'Extraordinary Messengers': On the Wesleyan origins of the superintendency and the contemporary understanding and praxis of superintendency in the Plymouth and Exeter District of the British Methodist Church

'Extraordinary Messengers': On the Wesleyan origins of the superintendency and the contemporary understanding and praxis of superintendency in the Plymouth and Exeter District of the British Methodist Church.This thesis concerns the origins of the Methodist superintendency and what it meant for John Wesley. In the first two chapters the thesis explores the development of the role of the Assistant and Wesley's growing understanding of authority and order in the Methodist movement, together with his pragmatic ideas concerning episcopacy. This thesis engages with primary sources and contemporary scholarship, ffering a critique of Wesley's project.The thesis uses a questionnaire and a set of interviews as a piece of qualitative research into the work of contemporary superintendency. The findings are used to offer a critical analysis of the Superintendents' responses, which have significant implications for the praxis of superintendency in the Plymouth and Exeter District. This forms an original contribution to research.The final section explores what is a Superintendent for British Methodism and identifies the superintendency with being a focus for mission, unity, oversight and leadership. This is then critically examined through the lens of contemporary scholarship, particularly the work of Croft and Grundy with regards to episcope. The office of Superintendent is examined in terms of functional utility as opposed to ontological grounding. The implication for the missional work of the Superintendent is seen in the contention that the office is a focus for mission, for unity and exhibits episcopal characteristics of oversight, leadership and governance.