OF the REFORMATION YEARS Providing Theological Leadership for the Church Volume 24, Number 1: Spring 2017

CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

ORUMSPRING 2017 F Sola Fide by faith Sola alone Sola Scriptura Gratia by grace by Scripture alone alone

Soli Solo Deo Gloria Christo through Christ glory to God alone alone

500OF THE REFORMATION YEARS Providing Theological Leadership for the Church Volume 24, Number 1: Spring 2017

Articles 03 From the President: 26 Surprised by Snow: More Than a Slogan Study Tour through by Jul Medenblik Greece and Turkey by Laura de Jong 04 Sola Fide by Jeffrey A. D. Weima 28 Forming Better Leaders for Today’s Churches Sola Scriptura by Geoff Vandermolen 06 by John W. Cooper Distinguished Alumni Solo Christo 30 Award Winners 2017 08 by Karin Maag Reﬂections Sola Gratia 32 by Missionary-In-Residence 10 by Lyle D. Bierma Wayne TenHarmsel Soli Deo Gloria A New Face at Calvin 12 by Matthew J.Tuininga 34 Seminary 14 John Cooper by Bruce Buursma 35 Presidential Reformation Tour 2017 Dean Deppe 16 by Bruce Buursma 18 Defeating the Powers of Darkness and Establishing a Kingdom of Love Editorial committee: The Calvin Theological Seminary Forum is published two times every by Chris Meehan Jul Medenblik academic year. John Cooper Calvin Theological Seminary Handlon Students Mark First Sarah Schreiber 3233 Burton St. SE, 20 Jinny De Jong Grand Rapids, MI 49546. MIlestone at Convocation © 2017 Calvin Theological Seminary by Jonathan Gorter Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063614 Seeds of Justice, Return undeliverable Canadian 24 addresses to: Harvest of Shalom Calvin Theological Seminary by Nancy L. Dresser 3475 Mainway, LCD STN 1 BURLINGTON, ON L7M 1A9 email: [email protected]

2 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 From the President More Than a Slogan

2017 marks the 500th anniversary “Sola” is Latin meaning “alone” or by Jul Medenblik, President from October 31, 1517, the date “only” and the corresponding when Martin Luther nailed the phrases are: Ninety- ve eses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. at date Sola Fide marks the launching of what later by faith alone. became identi ed as the Protestant Reformation. is anniversary is a Sola Scriptura time for reection, thanksgiving, by Scripture alone. lament, and commemoration. Solo Christo How do you through Christ alone. President’s Note: summarize something Dr. John Cooper is that happened 500 Sola Gratia completing nine consecutive by grace alone. years of service on the Forum years ago that still Editorial Committee. In this shapes conversations role, he has always sought Soli Deo Gloria to bridge the conversation and cultures? glory to God alone. between the church and the is Forum is dedicated to helping academy. Dr. Cooper, along One summary is what became with Dr. Dean Deppe, is the “Five Solas” of the Protestant us see these slogans as more than a retiring at the end of this Reformation. type of “bumper sticker” theology. academic year, and both are ere is a history and a hope to highlighted in this issue of the e Five Solas are ve Latin phrases each of the phrases that our authors Forum. Please join us in giving (or slogans) that summarize the seek to illumine for the church thanks for the ministry of Reformers’ basic theological principles of today. May these articles help Professors Cooper and Deppe. in contrast to certain teachings of the us join the conversation and the Roman Catholic Church of that day. commemoration!

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 3 Sola Fide by faith alone

Through Faith Alone but not through Faith that is Alone

“I do it myself!” That’s what my four-year-old grandson typically says whenever I try to help him with some task. It’s the same thing his mother said to me when she was that age. There is a deep- rooted desire in not just little children but full grown adults to do things ourselves—to reject any kind of help from the outside,

by Jeffrey A. D. Weima thereby allowing us to take pride in our accomplishments.

