Author Archives: Corey Sharpe

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About Corey Sharpe

Where do we get our beliefs? Three theological perspectives have significantly shaped my Christian identity: Evangelicalism, the early Methodist tradition and liberation theology. From my coming to faith in a Baptist church and throughout my education in a Baptist school and college, I was nurtured by convictions that emphasized a spiritual rebirth, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the centrality of the Bible. Even when I disagree with certain aspects of evangelicalism, it has deeply influenced my sense of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. My seminary studies spawned my interest in early Methodism, particularly its approach to spiritual formation. Its leaders were convinced that only a foundation of doctrine and discipline would lead to a meaningful transformation of the heart and mind. In other words, having the mind of Christ enables me to be more like Christ. Life in a suburban culture obscures the increasing gap between the poor and rich, as well as the Bible’s close identification with the poor. My doctoral work in socio-cultural context exposed me to liberation theology, which helps me see redemptive history as a history of oppressed groups, written from the perspective of the powerless, about a God who is actively involved with the poor in their struggles. I am now the pastor at Mount Zion United Methodist Church in St Mary’s County, Maryland. Together my wife and I have 4 children.

UMC Connectionalism or Corporatism?

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

     One element within the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition that might clarify what it means to be the people of God is the practice or principle of connectionalism.  In the early Methodist movement, connectionalism referred to a basic set of practices and … Continue reading →

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Is There an Alternative Vision to the Market-Oriented Church?

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

How do we resist the placement of religion in the private sphere and subvert the impulsive focus on the needs of the individual?  What shapes our conversations about what the church is and should be – the Gospel, or the … Continue reading →

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Emergent United Methodism

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

A few years ago, I became interested in the Emergent Church movement, which represents (among other things) an ongoing experiment with cross-traditional liturgical and formative Christian practices.  The United Methodist Church has also shown interest in this young movement, since … Continue reading →

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A More “Nimble” United Methodist Church, or Niche Marketing?

Posted on September 7, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

In an address to the Council of Bishops in 2007, Council President, Bishop Janice Riggle Huie suggested, “United Methodists need to get past their perception of themselves as an institution and once again become a movement that responds nimbly to … Continue reading →

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Are We All Slaves to Debt?

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

Usually it's the Left (religious and political) condemning advertising and consumerism.  The Right, in response, tends to characterize these as the free market in action.  Similarly, we hear the Left ranting about corporate control of the media.  This video, however, … Continue reading →

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Evangelism, or Niche Marketing?

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

            In The( Magic) Kingdom of God, Michael Budde describes the transformation of capitalism in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  Facing diminishing returns from mass-market production, capitalism shifted to new strategies to sustain the cycle of production and consumption.  The … Continue reading →

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Serving Christ or the Market?

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

In his book Another City, Barry Harvey mentions two places in modern societies where the Church seeks legitimation—the state and the market.  Regarding the state, Harvey argues that most post-Reformation churches continue to embrace some form of Constantinianism, proclaiming with … Continue reading →

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Does God Favor the Poor?

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

I am excited about next week’s trip to Managua, Nicaragua. Along with 8 other United Methodists, I will be visiting missionaries Nan McCurdy and Miguel Mairena. Providentially, I first met Nan and Miguel a few years ago when I was … Continue reading →

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Television Bashing: Reviving an Old Tradition

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Corey Sharpe

The (Magic) Kingdom of God: Christianity and Global Culture Industries Michael Budde The thesis of political scientist Michael Budde's book: the global culture industries present a huge obstacle to spiritual formation.  Budde's book is a wake-up call to the Christian … Continue reading →

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How Would Jesus Shop?

Posted on November 27, 2008 by Corey Sharpe

Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole Benjamin R. Barber Are you deeply concerned by much of what global capitalism has created, despite it’s wealth-producing potential?  You should be, according to Benjamin Barber.      Global … Continue reading →

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