Wesley's historic questions have been asked of those considered for full connection (ordination) since as early as 1784, the first Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, presided over by Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke. The questions also have a broader Wesleyan context. Many of these questions were originally used with the people Wesley called "Helpers," lay men and women to whom Wesley gave responsibility for leadership in the Methodist societies. They were class leaders, stewards, local preachers and travelling preachers. The questions addressed topics Wesley believed to be essential for persons responsible for leading others in discipleship and mission in the world.
The nineteen questions cover topics from faith in Christ to spiritual practices to debt. The questions around commitment to the rules of the Church have a contemporary urgency in this season of division. Building from her blog on the 19 Questions, Are You Going On To Perfection, at www.artofholiness.com, Carolyn will thoughtfully unpack each question in a historical and personal way.