e same thing is true with our myself but stand helpless and in total salvation: we want to do it ourselves. dependence on God’s work in Christ. Even though we know rationally that we are saved not by our deeds is is the important biblical truth but by grace alone (sola gratia), it that the Reformers tried to recapture is tempting to think privately that with the phrase sola de. In a context we are better than most people and where the Roman Catholic Church so our good works make us worthy stressed a faith that needed to be recipients of grace. Grace may be, supplemented with human acts of as we sing, “amazing,” but it is also obedience, the Reformers boldly terribly humbling! It is hard for my asserted that we are justi ed “through ego and my self-justifying mentality faith alone.” e phrase is a biblical to accept the fact that I can’t do it one, as is clear from several passages

4 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 of Scripture. Paul, for example, states in Ephesians is was the charge the Roman Catholic Church 2:8-9: “For it is by grace that you have been saved, raised against those advocating sola de, causing through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it the reformer Melanchthon to respond: “Our is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one opponents slanderously claim that we do not can boast.” A similar sentiment is found in the require good works, whereas we not only require apostle’s words in Philippians 3:9: “not having them but show that they can be done” (Apology a righteousness of my own that comes from the of the Augsburg Confession 1531). e Reformers law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the were well aware of texts like James 2:14-26 that righteousness that comes from God on the basis teach that a true, saving faith is one that naturally of faith.” comes to expression in concrete acts of obedience. Works may not be a condition of being justi ed, e Reformers saw texts like these and many but they are a consequence of being justi ed. others as teaching that we are sinners who are James Payton, in his helpful book entitled, Getting unable to live up to God’s call to holy living and the Reformation Wrong, writes: “For Calvin and all so stand in his divine presence as condemned. Yet the Protestant Reformers, we are justi ed by faith God has graciously provided salvation by means of alone—but faith is never alone. Justifying faith

Grace may be, as we sing, “amazing,” but it is also terribly humbling! the death and resurrection of Christ—a salvation leads to good works, performed in love toward not based on our works but one appropriated God and our neighbors, in grateful obedience to through faith alone. Faith is the means by which God. … No Protestant Reformer ever allowed we are united to Christ and so take hold of the that a justifying faith could be solitary—no, not righteousness that he accomplished on our behalf. one” (InterVarsity Press, 2010: 127).

But Faith is Never Alone All those today who, like Luther, struggle painfully with the mistaken notion that they must But though we are justi ed through faith alone, do enough good works before God will accept such faith is never alone. In other words, there them ought to be comforted by the Reformation is no room for the logic, “Since I am saved not slogan sola de, since this phrase expresses the by works but by grace through faith, it doesn’t gospel news that they are justi ed through faith matter how I live!” ere is no just cause to recite alone—no good works required! Nevertheless, the following ditty about salvation: “Walk the all those who glibly cite sola de to ease their aisle! Pray the prayer! One-time faith will get conscience about any unChrist-like conduct in you there!” Such misguided thinking leads to the their life ought to be challenged by the reality that charge of “cheap grace”—the accusation that an true faith naturally leads us to delight in God’s law emphasis on a grace received through faith alone and, with the empowering help of the Holy Spirit, will result in an “anything goes” lifestyle. to live a life full of love and good works.

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 5 Sola Scriptura by Scripture alone

Sola Scriptura: by Scripture alone. What a courageous Reformation motto! But what does it mean? I remember a Sunday school song: “The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that’s the book for me.” So far, so good. But then we sang, “I stand alone on the Word of God.” That did not lift my little soul. I pictured myself standing all alone on my Bible, and socializing with the other kids was already tough enough without By John W. Cooper standing on the Bible.

