Wesleyan Church Planting Struggles - A Conversation with Mark Tooley

A few weeks ago, Mark Tooley of the Institute for Religion and Democracy published a piece highlighting a seeming disinterest on the part of Wesleyan Christians in America to attempt new church communities in the midst of urban areas. In particular, there is a dearth of Methodist/Wesleyan new church plants in Washington DC, where he has been professionally engaged for decades. Contrasting Wesleyanism with other theological traditions in our nation, Mr. Tooley notes how difficult it is to find any pioneering young leaders to try to save the cosmopolitan masses.

In this segment, we talk through the various factors involved, both practical and theological. Mr. Tooley speaks with clarity, concisely about an intimidating challenge, issuing the summons to a new generation of gospel-proclaiming Methodists to again engage in God's saving work in our nation. Consider his voice:

If you want to answer his summons for consideration to plant a church with the resources he has offered, you can reach him at mtooley@theird.org

If you would like to make yourself available to the Northeast Conference of the Global Methodist Church as a potential church planter, please email them at churchplanting@northeastgmc.org.

Source Article - "Doug Wilson Plants in DC; Methodism Shuns DC" by Mark Tooley - https://juicyecumenism.com/2025/07/17/doug-wilson-plants-in-dc-methodism-shuns-it/

The John Wesley Institute - https://nextmethodism.org/

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