Exclusive Theology

Stephen Augusta Redmond investigates the historical values and beliefs of Conservative North Georgia Methodists as they developed from the time of John Wesley's foreign mission to the Colony of Georgia up until The United Methodist Church split over LGBTQ issues. When people talk about the history of The United Methodist Church it is common to hear about the church's social principles of inclusion and acceptance, but in fact, the Methodist Church has a long-problematic history of social exclusion and human subjugation. The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church has been revered across the United States and around the world for its humanitarian efforts, economic stability, and Christian evangelism, and for decades has been recognized as the premier annual conference of The United Methodist Church. However, the history of North Georgia Methodists is rooted in white supremacy, Afro-Indigenous enslavement, Southern Confederate culture, and exclusive theology. Despite the Methodist Church's social principles with a history of concern for social justice and equality, very little scholarly examination has been given to the church's practice of exclusive theology. Exclusive Theology examines the Methodist Church's history of social exclusion that has been foundational for North Georgia Methodists.