Albert Cook Outler (1908-1989) was a 20th century American Methodist theologian and philosopher. Outler is generally considered to be one of the most important Wesley scholars in the history of the Church as well as the first real United Methodist theologian. He was also a key figure in the 20th century ecumenical movement. File links The following pages link to this file: Albert Outler Categories: Public domain images ... 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... John Wesley was an 18th century theologian, preacher and the founder of the Methodist denomination of Protestant Christianity. ... The United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination, and the second-largest Protestant one, in the United States. ... Christian ecumenism is the promotion of unity or cooperation between distinct religious groups or denominations of the Christian religion, more or less broadly defined. ...

Outler was born and raised in Georgia and was an ordained Methodist Elder who served in several appointments. He received his Ph.D. degree from Yale University, teaching at both Yale and Duke University before beginning a long tenure at Southern Methodist University in Texas. He served on the Faith & Order board of the World Council of Churches and was an official observer at the Second Vatican Council. This article is about the sacrament. ... A religious elder (in Greek, presbuteros) is valued for his or her wisdom, in part for their age, by the logic that the older one is then the more one is likely to know. ... Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. ... This article is about the institution of higher learning in the United States. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... Southern Methodist University, often known by its acronym of SMU, is a private university in University Park, Texas, USA, located in the heart of Dallas. ... State nickname: Lone Star State Other U.S. States Capital Austin Largest city Houston Governor Rick Perry Official languages None. ... The World Council of Churches (or WCC) is the principal international Christian ecumenical organization. ... The Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. ...

Outler is widely credited with being the first to recognize John Wesley's method for theologizing, via what Outler referred to as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral: Scripture, Church Tradition, Reason, and Personal Experience. This understanding of Wesleyan theology is prevalent throughout Methodism, particularly in The United Methodist Church. Using this model, Outler was a key figure in organizing the theological statement put forth by The United Methodist Church after its formation in 1968. The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a methodology for theological reflection that is credited to John Wesley, leader of the Methodist movement in the late 18th Century. ...

With his many references to the early Church, Outler's work has proven very influential to those in the paleo-orthodox movement and contemporary evangelicalism, notably Thomas Oden. Thomas Oden Paleo-Orthodoxy is a Christian theological movement of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. ... Evangelicalism, in a strictly lexical, but rarely used sense, refers to all things that are implied in belief that Jesus is the savior. ... Dr. Thomas C. Oden Thomas Clark Oden (October 21, 1931 - ) is an American Christian theologian associated with Drew University in New Jersey. ...

Albert Outler wrote and edited a great many works. Many of his writings have been collected in the Albert Outler Library series by Bristol House publishers. Some key works include:

• Albert Outler: The Churchman (ISBN 1885224028)
• Albert C. Outler: The Gifted Dilettante by Bob W. Parrott (ISBN 1885224281), a definitive biography
• Albert Outler: The Historian & Interpreter of the Christian Tradition
• Albert Outler on the Holy Spirit: The Pneumatology of Albert Cook Outler
• Albert Outler: The Preacher (ISBN 0687009502), a collection of sermons
• Albert Outler: The University Professor (ISBN 1885224036)
• Christology (ISBN 1885224087)
• The Ecumenical Theologian (ISBN 1885224354)
• Evangelism
• Evangelism & Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit (ISBN 0881771511), a synthesis of Wesleyan thought
• John Wesley (ISBN 0195028104), considered perhaps the finest one volume intoduction to Wesley
• The Pastoral Psychology of Albert C. Outler (ISBN 1885224117)
• The Works of John Wesley, an ongoing series for which Outler served as initial editor, presenting what is hoped to be definitive editions of Wesley's writings

Also see online:

• "A Fund for 'Evangelical' Scholars" by Albert C. Outler
• "Ordeal of a Happy Dilettante" by Albert C. Outler