Search Results

The year 1784 represents a landmark in Methodist history as John Wesley established the Conference as his successor and ordained preachers for the United States. These events, which established de facto Methodist institutional independence from the Church of England, were foreshadowed by developments during the 1770s and early 1780s as separatists and Church‐Methodists agitated in support of conflicting visions of the Methodist future. These conflicts and the events of 1784 illustrate several important but understated themes of early Methodist history, such as the political nature of the Wesley brothers, the strong support for the Church of England within the ranks of laity and preachers, and how 19^th century Methodist scholarship sanitized and distorted the movement's early history.

This chapter focuses on the bilateral relations between Poland and the United States from September 1986 to February 1988, paying particular attention to efforts to normalize ties through a series of high-level negotiations. It examines the U.S. decision to lift all remaining economic sanctions against Poland on February 19, 1987, as well as Vice President George H. W. Bush's visit to Warsaw in September of that year. It also considers the visit made by Deputy Secretary of State John Whitehead to Poland, a testament to the improved relations between the two countries since 1985. Finally, the chapter looks at changes in the Polish opposition, particularly Solidarność; the U.S. Congress's attempts to shift Polish-American relations in line with the administration's new policies; the support provided by the National Endowment for Democracy and non-governmental organizations to Solidarność and other opposition groups in Poland; and the impact of America's humanitarian assistance programs on its relations with Poland.

This chapter documents the growth of the Christian Reconstruction into an intellectual and political force during the 1970s and 1980s. It details the relationship between Rushdoony’s work as an education and legal reformer and a wider trend on the part of evangelical Protestants to engage in direct political activism. The narrative expands far beyond the legacy of Rushdoonian Christian Reconstruction to explore diverse expressions of the movement cultivated by his son-in-law Gary North, theologian Greg L. Bahnsen, and lawyer-activist John W. Whitehead. By tracing the interconnected work of these activists and many others, the chapter highlights the practical aspects of Reconstructionism by following its influence in politics, seminaries, and court cases across the United States. These Reconstructionist-inspired activists marshaled grassroots Christian revolts in local politics, in Christian higher education, and against America’s system of compulsory state education.

The Technical Division of Technicon experienced problems in coming up with new products. Examining this case would reveal that the company's key research scientists had experienced a great deal of demoralization and had even resorted to working for the company's competitors. John Whitehead, then head of the Technical Division, had to learn, however, that finding solutions to such problems involves more than just restructuring the business organization without understanding its complexities. This chapter looks into the design decisions that managers have to face, concentrating particularly on design's role in the general organizational model. It also identifies design's fundamental elements, and which modes of designs are appropriate for various situations.