Russell E. Richey

Dr. Russell E. Richey served as Candler’s dean from 2000-2006, and then returned to the faculty to teach until his retirement in 2012. In addition, he committed his teaching and research files to Pitts Theology Library,  served on the Committee of 100; and was founding editor of the online journal Methodist Review. Richey focuses his research and writing on American Methodism, comparative denominational studies, and American civil or public religion.

His most recent book—American Methodism: A Compact History, Revised and Updated, with Ashley Boggan, Kenneth E. Rowe and Jean Miller Schmidt, (Abingdon, 2022)—serves as a text in required Methodist studies courses. Another recent work, A Church’s Broken Heart: Mason-Dixon Methodism (New Room Books, 2021), explores racism and slavery in Ohio and Kentucky.  Methodism in the American Forest (Oxford University Press, 2015) was judged “the outstanding book on United Methodist history or a related subject published during 2015” by the Historical Society of The United Methodist Church.

Richey’s other recent books include Denominationalism Illustrated and Explained (Cascade Books, Wipf & Stock, 2013); and Formation for Ministry in American Methodism: Twenty-first Century Challenges and Two Centuries of Problem-Solving (General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, UMC, 2014). He is collaborating on a volume on Methodists in America in the Columbia Contemporary American Religion Series (Columbia University Press) with Ted Campbell of Perkins School of Theology and Ashley Boggan, General Secretary of United Methodism’s Commission on Archives and History.

In addition to co-editing Methodist Review, Richey serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Southern Religion and Methodist History, represents Emory on the editorial board of New Room Books (General Board of Higher Education and Ministry) and contributes articles and essays frequently.

He co-led the Summer Wesley Seminar of Duke’s Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition in 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2016. A member of the Board of Advisors of Asbury Theological Seminary’s Wesleyan Studies Summer Seminar, he co-directed the month-long gathering of younger scholars in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021.

Rex Matthews organized a conference on Richey’s scholarship, edited and oversaw the production of a Festschrift, The Renewal of United Methodism: Mission, Ministry and Connectionalism: Essays in Honor of Russell E. Richey, published by General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in 2012.

An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and retired member of the North Georgia Conference, Richey is married to Merle Umstead Richey and the father of William Richey and Elizabeth R. Thompson.