lay Ministers | p. 200 |
| Diaconal Ministers | p. 201 |
| Deacons | p. 204 |
| Local Pastors | p. 206 |
| Traveling Ministers in Full Connection | p. 210 |
| Tensions in the Itineracy | p. 218 |
| Tensions Between Laity and Clergy | p. 218 |
| Tensions Within the Clergy Covenant | p. 220 |
| Superintendency in United Methodism | p. 229 |
| General Superintendency | p. 231 |
| Travel | p. 237 |
| Presidency | p. 237 |
| Issues in the Episcopal Role | p. 240 |
| Election of Bishops | p. 243 |
| Episcopal Assignments | p. 244 |
| District Superintendency | p. 248 |
| General, Jurisdictional, and Central Conferences and the General Agencies | p. 255 |
| General Conference | p. 255 |
| Delegates | p. 258 |
| Petitions and Procedures | p. 261 |
| Resolutions | p. 264 |
| A Diverse Public | p. 264 |
| Jurisdictional Conferences | p. 268 |
| Central Conferences | p. 272 |
| General Agencies | p. 275 |
| Annual Conference | p. 285 |
| Annual Conferences and the Connection | p. 288 |
| Conferenre Structures and Functions | p. 290 |
| Ministry | p. 295 |
| Districts | p. 296 |
| Church Property | p. 299 |
| Model Deeds | p. 300 |
| The Trust Clause and the Local Church | p. 302 |
| Property and Prosperity | p. 304 |
| Other Church-Owned Property | p. 306 |
| Legal Issues | p. 307 |
| Stewardship | p. 308 |
| Judicial Administration | p. 311 |
| Judicial Council Decisions | p. 312 |
| Current Legal Issues | p. 315 |
| Conclusion: Issues for the Future of United Methodist Polity | p. 321 |
| Notes | p. 329 |
| Index | p. 357 |
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