Methodist / United Methodist History

A total of 1,031 recordings in this collection came from United Methodist sources, providing a varied and deep insight. Included are these special recordings:

  • The 1939 merger that created The Methodist Church
  • The 1968 merger of the E.U.B. and The Methodist Church
  • Earl Kent Brown’s 10-part series on American Methodism, and 5-part series on John Wesley’s Methodism
  • Albert Outler’s 4-part series on Evangelism in the Methodist Tradition

To find programs on Methodism, go to our Audio Programs page and use the search system drop-downs:

Subject: look for History: Methodist, Central Jurisdiction, U.M General Conference, and Wesley, John – or any other subject you wish.

Selected Speakers: find such speakers as Earl Kent Brown, Fred Corson, Van Bogard Dunn, Judith Craig, Alvin Deer, William Boyd Grove, Charlene Kammerer, Leontine Kelly, Harry Lambdin, Joseph Lowery, Frederick Maser, Albert Outler, William Quick, Ellen Johnson Sirlief, Forrest Stith, Prince Albert Taylor, James Thomas, C. Dale White, and Woodie White.

Randomly-chosen Program from a United Methodist institution:

And Now in Conclusion

Speaker(s): W. Kenneth Goodson


And Now in Conclusion

Description: This sermon is from the 1980 Virginia Annual Conference of the UMC. Bishop W Kenneth Goodson (1912-1991) was completing his service as bishop in the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church, and headed into retirement. After graduating from Duke Divinity School in 1937, the Rev. W. Kenneth Goodson served as a Methodist pastor for more than 25 years. He was elected a Bishop in 1964 and served until his retirement in 1980. He then served as Bishop-in-Residence at Duke Divinity School, where he counseled, preached and taught. Bishop Goodson was a leader in racial reconciliation during the Civil Rights era and was credited with merging the segregated Methodist conferences in Alabama. He met with Alabama Governor George Wallace and asked him to show restraint against protestors. Bishop Goodson was loved by many for his spiritual counsel, loyal friendship, and quick wit. He was elected a Trustee of The Duke Endowment in 1978 and served until his death in 1991.

Length: 17:36

Recording Date: June 9, 1980

Recorded at: Richmond, Virginia