Should We Read the Bible Critically or Confessionally? Two New Resources
In the world of biblical scholarship, it has long been clear that there are two very different ways of approaching the biblical text. And these different approaches determine whether scholars find historical (or theological) value in the words of Scripture.
On the one side is the higher-critical approach. Generally speaking, this approach is marked by skepticism towards the claims of the biblical text. The stories contained in the Bible are not taken at face value. While they may contain a “historical core,” they have been embellished and expanded, and perhaps even fabricated. The Bible is a disparate collection of texts that have been cobbled together for various reasons, and not … Continue reading...
7 Tips on How to Survive an Ordination Exam
It’s that time of year. Most seminaries, by now, have had their graduations. Celebrations and congratulations have been passed around, and rightly so. Graduating is a big accomplishment.
And although seminary itself is quite the challenge, something more formidable (at least in terms of stress) awaits most students. The dreaded ordination exam.
This is the time when a candidate stands up in front of the presbytery (perhaps with 50 -75 elders in attendance) and is publicly examined, probed, prodded, and picked at for several hours on a variety of topics ranging from church history to sacraments to eschatology to the famed Book of Church Order.
And from candidate’s perspective, it … Continue reading...
@RTSCharlotte Launches Women in Ministry Scholarship
One of the most exciting developments over the last few years at RTS Charlotte is the increasing number of female students in our various degree programs. There is a vibrant community of women on campus led by our Community Life Coordinator, Mallie Taylor.
And these women are some of our best and brightest. Every semester we give awards for the best student papers, and this past year a large percentage of the winners were female students.
And this is good news for the church. Women contribute to and enrich so many different ministries in the church. Examples include: missions, counseling, evangelism, discipleship, women’s ministry, mercy ministry, youth ministry, children’s ministry, … Continue reading...
Yes, There are ‘Thorns’ in Vocational Ministry Too
Last week, The New York Times published an insightful and intriguing article by Charles Duhigg entitled, “Wealthy, Successful, and Miserable.”
Duhigg, himself a graduate of Harvard’s Business School, explores the level of job satisfaction attained by America’s highest achievers. These individuals, on the surface, look like they have it all. Impressive degrees, high-power jobs, and lots of money.
Surely, if anyone would be happy, it would be these folks. And yet, Duhigg discovers, most of these folks are profoundly miserable.
It turns out that our modern era’s unprecedented economic success is matched only by the unprecedented amount of job dissatisfaction that has come with it. Professional disappointment is … Continue reading...
Congratulations to Dr. Kevin DeYoung
I am pleased to announced that on Jan 10th, Kevin DeYoung successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis at the University of Leicester in the UK.
In 2017, Kevin joined our faculty as Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology. He also serves as the senior pastor of Christ Covenant Church here in Charlotte.
Of course, Kevin is well known through his speaking, teaching, and writing ministry. He has been a great addition to the faculty and the students have loved his classes.
For those interested in taking a class with Kevin, this Spring term he will be teaching Systematic Theology 3: Ecclesiology and Sacraments. For more, see here.
We are blessed … Continue reading...