From the Past will come the Future: Why We Need a New Clapham Sect (May 23, 2026)

Good morning! We arrived back in North Carolina last night, from London, so my body is a few hours out of synch! We took ordinands and laity from the Western North Carolina Conference on a Wesley Pilgrimage and we were joined by friends from the Virginia Conference. We were a community of approximately 60 people. Our return coincided with the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend, so air traffic was congested and there were delays.

Here are a few moments over the nine days, somewhat random and not in order of importance:

We visited the William Wilberforce Museum in Hull, which is exceptional, and is a story that really should be told alongside the Methodist movement in England. Wesley’s Thoughts Upon Slavery and his letter to William Wilberforce, and the Clapham Sect’s similarities to the class and band meetings are all relevant. And many of our younger clergy there are exploring the depths of this tradition into which they are entering. Essential. I recommend Stephen Tompkins’ short and substantive book, The Clapham Sect: How Wilberforce’s Circle Transformed Britain.

Saint Andrew’s Parish in Epworth, where Samuel Wesley served as rector and where John and Charles were baptized and confirmed. The people of that parish are quite amazing in allowing us to use the chalice which John and Charles took their first communion. We celebrated the Lord’s Supper and reflected on our own ancestors in the faith.

I spent an afternoon in Blackwell’s Bookstore in Oxford. It is quite literally a cathedral of books. I had personal conversations with laity and ordinands, about life, struggle, celebration, health challenges in families, the hurricane, uncertainty and flourishing. It was a gift to me to have that time while walking, eating meals together, riding in the bus and ending the day in a pub or two.

A few of us met with Rev. Tony Miles, Superintendent Minister of Methodist Central Hall, adjacent to Westminster Abbey and Parliament. He shared about the profound ministries of that strategic church, which has a global fellowship and vitality, and at the same time is an economic model for the use of space for the common good in one of th world’s centers of power. This is the church served by William Sangster and Martyn Atkins, among others. I do not take for granted that friends in these places take the time to meet with us.

I walked well over 10K steps a day, and in the end lost one pound in weight. But then, as much as I love England, one does not go there for the food, except…

We had dinner on two evenings at Dishoom, once in Kensington and once in Covent Garden. A world class restaurant, with lamb, lentils, ruby chicken, rice, cauliflower, naan, cinnamon ice cream, and I could go on. If you are ever in England I cannot recommend it highly enough. I did have fish and chips once, at St. Martin in the Fields, and the nice server allowed me to substitute carrots for the chips. She did have a look on her face like I had asked an unorthodox theological question, but she allowed for the flexibility. Northeast England cod and carrots. Very good. But Dishoom was the new discovery.

We renewed our baptisms in Wesley Chapel on City Road, using the Nathaniel Gilbert font, which recalls the life of the enslaver who conferred under the preaching of John Wesley. There are broken chains around the font. This was our work of seeking to integrate spirituality, discipleship, mission, anti-racism and evangelism. A powerful space. I remembered Charles Wesley’s words from my favorite hymn:

“My chains fell off, my heart was free.”

I had brief conversations with Jennifer Smith, David Worthington and Sam Wells, and I have said nothing of Yorkminster or Bristol. I am still processing the pilgrimage, grateful for those who made the journey, and blessed to be the bishop of these people, and indeed to be in this tradition. And I plan to get some rest today and Monday.

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So, other matters.

The political word of the week must be grift. The federal government is increasingly for the benefit of a few at the top. I would rather spend billions on rebuilding after hurricane rather than bullying ballrooms, on compensating victims of the Epstein trafficking rather than the gangs who destroyed the U.S. capitol, killed a police officer, and threatened to lynch a sitting vice president.

I read a great article on Sam Altman and Open AI in a recent New Yorker. I recognize the positive uses of AI, which are still in progress, but this is no doubt an endeavor that began as a non-profit initiative and is not being monetized by a few tech bros with access to the inner circle of power (see the above paragraph). You may love AI, and that is your preference. Its future is in the hands of a small group of very, very wealthy people. The question is whether they are principled people. This is the question of the New Yorker article.

We are going to need something like a Clapham Sect to respond to the grift and severe economic inequity that is increasingly before us.

I am praying with the guidance of Give Us This Day, and looking forward to Pentecost tomorrow. I preach at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, near Lake Junaluska and just west of Asheville. If you are in the mountains, join us!

I am grinding the beans and drinking Deep Time Coffee, the Costa Rica blend. Delicious. And somehow I have also discovered the combination of greek yogurt, pecans and raisin bran. Since Merlefest I am listening to a lot of Jim Lauderdale: “Headed for the Hills”, “Like People from Another World”, “The Opportunity to Help Somebody Through It”, “Whisper”. Now that I am back in the U.S. I am loving the Thunder-Spurs series. I am hoping the Memphis Grizzlies draft Cam Boozer. And the Braves and Rays are off to amazing years in MLB. It will be fun to see all of this unfold.

That is more than enough for now. Thanks as always for reading, sharing, subscribing, recommending, commenting, and mostly thank you for your friendship and connection.