Author Archives: Ben Hartley

I wrote this blog a few months ago originally for the American Society of Missiology, a professional society of missiologists for whom I serve as chairperson of the Board of Publications.  I might as well put it here too!   January … Continue reading →

This post was originally written for the UM & Global website earlier in January of 2017.  Several other blogs responding to the draft form of this new proposed statement on United Methodist ecclesiology will be forthcoming as well on that … Continue reading →

This piece is also posted on the UM & Global blog. Ecumenism is tough.  For people who have been involved in ecumenical conversations over many years this is an obvious insight.  Many Christians though have the impression that ecumenical dialogue or … Continue reading →

This blog of mine will also be posted to the UM & Global blog.   A recent experience at the movies with my musician son, Luke, provides a good – albeit humbling – example of a challenge all professors of … Continue reading →

Two weeks ago I was in Kansas to see a friend and decided one evening to drive three hours to Watonga, Oklahoma to visit the gravesite of David Pendeleton Oakerhater (1850-1931), the first Native American (Cheyenne) person ordained a deacon … Continue reading →

I am currently researching the life of Ms. Agnes C. L. Donohugh for a chapter I’m writing with some anthropologists and theologians.  I’m the lone historian of the bunch, but it’s a great bunch.  I sort of stumbled upon Agnes … Continue reading →

I was recently in Princeton, New Jersey to visit a friend and wound up spending an afternoon in a superb bookstore – The Labyrinth – across the street from campus.  Browsing bookstores with the density of serious academic titles this … Continue reading →

I have been thinking about friendship a fair amount recently.  There are a number of reasons for this.  I have recently moved to Oregon from Pennsylvania and am separated from friends who remain “back east.”  In my research I am … Continue reading →

It has been some weeks since the Church celebrated The Feast of Epiphany (January 6th).  This is the day in the church calendar when the Three Wise Men get extra “air time” in the church and when the Gospel as … Continue reading →

I have noticed in my teaching about international development as a dimension of Christian mission that some of my students express uneasiness with the way I discuss this topic in my Christian World Mission course.  The uneasiness likely comes from … Continue reading →