A cute misunderstanding. But what does sola and elaborated by the Spirit-led church? e Scriptura mean—that the Bible is God’s only pre-Reformation church believed that the Bible revelation? No. Jesus Christ is God’s greatest is inspired and infallible, but it also claimed self-revelation, and all creation reveals God in that the church infallibly de nes its teaching. a general way as well. Well then, is Scripture Reformers such as Luther and Calvin the only book we need to live a good life? countered that Scripture alone (sola Scriptura) No, we need to know many things not taught is the de nitive source. Most Reformers in the Bible. Maybe it means that Scripture agreed that the church has responsibility is the only way to know about the gospel. to interpret Scripture, and Protestant But many people have come to faith without church assemblies adopted catechisms (e.g. a Bible through the testimony of others. So Heidelberg) and confessions (e.g. Belgic, what does “only the Bible” mean? Westminster) as standard summaries of e issue at the time of the Reformation was biblical truth. But the Reformers insisted that the de nitive source of Christian truth about the church is obligated to test and revise its God, the world, Christ, sin, salvation, the interpretations according to Scripture, not the church, and the Christian life. e question reverse. (A minority of Protestants avoided was this: does true doctrine come only from ocial doctrinal statements and left Bible Scripture, or from Scripture as interpreted reading to individual believers and the Spirit.)

6 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 us sola Scriptura means that the Bible is the nal Meanwhile, most historic Christian churches authority about “the will of God completely and and their theologians, both Protestant and Roman everything one must believe to be saved” and “the Catholic, have sought to remain faithful to their entire manner of service which God requires of creeds and doctrinal standards. Most have also us.” us we may not put “human writings … nor not isolated themselves from science, culture, custom, majority, age, nor the passage of time or politics, moral sensibilities, and intellectual persons, nor councils, decrees, or ocial decisions trends. Instead they have engaged and evaluated above the truth of God” revealed in Scripture modern developments from their biblically based (Belgic Confession, Art. 7). perspectives, incorporating what is compatible, rejecting what is not, and contributing helpful During and after the Reformation, when almost all insights. Confessional and evangelical Protestants of Europe was ocially Christian, denominations have attempted to practice the Reformation principle debated and sometimes fought with each other that Scripture alone is the nal authority. is is over details of doctrine. But already in the 17th certainly true in the Dutch Reformed tradition that century, deists and some progressive Christians used generated Kuyper, Bavinck, and the CRCNA. philosophy and science to challenge basic Christian doctrines armed by Catholics and Protestants e challenge has not passed. Our commitment alike. ey trusted modern philosophy, moral to sola Scriptura—the Bible is the decider—is intuitions, and the scienti c worldview (which currently tested in the CRCNA on many issues.

Does true doctrine come only from Scripture, or from Scripture as interpreted and elaborated by the Spirit-led church?

typically denied the possibility of supernatural For example, what do we mean by a Christian miracles) more than the content of Scripture. perspective on learning and culture? Is it still Modern intellectual culture became the highest to understand all subjects and activities from a authority. Biblical revelation was relegated “beyond biblical-Reformed perspective, as Kuyper and reason” and re-interpreted to t enlightened Bavinck held, or is it creatively rereading Scripture modern paradigms. and doctrine to accommodate current perspectives? In politics, is Scripture’s view of social justice best In the last two centuries, modern theologians expressed by (conservative) liberal individualism, have reimagined Christianity in terms of (progressive) social pragmatism, or something various intellectual perspectives—romanticism, else, and if so, what? Most basically, our culture is idealism, historicism, existentialism, pragmatism, overwhelmingly hedonistic—driven by desire to liberationism, and scienti c naturalism. Much feel good. Are our life-styles and spiritual disciplines postmodern theology has abandoned the notion shaped more by Scripture or culture? Do we really that there is one true meaning of Scripture and live by sola Scriptura? celebrates a pluralistic group-hug of Christianities, sometimes including other religions. May God guide and preserve us by his Word and Spirit.

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 7 Solo Christo through Christ alone

“In Christ alone my hope is found / He is my light, my strength, my song.” These ﬁrst two lines of Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s popular hymn resound with the believer’s conﬁdent statement of total reliance on Jesus Christ. Yet in the Reformation era, the assertion that faith rested on Christ alone, “solus Christus,” was not necessarily a straightforward or widely-accepted claim. Today, by Karin Maag this statement is equally controversial, albeit for different reasons.

