Professor Strange Delivers Keynote Address at ETS Conference
Rev. Alan Strange, Associate Professor of Apologetics and Church History, was a keynote speak at the Midwest regional meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) at Moody Bible Institute. The theme for the Midwest regional conference held March 28-29 was entitled The Church Convergent, Divergent, and Emergent: 21st Century Ecclesiology.
Professor Strange's address was entitled, Until We Become the Church Triumphant: 'Seated in the Heavenly Places' in the Church Triumphant. The focus of his address was on what is has meant and still means to be a Christian and what the church ought to be doing to carry out its calling in the 21st century: being faithful to a vigorous use of all the means of grace, especially preaching the gospel of God's free grace to sinners.
Founded in 1949, the ETS is a group of scholars, teachers, pastors, and other dedicated to the oral exchange and written expression of theological thought and research. The ETS is devoted to the inerrancy and inspiration of the Scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Midwest Region has approximately 750 full-time, associate and student members in 12 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Professor Vander Hart Lectures in Latvia
Rev. Mark Vander Hart, Associate Professor of Old Testament studies, taught a two-week course in Old Testament history at the Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary in Riga, Latvia from March 17-28.The course covered the period of the conquest of
Meeting in the
The Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary had its beginning in 1998 through the efforts of Dr. George Van Groningen, working with a few Reformed church leaders in
Chino United Reformed Church Hosts Mid-America Spring Conference
Mid-America Reformed Seminary and First United Reformed Church of Chino, California held a spring conference on April 4-5 entitled The Glories of Christ. The conference sought to provide a number of biblical and confessional-theological studies of the person and work of Jesus Christ, God's Son and the church's Savior.
The main addresses and and the small group discussions unfolded various aspects of God's plan of salvation, of the person of the Savior, and of the purpose of divine restoration in Christ. Participants were treated to a conference that was saturated with worship, focused on Jesus Christ, and fruitful for obedient service in every area of life.
Plenary speakers from Mid-America Reformed Seminary included Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, Professor of Ethics and New Testament Studies, Rev. Mark Vander Hart, Professor of Old Testament Studies, and Dr. Cornel Venema, Mid-America President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies. Breakout speakers included Rev. Michael Brown, Pastor of Christ United Reformed Church in Santee, California, Rev. Alrick Headley, pastor of Zion United Reformed Church in Ripon, California, and Rev. Ron Scheuers, pastor of First United Reformed Church in Chino, California.
Plans are underway for another conference next spring.
Dr. Venema Participates in Theological Conference
Mid-America President, Dr. Cornel Venema, was a keynote speaker at a conference entitled A Reformed View of End Times hosted by Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Greenville, South Carolina. The conference was intended to address the difficult doctrine of Eschatology and began by addressing the different approach to the question of the thousand years found in Revelation 20. It then sought to examine what the Old and New Testaments taught about the end times. The conference also looked at the reality of heaven and hell, and the place of ethnic Israel in the scheme of redemption.
Dr. Venema's first address was entitled, "Isms in Eschatology Critiqued." In this address Dr. Venema examined the views of dispensationalism, hyper-preterism, and annihilationism. Dr. Venema's second presentation dealt with the phrase "all Israel" found in Romans 11:26 and, taking the position outlined in his book The Promise of the Future, he argued that "all Israel" refers to a yet-unrealized conversion of the "fullness" of ethnic Israel.
Dr. Venema's highly acclaimed book, The Promise of the Future, is available through the Mid-America bookstore. For information on this book and other titles available from Dr. Venema and the Mid-America facutly you can download the Mid-America Faculty Publications Catalog by clicking here.
Mid-America Hosts OPC Readiness for Ministry Seminar
The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension and the Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church sponsored a “Readiness for Ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church” seminar on Friday, March 7-8 on the campus at Mid-America. The seminar was an enrichment opportunity for students interested in Reformed ministry and on the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
Exciting new developments and growth in OPC home missions are providing many opportunities for ministry in the OPC. Students had an opportunity to explore the challenge of Reformed ministry and the opportunities for service and internship in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. This day and half training program was open to all students and helped them better evaluate their gifts and strengths in general and their giftedness and readiness for church leadership in particular.
The program included a personal feedback interview with one of the observers to help the students assess their gifts and their church leadership. All the observers were ministers or ruling elders of the OPC.
Doctrinal Testimony Regarding Recent Errors - 2007
The current climate of theological discussion has revealed a number of errors that are having harmful effects within confessionally Reformed churches and are subverting the understanding of the gospel as articulated and affirmed in the Reformed confessions. The faculty has published a Doctrinal Testimony Regarding Recent Errors. The purpose of this document is to identify carefully, to explain clearly, and to evaluate pastorally those errors of teaching.
The faculty and Board of Trustees of Mid-America Reformed Seminary unwaveringly subscribe to the Three Forms of Unity (the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort) and the Westminster Confession of Faith. We also hold in high regard the numerous Reformed confessions produced in the wider body of Reformed churches in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In light of our vows of subscription and commitment to defend the teachings of Scripture, we are duty bound to address some of the theological errors threatening confessionally Reformed and Presbyterian churches today.
This Testimony consists of three parts: first, “A General Statement”; second, a “Digest of Errors”; and finally, an elucidation of these errors by “Articles of Affirmation and Denial.” This document is not set forth as a confessional standard, but it is presented as an application of Scripture and Confession to contemporary false teaching. We offer this Testimony out of love for the church and her Lord, and with a jealousy to defend the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ against all who would compromise, distort, or deny it. We do not claim that this Testimony is beyond improvement. We do hope it provides those who have been confused or led astray by current erroneous teachings with a clear statement of the gospel of salvation, and invite all who read this to embrace fully the richly biblical truth confessed among the Reformed churches.
To view a copy of this testimony click here.
Professor Alan Strange to Begin Spring Sabbatical
Rev. Alan Strange, Associate Professor fo Church History and Theological Librarian has been granted a six-month sabbatical by Mid-America's Board of Trustees beginning in February, 2008.
Professor Strange will be working on several important projects during his sabbatical. First, Rev. Strange will further develop a detailed PhD proposal for submission to several institutions at which he desires to do PhD work. Professor Strange is interested a PhD dissertation in the area of 19th to 20th century American Presbyterian history with a likely emphasis in the area of church polity (church government).
Professor Strange also plans to work on a number of items for publication while on sabbatical. First, Rev. Strange plans to finish a manuscript on the topic of justification for publication by Great Commission Publications for use in adult church education. Second, Rev. Strange plans to finish an article entitled The Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ at the Westminster Assembly for publication in Confessional Presbyterian.
Professor Strange is also scheduled to give a plenary address at Midwest Regional ETS (Evangelical Theological Society) Conference. The Midwest ETS region has over 1100 members. The conference, to be held at Moody Bible Institute, is entitled The Church Convergent, Divergent, and Emergent: 21st Century Ecclesiology.
Finally, Rev. Strange has been invited to lecture at a Denver conference entitled Reformed and Reforming and the OPC Presbytery of Northern California's Family Conference entitled Kingdom Living in a Fallen World.
While on sabbatical Dr. Peter Wallance from South Bend, Indiana and Dr. Mark Beach will be covering Professor Strange's teach responsibilities.
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