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More than a Methodist

The life and ministry of Donald English

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MORE THAN A METHODIST
The life and ministry of Donald English
By Brian Hoare and Ian Randall
Paternoster. 230 pages
ISBN 1 84227 203 9

This is a well-written and very readable authorised biography of Donald English, twice President of the Methodist Conference.

I only heard him speak on 'Thought for the Day'. I have read and enjoyed his exposition of Mark in the IVP's Bible Speaks Today series. But it is plain that he was a gifted communicator and faithful expositor of Scripture.

Apart from the interesting story of his life, one of the main interests and thrusts of the book is implicit in the title. He was a faithful Methodist and accepted that it was his onerous duty to maintain the place of conservative evangelicalism within that denomination. On page 72, we find a definitive letter written to Brian Hoare, one of the authors and a friend. It deserves a full quote of one paragraph: 'One last thing concerns the place of conservative evangelicals in Methodism. We must begin with the assumption that our position will not be known to many of our people, and that it will be suspected by some for that reason. We must also realise that people cannot be expected to grasp immediately what we are after, nor to accept our way of doing things at once. Even basic things like prayer and Bible study are extremely strange to many a modern Methodist, and it takes time to change this... This is the risk we have to take: to give ourselves to people in faith that the Lord can use us, inside Methodism, to change people and churches by the exposition and application of scriptural teaching to everyday life.'

The argument becomes plain as when (page 100) Roland Lamb, his friend and previous teacher who had left Methodism, wrote to argue the case.

But Donald's commitment was to denominational involvement. It must have been a hard fight most of the way, even when he achieved wide influence in the denomination. History may judge who was right, but, given the course he decided on, one must admire his great achievements in teaching, mission and social involvement both in this country and worldwide.

I would think even Calvinistic Methodists and those who take opposing views about the denomination would find this book a stimulating read about a spiritual preacher and leader who sought to bring Wesley's message of grace back to Methodism.

As one who also studied hard for three years to complete the 'Search the Scriptures' Course, I was glad to see the tribute he paid (page 13) to the foundation he laid in his early days.

John Marsh