Ryan’s Bio
Dr. Ryan N. Danker was named the Director of the John Wesley Institute in October 2021. Danker is an author, historian, and Wesley scholar committed to the Wesleyan vision. He has degrees from Northwest Nazarene University, Duke University, and Boston University.
His doctoral research, overseen by David Hempton and Karen Westerfield Tucker, ultimately became his first monograph, Wesley and the Anglicans: Political Division in Early Evangelicalism (IVP Academic, 2016). Danker edited Exploring a Wesleyan Political Theology (GBHEM, 2019) and he co-edited The Next Methodism (Seedbed, 2022). Danker is currently finishing a monograph on the context of the Evangelical Revival and the Wesley brothers’ ministry in eighteenth-century Britain.
He has published articles in the Wesleyan Theological Journal, the Proceedings of the Charles Wesley Society, Methodist Review, and Wesleyan and Methodist Studies. His popular work has appeared in The Living Church, New Directions, and Firebrand Magazine where he is also an assistant editor.
Danker has extensive work in ecumenical efforts having served on the United Methodist-Roman Catholic Dialogue and now serving on the Steering Committee of the Wesleyan Holiness Connection. Danker has served on the faculty of Greensboro College and Wesley Theological Seminary. He has taught at Trinity School for Ministry and Virginia Theological Seminary. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.
My Reflections
I believe it is of great benefit to talk to Dr. Danker, especially at this point in history. In this conversation, he details the many ways in which he is facilitating the development and recapturing of authentic Wesleyanism. He has already been quite active in the Pan-Methodist world, as one can surmise from his bio above. It looks as though he will be a source of much knowledge and dialogue for many years to come.
Of course, I am also very much concerning myself with reclaiming the Wesleyan heritage. Ryan and I are utilizing very different means to help both laity and clergy to learn about this tradition that has fallen into disrepair. Many are hungering to strengthen the weak knees and build back up the ramparts. We are only now seeing the multiplicity of views afforded by this rich tradition. In particular, we discuss the varying understandings of holiness, the utilization of admonition alongside encouragement, and the understandings of grace and atonement in this conversation.
If anything, it is impressive just to spend the time with Dr. Danker to learn of all of these gatherings that are already taking place, with many more ‘School of Methodism’ sessions scheduled indefinitely around the country. Dr. Danker is prolific and driven by a deep love of the Wesleyan tradition. One would be wise to familiarize oneself with his work and worldview.
Links:
The John Wesley Institute - https://nextmethodism.org
The Mere Methodism Conference Registration Page - https://nextmethodism.org/mere-methodism/
The School of Methodism Registration Page - https://nextmethodism.org/mere-methodism/
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