For Martin Luther, Huldrych Another source of concern for the Zwingli, and John Calvin, the Reformers was the role assigned armation of Christ alone as the to saints and to the Virgin Mary source of salvation stood against what in interceding for believers before they perceived as the Roman Catholic God. According to the Reformers, Church’s over-con dent assertion of ascribing such intercessory powers to its own role in salvation. In particular, human beings was to deny Christ’s the Reformers rejected any power of rightful role as the sole mediator the papacy—or the Catholic church’s and intercessor for the faithful. So, clergy more generally—to oer for instance, Huldrych Zwingli salvation through the sacraments proclaimed in his sixty-seven articles of the church, especially baptism, (presented to the city council of penance, and the Eucharist. Zurich for debate in 1523), “e

8 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 summary of the Gospel is that our Lord Christ, Yet today, the phrase “Christ alone” can be true Son of God, has made known to us the challenging for the church, in a number of ways. will of his heavenly Father and has redeemed us First, the phrase makes strong claims about from death and reconciled us with God by his Christ’s unique role as savior, a stance that clashes guiltlessness. erefore, Christ is the only way to with more pluralist or inter-faith approaches. salvation of all who were, are now, or shall be.” Second, some churches and believers may tend to put Christ at the center and under-emphasize It is important to note that the Reformers’ the Father and the Holy Spirit, weakening emphasis on Christ alone as the agent of salvation or distorting the rich blessing of fully-orbed needs to be understood in the broader context Trinitarian theology. ird, within modern-day of the other four solas. In fact, the Reformers’ churches, the proclamation of Christ alone as focus on Christ alone stood at the center of their the source of salvation runs counter to a growing theological approach. It was because salvation trend of congregations preferring a gently-couched came through Christ alone and for God’s glory message of moral self-improvement under the eyes alone that Christians were justi ed by grace of a benevolent God. alone and through faith alone. Human deeds and eort, no matter how worthy, could not make a At its root, the assertion that salvation comes person right with God. And Christ’s pivotal role through Christ alone means that human beings in salvation was revealed in Scripture—hence the can do nothing out of their own eorts to make Reformers’ emphasis on Scripture alone as the themselves right with God. But in a culture and source of authority in the church. a time in which few are willing to acknowledge their fundamental brokenness, Christ is more e enduring signi cance of the Reformation’s often viewed as the greatest moral example, wise emphasis on Christ alone is hard to under- teacher, or superhero of the faith. For instance, I estimate. In Protestant areas, especially in have a friend, a faithful church-going Christian,

The enduring signiﬁcance of the Reformation’s emphasis on Christ alone is hard to under-estimate.

Reformed territories, the veneration of the saints who told me that she struggles with the weekly and the Virgin Mary largely ceased, and their confession of sins in worship because while she images were removed from places of worship. At makes mistakes and has faults, she does not see the same time, the sacraments of baptism and these as sins. For her and others, the message that the Lord’s Supper became understood as signs Christ alone saves us from our sins and reconciles of God’s grace and covenantal promises, but us to God has lost its power. So the strong not sources of salvation in and of themselves. Reformation proclamation of Christ as the source us, the proclamation that Christ alone saves and author of salvation is highly relevant today. dramatically recon gured both worship practices e church needs to proclaim again that salvation and theology from the Reformation onwards. is through Christ alone, not through human merit or eorts.

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 9 Sola Gratia by grace alone

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound / That saved a wretch like me.” Martin Luther never knew this song, but if he had known it, he would have sung it with gusto. Luther was schooled in a theological tradition in which the sound of grace was not always so sweet. He had been taught that God grants saving grace only to people who merit (earn) it with acts of love for God and neighbor. “Draw near to God,” his teachers told him, quoting James 4:8, “and he will draw by Lyle D. Bierma near to you.” Divine favor was not so much a gift as a reward.

