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At the ordination of all church officers in the Presbyterian Church (Deacon, Ruling Elder, or Teaching Elder) the question is always asked, “Do you sincerely receive and adoptthe essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do …?” The expected answer, of course, is “Yes.”However, neither we PCUSA Presbyterians nor any of our predecessor denominations have ever been able to agree on what the essential tenets of the Reformed faith are. As pointed out in the constitution of a sister denomination that has successfully addressed this problem:
Presbyterians have been of two minds about essential tenets. We recognize that just as there are some central and foundational truths of the gospel affirmed by Christians everywhere, so too there are particular understandings of the gospel that define the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition. All Christians must affirm the central mysteries of the faith, and all those who are called to ordered ministries in a Presbyterian church must also affirm the essential tenets of the Reformed tradition.
Recognizing the danger in reducing the truth of the gospel to propositions that demand assent, we also recognize that when the essentials become a matter primarily of individual discernment and local affirmation, they lose all power to unite us in common mission and ministry. 1
The 21-session course that I propose will offer a clear, structured, and engaging exploration of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith as understood within the Reformed theological tradition. Designed both for old hands and beginners, the course will briefly explore the foundational beliefs that have shaped historic Christianity – the nature of God, Scripture, creation, human nature, sin, salvation, the person and work of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, the sacraments, and the Christian life. Guided by classic Reformed confessions, the class will also highlight how the Reformers clarified, corrected, and restated Christian doctrine in continuity with the early church. Special attention will be given to themes distinctive to the Reformed tradition – the sovereignty of God, covenant theology, grace and election, the authority of Scripture, and the lordship of Christ over all of life.
Through lecture AND discussion, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the coherence and richness of Reformed theology and its enduring relevance for our faith and practice. By the end of the course, participants should be able to articulate the essential tenets of the Christian faith, understand their biblical foundations, and recognize how Reformed thought contributes to a robust and thoughtful Christian worldview.
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