Anti-Racism, Women's Rights, Environmentalism, and John Wesley

Step inside the world's first Methodist building with Adam Hamilton as he takes listeners on a tour of Bristol's historic New Room, revealing how John Wesley's revolutionary ministry laid the groundwork for modern social justice movements. Broadcasting live from England, Adam uncovers the surprising progressive roots of Methodism that connected coal miners to causes we're still fighting for today.Episode Highlights:Wesley's Anti-Slavery Stand Nearly Started a Riot – Adam reveals the dramatic 1788 scene when Wesley preached against slavery in Bristol's slave trade capital, causing angry traders to literally break apart church pews and attack each other during the service. This wasn't just moral posturing – it was dangerous activism in the heart of England's slavery industry.Women's Rights Were Part of Methodism From Day One – While most churches excluded women from leadership, early Methodism embraced female preachers and leaders. Adam traces this progressive thread from Wesley's time through to the 1950s ordination of women in American Methodism, showing how social justice was woven into Methodism’s DNA.Environmental Activism in the 1700s – Long before climate change became a global concern, Wesley taught that humans were called to be stewards of creation. Adam explores the museum exhibits showcasing Wesley's early environmental theology and how it connects to today's creation care movement.From Coal Dust to Global Impact – Adam paints the vivid scene of Wesley preaching to thousands of coal miners who couldn't afford church pew taxes, watching tears cut through the coal dust on their faces. This moment of radical inclusion for society's outcasts became the template for Methodist social ministry worldwide.Adam's tour through Wesley's private apartment brings history to life in ways that make 18th-century activism feel surprisingly relevant. The New Room wasn't just a church – it housed food pantries, schools for poor children, medical clinics, and pastor training programs that served Bristol's most vulnerable populations.Whether you're interested in church history, social justice, or understanding how grassroots movements create lasting change, this episode reveals how one preacher's willingness to break religious conventions sparked a global revolution.