<p>This book maps how American Methodists have responded to sexual change since World War II. It argues that the current United Methodist impasse over human sexuality has its root in the existence of two dichotomous ideologies of Methodist history and theology--one liberal and one evangelical, which come to the foreground in discussions of human sexuality. It offers evidence about how these ideologies have sought to reconcile their sexual ethic with sexual change since the birth control movement of the 1920s. In post-WWII America, most Methodists upheld a limited notion of family life and sexuality, one that allowed for the use of artificial contraception within marriage and for divorce. In response to the sexual revolution, liberal-leaning Methodists upheld a new sexual ethic, "the new morality," which peaked with radical new approaches to sex education, a full endorsement of abortion rights, and support of the homophile movement. However, "the new morality" coincided with an increased presence of and a new voice for evangelical Methodists, Charles Keysor and the Good News Movement. Evangelical Methodists critiqued "the new morality" as value-neutral and anti-Scripture. The evangelical desire for a rules-based morality solely reliant on Scripture collided with "the new morality" and led to intense debates over sex education, abortion, and the inclusion of LGBTQ persons within the United Methodist denomination from the 1970s onward. Since 1972, United Methodists have continually debated "human sexuality" at each General Conference, primarily through the advocacy efforts of political caucus groups. This author hopes that an historical examination of how Methodists have confronted sexual change will enlighten current conversations about human sexuality.</p>

Entangled: A History of American Methodism, Politics, and Sexuality

History

Ashley Boggan Dreff

World

New Room Books

<p>From Suffrage to #MeToo.  This book tells the story of American Methodist women's efforts fight for women's rights, beginning with women's fight for suffrage through the Women's Christian Temperance Union and ending with the recent #MeToo movement. Each chapter documents particular Methodist women and provides the reader with a basic historic context of the time or situation at hand, then how Methodist women engaged and fought for women's equality or women's rights in American society and American Methodism. Being Methodist emboldened women to reach beyond the social confines of their time to find political avenues of social justice. This book tells the story of women engaged in mission as they sought to not simply fix social ills but to prevent them from happening again. They sought to address the systemic and hegemonic causes of oppression, stepping out of their place, they made space for others to thrive.</p>

Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women's Rights

Wesley's Foundery Books

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ashley Boggan Dreff. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Ashley Boggan Dreff

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ashley Boggan Dreff. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Entangled: A History of American Methodism, Politics, and Sexuality

Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women's Rights