Arminianism lives! In this episode, Lane talks with Rev. Michael Carpenter about his book "The Four Alls."

The conversation gets into the challenge of compressing theology into marketable statements, the comparison between the Wesleyan Quadrilateral and The Four Alls, and the difference between Pollyannaish optimistic grace.

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On this special America! edition of Wesleyan Option, we discuss politics, nation, and the duty of Christians to God and country. Joy, Rob, and Lane dive into the historical context of Wesley's views on America, the concept of a Christian nation, and the Wesleyan aim of forming a Christian nation.

We also give a shout-out to all of our Duke Divinity School listeners and discuss the post-liberal critique of the church's engagement with the state and the Wesleyan response to it.

Chapters

• 00:00 Wesley's Views on America
• 14:12 The Post-Liberal Critique
• 27:17 Dialogue on Race and Faith Project
• 34:32 Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of America's Independence
• 44:10 Signal or Noise
  

  
  

In this episode of Wesleyan Option, Lane sits down with “notorious Anglophile” and renowned scholar Dr. Ryan Danker to discuss his two newest books: Dynamic Grace and To Spread Scriptural Holiness.

They dive deep into the fascinating historical roots of the Wesleyan movement, exploring how the Glorious Revolution and the Caroline Divines shaped John Wesley’s vision of an "evangelical Catholicism." Dr. Danker also shares his insights on why early Methodism is best understood not as a static institution, but as a dynamic movement of restoration and renewal within the church.

Dr. Ryan Danker is the founding director of the John Wesley Institute in Washington, DC. He previously taught on the faculties of Wesley Theological Seminary and Greensboro College. He holds degrees from Northwest Nazarene University, Duke University, and Boston University, and is the author of numerous works on Wesleyan theology and early Methodism.

• The Story of Dynamic Grace: Why Dr. Danker wrote a highly accessible, 100-page introductory book on early Methodism for the laity.
• The Anglican Context: How the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the high-church "Caroline Divines" laid the foundation for Wesley's pursuit of holy living.
• Evangelical Catholicism: Unpacking Wesley’s unique blend of experiential faith and universal, historic church tradition.
• Collaborative Scholarship: A look inside the John Wesley Institute’s summits and their latest multi-denominational project, To Spread Scriptural Holiness.
• Movement vs. Institution: Why Methodism thrives when it operates as a leavening force of renewal rather than settling into a rigid institutional structure.

• Book: Dynamic Grace: The Story of Early Methodism by Ryan N. Danker (Available on Amazon)
• Book: To Spread Scriptural Holiness: Theological, Social, and Missional Foundations for the Wesleyan Movement edited by Ryan N. Danker (Available on Seedbed and Amazon)
• Article: Dr. Danker’s essays on early Methodism and church renewal can be found at Firebrand Magazine.
• Organizations: Learn more about the John Wesley Institute.

Connect With Us! We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for future topics, please reach out to us at wesleyanoption@gmail.com.