Returning to My First Love: My Exciting New Role at RTS
The other day I was telling my kids about how, many years ago, I used to sit in a pub named the Jolly Judge on cold winter days in Edinburgh, Scotland, tucked up close to a coal-burning fire and talking with my doctoral advisor Larry Hurtado about ancient Christian manuscripts.
We used to spend hours there, just reflecting upon the nature of early Christian texts, the role of the codex and nomina sacra, and how books were read and transmitted in the ancient Roman world.
Even as I told the story, I was reminded of how fortunate I was to study at a place like Edinburgh and with a scholar … Continue reading...
Headed to San Diego for the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society
This week I’m headed to San Diego for the annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS)—the largest gathering of evangelical scholars in the world. In addition to the normal meals, coffees, and meeting with old friends, here’s a little preview of what I will be up to.
1. RTS Faculty Dinner. Every year, all of the Reformed Theological Seminary faculty attending ETS gather for a faculty dinner. Normally I have to miss the faculty dinner because I have been attending the ETS banquet for the last seven years as a member of the executive committee. But this year I will finally be able to join my colleagues again
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Is It a Waste of Time for Seminary Students (and Pastors) to Learn the Biblical Languages?
It’s that time of year again.
A wonderful new crop of seminary students has arrived here at RTS-Charlotte and they are in the middle of a grueling month-long experience of Summer Greek. And, like all seminary students before them, they will begin to ask the question of why studying these ancient languages even matters. After all, a few years after graduation all will be forgotten. In the midst of a busy pastoral life, who could possibly maintain proficiency in the languages?
As a result of these questions, some students decide (very early on) that the biblical languages are just something to be endured. They are like a hazing ritual at
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Does it Matter Whether Seminary Education is In-Person or Online?
Ever since I became the president of the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS)—now more than a decade ago—I’ve been committed to a basic practice. It might not seem like much. It’s not anything extraordinary. But I think it has proven to be one of the most meaningful things I do.
Here’s my practice: I have a sit-down, face-to-face meeting with every single prospective student that visits our campus.
Sure, there are more efficient ways to connect with prospective students. I could dash off an email, or send them a form letter, or point them to the website to learn more. And given the number of student visitors we … Continue reading...
RTS Charlotte 2023 Year in Review
Well, it’s New Year’s Eve. It’s the time of the year to be inundated with “Best of” stories and “Year in Review” segments, dutifully cataloging everything that happened in pop culture or politics.
But, what if a “Year in Review” was about more than celebrities or sports teams? What if we did a year in review about what God had done in the prior year? Or, more to the point, about how God has been at work in our ministries this year?
Of course, God has been at work in countless ways around the globe this year, most of which I could never know about. But, I can speak to … Continue reading...