Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- America's largest mainline denomination has frequently been at the center of major political battles in the past century, but that public role -- as well as that of any church's political history -- has never before been the singular focus of a book.

Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, has in Methodism and Politics in the Twentieth Century: From William McKinley to 9/11, produced the first thorough treatment of the political activities of the Methodists in the modern period.

A fact-based report with extensive references, Methodism and Politics in the Twentieth Century allows the players to speak for themselves on prohibition, war, abortion, marriage and many other issues. As a chronicle of Methodist political positions, this book will fascinate, encourage and frustrate the reader, depending upon his or her own views, but never bore.

The book is crucial to understanding the important United Methodist Church General Conference this year and more widely this election year to understanding how churches on left and right address politics. United Methodism has 7.8 million members in the U.S. and over 4 million outside the U.S., mostly in Africa.

The Institute on Religion & Democracy is making complementary copies available to active members of the media. Please contact media@TheIRD.org to obtain your review copy or to set up an interview with the author. The book debuts today with a 5:30 p.m. release event at IRD's Washington, D.C. offices.

What people are saying about "United Methodist Political History in the 20th Century":

"Demonstrating the skills of both a careful researcher and a gifted writer, Mark Tooley has crafted a lively narrative that chronicles the complex political engagement of Methodism with the United States from the early twentieth century to 9/11." -- Kenneth J. Collins, Ph.D., Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

"Tooley's work is important to Methodists who want to understand their denomination's decline and to Christians generally who want to trace what happens when we place trendy ideologies above God's word." -- Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief, WORLD

"Mark Tooley is one of the best writers in religious journalism today. Great read. Immensely useful to those who want to understand how the mainline churches got where they are today." -- Thomas C. Oden, the Henry Anson Buttz Professor of Theology and Ethics, Drew University

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