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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Foreword: On Learning the Connection | |
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| Introduction: The Rhetoric of Crisis and United Methodist Polity | |
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| A Rhetoric of Power | |
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| Change as Loss | |
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| A Broader View of Denominational Change | |
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| Outlines of a New Church | |
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| A Connection of Vital Congregations | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Polity as Ecclesial Practice and Practical Discipline | |
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| Polity as Discipline | |
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| Polity as "Connexion" | |
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| Lines of Political Development | |
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| Pietism and Puritanism | |
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| Anglicanism | |
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| Catholic Tradition | |
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| Reformation | |
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| Evangelical Revival | |
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| Wesley's Synthesis in America | |
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| Denomination and Polity in the U.S.: The Case of United Methodism | |
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| Evolving Functions of Denominations | |
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| Perspectives on Denominations | |
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| Denominations as Local | |
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| Denominations as Assembly and Community | |
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| Denominational Culture | |
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| Denominations as Economic Institutions | |
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| Denominations and Social Location | |
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| Theology and Practices of Faith | |
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| Contemporary Ecclesiological Issues | |
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| Polity | |
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| The Book of Discipline Today | |
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| The Constitution of United Methodism | |
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| Two Constitutive Principles | |
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| The Principle of Conference | |
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| The Principle of Episcopacy | |
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| The Meeting of Principles | |
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| The Constitutional Place of the Annual Conference | |
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| The Constitutional Place of the Local Church | |
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| What the Constitution Is and Is Not | |
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| History, Theology, and the Discipline | |
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| A Narrative Disposition | |
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| Pragmatic Authority | |
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| Doctrinal Standards | |
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| Theological Method | |
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| Working Toward Consensus | |
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| Scriptural Holiness | |
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| Tests of Consensus | |
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| Toward Ecumenical Consensus | |
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| The Ministry of All Christians | |
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| An Emerging Ecumenical Consensus | |
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| Lay and Specialized Ministries | |
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| The Unity of Ministry | |
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| The Local Church in United Methodism | |
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| The Emergence of the Local Church | |
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| A Connection of Local Churches | |
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| Church Membership | |
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| The Organization of the Local Church | |
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| Balancing Local and Connectional Mission | |
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| Called and Set Apart: Ordered Ministry in United Methodism | |
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| A Dual Framework of Preaching Ministry | |
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| Specialized Ministries | |
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| Lay Speakers and Lay Ministers | |
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| Diaconal Ministers | |
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| Deacons | |
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| Local Pastors | |
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| Traveling Ministers in Full Connection | |
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| Tensions in the Itineracy | |
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| Tensions Between Laity and Clergy | |
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| Tensions Within the Clergy Covenant | |
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| Superintendency in United Methodism | |
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| General Superintendency | |
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| Travel | |
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| Presidency | |
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| Issues in the Episcopal Role | |
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| Election of Bishops | |
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| Episcopal Assignments | |
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| District Superintendency | |
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| General, Jurisdictional, and Central Conferences and the General Agencies | |
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| General Conference | |
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| Delegates | |
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| Petitions and Procedures | |
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| Resolutions | |
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| A Diverse Public | |
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| Jurisdictional Conferences | |
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| Central Conferences | |
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| General Agencies | |
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| Annual Conference | |
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| Annual Conferences and the Connection | |
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| Conferenre Structures and Functions | |
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| Ministry | |
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| Districts | |
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| Church Property | |
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| Model Deeds | |
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| The Trust Clause and the Local Church | |
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| Property and Prosperity | |
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| Other Church-Owned Property | |
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| Legal Issues | |
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| Stewardship | |
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| Judicial Administration | |
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| Judicial Council Decisions | |
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| Current Legal Issues | |
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| Conclusion: Issues for the Future of United Methodist Polity | |
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| Notes | |
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| Index | |