Methodism and Its Expectations for Lay Preachers

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One reason why eighteenth-century English Methodism was such a spiritual dynamo was that much of it was built through the labors of lay (non-ordained) people. In fact, one cannot understand the birth and growth of the movement without acknowledging that vital role of lay people. 

A number of Methodists were ordained priests in the Church of England (John and Charles Wesley being two examples), but the need for workers was great. And it did not take long to realize that the work would have to be scaled back if lay preachers were not used.
 
Lay leaders – both men and women – were involved in a host of functions, one of them being preaching. However, while allowing non-ordained people to preach was a blessing it was also something that caused frequent troubles. Not only did it lead to criticism from opponents of the movement, but it also led to tensions within the movement. 
 
Many of the movement’s leaders had no formal theological training. Many were “on the road” by themselves (often a recipe for disaster!). And there was also the concern over varying or dissenting views among preachers (ordained or otherwise). Since many had no education, efforts were made to provide materials for study. Lay candidates usually served a year or so on probation and then joined the ranks.
 
John seems to have been the more understanding of brothers, whereas Charles was quite concerned for things that were being done in the church to be done “properly.” As a result, he could sometimes be quite harsh. For instance, Charles once wrote in a letter: “John Wesley made a preacher of a tailor. I with the Lord’s help shall make a tailor of him again.”[1] It seems like a bit of a “good cop, bad cop” arrangement. (In fact, their different approaches caused some stress between the two brothers – but that is another story.)
 
John tried to stay in contact with the lay leaders, dispensing sage advice such as: “Avoid all nastiness, dirt, slovenliness, both in your person, clothes, house and all about you...Clean yourselves of lice...Cure yourself and your family of the itch...Mend your clothes, or I shall never expect you to mend your lives. Let none ever see a ragged Methodist.”[2]
 
Several statements were developed to formalize and make uniform the expectations for Methodist preachers. What follows are two of the most well-known. Few will argue that they are not of historical interest. And some would say that they contain words of wisdom for preachers (lay or ordained) today.
 
Examination of Preachers (1766) 

• Have you faith in Christ? Are you going on to perfection? Do you expect to be perfected in love in this life? Are you groaning after it? Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and his work?
• Do you know the Methodist doctrine? Have you read the Sermons? The Notes on the New Testament?
• Do you know the Methodist plan? Have you read the Plain Account? The Appeals?
• Do you know the Rules of the Society? Of the Bands? Do you keep them?
• Do you take no snuff? Tobacco? Drams?
• Do you constantly attend the church and sacrament?
• Have you read the Minutes? Are you willing to conform to them?
• Have you considered the Twelve Rules of a Helper; especially the first, tenth, and twelfth? Will you keep them for conscience’ sake?
• Are you determined to employ all your time in the work of God?
• Will you preach every morning and evening? Endeavoring not to speak too loud or too long? Not lolling with your elbows? Have you read the “Rules of Action and Utterance?”
• Will you meet the Society, the Bands, the Select Society, the Leaders (of Bands and Classes) in every place?
• Will you diligently and earnestly instruct the children, and visit from house to house?
• Will you recommend fasting, both by precept and example?

                                                            
Advice to Preachers (1786) 

• Always to conclude the service in about an hour.
• Never scream.
• Never lean upon or beat the Bible. 
• Wherever you preach, meet the Society.
• Do not, without utmost necessity, go home at night. 
• Never take part against the Assistant. 
• Never preach a funeral sermon but for an eminently holy person; nor then, without consulting the Assistant. Preach none for hire. Beware of panegyric, particularly in London. 
• Have love-feasts in more places.
• Introduce no new tunes. See that none sing too slow, and the women sing their parts. Exhort all to sing, and all to stand at singing, as well as to kneel at prayers. 
• Let none repeat the last line, unless the Preacher does. 
• Inform the Leaders, that every Assistant is to change both the Stewards and Leaders when he sees good. And that no Leader has power to put any person either into or out of the Society. 

                        


[1] John R. Tyson, Assist Me to Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley (Eerdmans, 2007), 82.
[2] Richard P. Heitzenrater, Wesley and the People Called Methodists (Nashville: Abingdon, 1995), 237.