Heitzenrater is recognized as the world's leading authority on John Wesley and early Methodism. His book, Wesley and the People Called Methodists, has been translated into seven languages. He served on the faculty of SMU's Perkins School of Theology for 16 years and in 2010 retired from the faculty of Duke University Divinity School. He is best known for breaking the secret code of Wesley's personal diaries, making them available to the world. For his scholarly achievements and his service to SMU, the University will confer upon Heitzenrater the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa .