Christian Patriarchy, Feminism and Christianity, Free MethodismLeave a comment

Do Not Be Silenced: Pushing for Egalitarian Theology in Doctrine & Practice

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A week ago, I had a chance to return to Spring Arbor University (SAU), my alma mater with my sixteen-year-old son, who is beginning his college search.  As much as I love SAU, I am deeply worried about the university’s lack of connection to its Free Methodist history and even its own mission. A key part of that mission is the SAU Concept, which is intended to help students, faculty, and staff visualize what a Wesleyan/Methodist worldview looks like in practice. As it states: “Spring Arbor University is a community of learners distinguished by our lifelong involvement in the study and … Continue reading Do Not Be Silenced: Pushing for Egalitarian Theology in Doctrine & Practice

Free Methodism, Free Methodist Women, Pentecost Bands, Social PurityLeave a comment

Pentecost Bands as Advocates for Social Purity

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Historically, Free Methodism was tied to numerous social causes (and still is to this day). Its founding principles emphasized care and inclusion for everyone, strong abolitionist ties, and an emphasis on returning to the “old time Methodist” principles, such as entire sanctification. However, like any social movement, as Free Methodism transitioned from a movement to a denomination, the interpretation of those founding principles began to vary widely. As my research on women’s ordination and the Free Methodist Deaconess order has illustrated, there wasn’t universal agreement about what radical Holiness living and social action looked like. The Pentecost Bands are just … Continue reading Pentecost Bands as Advocates for Social Purity

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Michigan Pentecost Bands Cause Local Uproar in 1886

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Because the Pentecost Bands were essentially traveling revivalists, their members had the opportunity to influence countless individuals, It wasn’t unusual for a young adult to attend a band meeting, become saved, and then feel called to become a band member. However, the religious enthusiasm the bands fueled wasn’t without controversy. In this blog post, I’ll share some accounts of controversies surrounding their ministry in St. Joseph and Lawrence, Michigan in 1886. The Influence of the Bands When young adults felt called to join the bands, it didn’t always go over well in their local communities, particularly when young women felt … Continue reading Michigan Pentecost Bands Cause Local Uproar in 1886

Gender Norms in Christian Co-Cultures, Pentecost Bands2 Comments

Pentecost Band Leaders Embrace Marital Purity

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While Free Methodists during the Progressive Era were known for following stringent Holiness lifestyle guidelines. (For example, simple dress, no instrumental music during services, refraining from any leisure activity that was deemed “worldly.”) Many Pentecost Band members took Holiness living to an entirely new level.  One of the most fascinating and controversial of these beliefs was the practice of marital purity (more commonly called social purity).  Most band workers were single and served in bands with workers of the same sex. However, a few married couples co-led different bands, including Vivan and Ida Dake, Minnie Baldwin Shelhammer and E.E. Shelhamer. … Continue reading Pentecost Band Leaders Embrace Marital Purity

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Dake’s Influence on Pentecost Band Theology

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While the Pentecost Bands were loosely affiliated with the Free Methodist Church (mostly through connections of leaders such as Vivan Dake and the mentorship of Free Methodist General Superintendent Benjamin Titus Roberts), they diverged from mainstream Free Methodist theology on several key points. One of the most significant was the bands’ beliefs in the process of spiritual sanctification. The 1890 Free Methodist Book of Discipline, the articles of religion outlines that the path to salvation is justification through faith. Even after justification, an individual can still fall into sin if they fall away from their faith. However, IF, after justification, … Continue reading Dake’s Influence on Pentecost Band Theology

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Pentecost Band Initial Organizational Guidelines

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  While the Pentecost Bands did eventually branch into overseas mission work (Africa, India, and Europe) in the mid-1890s onward, from 1885-1889 the bands ministered in the midwestern United States, traveling around Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.   Guidelines for band membership and the purpose of the Pentecost Bands were outlined in 1885 by Band One in Parma, Michigan. This is the first organizational step that set the bands apart from the Free Methodist Church, where their founder Vivan Dake was an ordained elder.   Purpose of the Bands & Basic Organizational Structure   Guidelines for Membership Membership in any … Continue reading Pentecost Band Initial Organizational Guidelines

Pentecost Bands1 Comment

A Brief History of the Pentecost Bands

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In 1882 Free Methodist elder Vivan Dake along with his wife Ida, J.B. Newville, Henrietta Muzzy Abbie Dunham, and J.L. Keene formed an evangelistic outreach group they named the Pentecost Band. The six were based in Iowa at the time, and God called them to devote their lives to winning people to Christ. Unfortunately, the band was short-lived, dissolving in less than a year as members were pulled in various directions. However, in 1885 while appointed the Michigan Conference evangelist, Dake restarted the bands as a tool to encourage young adults to devote themselves to ministry.[i]   The 1885 Pentecost … Continue reading A Brief History of the Pentecost Bands

Christian culture and politics, Christian Patriarchy3 Comments

Shiny Happy People Podcast

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I’m happy to share that my spouse, Andrew, myself and our friend Jeff are hosting a podcast review of each episode of the new Prime Duggar documentary Shiny Happy People. The documentary was released on Amazon Friday, June 2, 2023, and is a four-part series looking into not only the Duggar family, but the underlying theology of their show and the influence of conservative, Christian leaders such as Bill Gothard. Continue reading Shiny Happy People Podcast

Gender Norms in Christian Co-Cultures1 Comment

Jinger Duggar’s Book Illustrates the Toxicity of Complementarian Theology

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Duggar’s book is brave, and she has no allusion that what she is saying is going to be easy for IBLP families to believe or that those who didn’t grow up in conservative Christian culture will fully understand the impact of leaders like Gothard. Continue reading Jinger Duggar’s Book Illustrates the Toxicity of Complementarian Theology

Christian Patriarchy, Gender Norms in Christian Co-CulturesLeave a comment

Christian Media & Complementarian Theology: This Partnership isn’t a New Thing

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As today’s media landscape extends into every area of life, we are more connected through technology than ever before. The pseudo-community created through social media, television, radio, and print recreates an experience like what Christians encounter when attending church. Continue reading Christian Media & Complementarian Theology: This Partnership isn’t a New Thing