Fresh Spirit in Historic Halls
September 27, 2024
Garrett Seminary leads boldly at the 15th Annual Oxford Institute
By Benjamin Perry
A historic change is transforming the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition. The majority of Methodists worldwide now live in Africa and Asia—where Pan-Methodism is witnessing dynamic growth—and, blessedly, global institutions are beginning to reflect that reality. In August, the Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies convened its 15th gathering, focused on the theme of “The World Is My Parish: Glad Tidings of Salvation in an Age of Crisis.” The historic gathering, hosted every four to five years where John and Charles Wesley studied, focused this year on how Methodism can respond to the world’s cascading crises by rooting itself in new interpretations of a shared tradition and by embracing the gifts of transnational leadership. This approach is also at the heart of Garrett Seminary’s strategic plan, and so it was no accident that Garrett played a prominent role in shaping the Institute’s work and future.
“It was remarkable to see the imprint that Garrett has on The Institute and Wesleyan Methodist theology,” says Garrett President Javier Viera. “Before attending, I hadn’t been fully aware of the depth and history.” Dr. Timothy Eberhart was the North American secretary for this year’s Institute and will be the continent’s co-chair for the upcoming meeting in 2030, Dr. Dong Hyeon Jeong presented a much-lauded paper, and Dr. Ron Anderson, Dr. Barry Bryant, Dr. Mark Teasdale and Vice President for Enrollment Management Scott Ostlund all attended as members, but the seminary’s full involvement extends well beyond current faculty and staff. “It wasn’t just the folks presently there,” President Viera says. “People would tell me about former Garrett faculty and Presidents who have been deeply involved. Leaning into our core identity, I’m embracing our tradition and seeing the ways in which it is growing and changing—how we are shaping that work is so energizing and beautiful.”
Asked to present on Methodism and racism, Dr. Jeong says that he could have talked about John Wesley’s historic opposition to slavery, but instead named the ways colonialism still afflicts the denomination. “Racism still permeates in 21st Century Methodist settings, so I chose to talk about the plight of international students,” Dr. Jeong confides. “This really affects me as a Methodist. As someone who has been an international student at three Methodist institutions, I wanted to challenge participants not just to think about racism in the past but also how it manifests in their own contexts.” While many Western theological institutions have increasingly relied on international students to meet enrollment goals, they often have not provided what those students need to thrive. “I’ve heard horror stories where families with kids come to the U.S. at 2 a.m., go to their dorms and find them locked. So, they have to sleep on the stairs and wait for their RAs to wake up,” he says. This frank analysis of the problem forced the Institute to confront the work required to ensure equality across a global church. “It was probably a little unsettling for some people because Dong Hyeon is so unapologetic and straightforward in his use of decolonial language and approach to decolonial biblical methodologies,” President Viera