Rev. Dr. Matt O'Reilly is Lead Pastor of Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians. He has been facilitating Methodist theological education online for many years. His effort is called Theology Project.
Matt and his church will be hosting the Reconstructing Methodist Conference on April 26-27. Those who want to attend can get a $10 discount by the promo code ’PS10.’
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theologyprojectonlineWeb: www.theologyproject.online Twitter: @mporeilly
Books
* Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice (SBL Press) https://amzn.to/48tlyvu
* The Letters to the Thessalonians (Seedbed) https://amzn.to/3GTduIP
* The Question of Holiness (Seedbed, forthcoming)
Links:
O’Reilly’s List of Methodist Doctrines & Practices - https://5c8c126c-2e97-491d-8c3d-c68de0039a1b.usrfiles.com/ugd/5c8c12_d6a7debb6cb345b3af3dcf38dd2a2fc7.pdf
Reconstructing Methodism Conference Page - https://www.reconstructingmethodism.com
My Thoughts
I enjoyed my visit with Matt. It is clear he and I are on different wavelengths and, while we have many overlapping passions, we also seem to have different concerns. This is, of course, natural and healthy.
I got the impression that Rev. O’Reilly is more concerned about the academy than I am. He also seems to put more stock than I do in Methodism becoming more academically robust and respectable than I do. Historically, I see Methodism’s strength as its vigor and passion on the grassroots level by earnest salt of the earth believers. I think that means that it has street smarts rather than academic smarts, and I wonder how much those can realistically overlap.
On my most recent episode on the Transitional Book of Doctrines & Discipline, I present a theory (I’m sure I’m not the first to think of it) that higher education overdevelops the pre-frontal cortex and detaches individuals unhelpfully from reality. I doubt very much that Matt or others in Methodist scholarship are as concerned about this as I am.
I don’t think that means we need to be at odds. Hypothetically, we can all build upon a shared foundation. To that end, I’m earnestly excited for his conference. I was also serious with him about putting together another segment on which he and some others can talk through Methodist sacramental theology, why it matters, and essential characteristics. I guess we will see if that can ever come together.
Thanks for any feedback you have. Enjoy!
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