So Luther tried it. He became a nearer to God, he felt himself slipping monk, taking vows of poverty, further away. It was not until he chastity, and obedience. He prayed began an intensive study of the Book to God almost nonstop, confessing of Romans that he nally realized the tiniest sins he could remember. that our right standing in the eyes of He ogged himself, deprived God is not something we must earn; himself of sleep, and starved himself it is God’s gift to us sola gratia—by so severely that, according to one grace (undeserved favor) alone. “All report, “his belly button touched his at once,” Luther later recalled, “I backbone.” But rather than drawing felt that I had been born again and

10 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 entered into paradise itself through open gates.” creatures, each of us is deceitful at the very core of Grace had never sounded so sweet. our being (Jeremiah 17:9) and spiritually “dead in [our] transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). We e Reformation emphasis on salvation by grace are like people who have fallen into a pit and are alone soon led to the accusation by Catholic lying unconscious at the bottom. e only way opponents that Protestants no longer valued good out is a rescue from above—someone who reaches works; they wanted their grace on the cheap. down to us, revives us, and pulls us to freedom. e Heidelberg Catechism framed the concern As the Canons of Dort put it, humanity is in

God is not only willing and able to save wretched people like us, but—sola gratia—he actually does.

this way in Question 86: “Since we have been such a sorry state that “without the grace of the delivered from our misery by grace through Christ regenerating Holy Spirit [we] are neither willing without any merit of our own, why then should nor able to return to God” (III.3). we do good works?” e catechism makes clear in its response that the sola in sola gratia does not Unfortunately, the truth of salvation by grace mean that good works are no longer important alone often gets overshadowed in North American in the Christian life. Our works do not merit Christianity because it is so countercultural. We salvation, but they are expressions of gratitude to are a performance-oriented society, dominated God for our salvation. ey can also be means of by a can-do spirit. We work for good grades in praising God, assuring ourselves of true faith, and school, earn victories on the basketball court, winning our neighbors to Christ. In making this compete for awards, receive merit pay at work, point, the catechism resonates with Ephesians 2:8- and get demerits if we misbehave. In the midst of 10, where Paul famously states that “by grace you all this striving and achievement, it is not easy to have been saved, through faith . . . not by works,” admit that when it comes to meeting the deepest but then immediately adds that we are “created in need of our existence, our restlessness for God, we Christ Jesus for good works.” Good works are not can do absolutely nothing ourselves. We are totally the basis of our salvation but its fruit. reliant on outside help.

At the heart of this doctrine of salvation sola gratia at is why the grace that Luther rediscovered ve is not just the nature of God but the condition hundred years ago is so amazing. We don’t deserve of humanity. God’s grace is so amazing because it. We can’t earn it. And yet God is not only we are so in need of it. Contrary to what Luther willing and able to save wretched people like us, had once been taught, we do not have the inner but—sola gratia—he actually does. resources to nd our way back to God. As fallen

At the heart of this doctrine of salvation sola gratia is not just the nature of God but the condition of humanity.

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 11 Soli Deo Gloria glory to God alone

The Westminster shorter catechism famously begins with the question, “What is the chief end of man?” Its answer is pithy and to the point: “To enjoy God and glorify him forever.” My parents taught me this truth when they told me that I could do whatever I wanted in life, just so long as I did it for the glory of by Matthew J. Tuininga God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

is concern for the glory of God patronage, or through participation lay at the heart of the Reformation. in the sacraments of the church, To be sure, the Roman church at the rather than by trusting in the cross time did not deny the principle of of Christ. And it insisted that sinners Soli Deo Gloria in any explicit sense. could prepare themselves to receive But its teachings often undermined God’s grace and had to cooperate the principle in practice by shifting with that grace if it were to be Christians’ attention away from eective in their lives. On top of all the sovereign grace of God given in that, the Roman church claimed for Christ toward all manner of human the papacy and the church hierarchy eorts at securing or mediating a glory that should have been reserved salvation. for Christ himself.

For example, the church encouraged e net eect of all of this was to rob believers to pray to saints rather than God of the sole credit and glory for directly to God in time of need. It salvation. It was to distract human called them to seek salvation through beings from the God on whom we acts of penitence, pilgrimage, or depend for every good thing.

12 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 To be sure, the Reformers recognized that Jesus comes from in the rst place, or why it even shares his glory with believers by inviting us into matters. ough science gives us greater and the Trinitarian communion of love (John 17:22- greater knowledge of the glory of creation, we 24). Indeed, they armed, the whole creation neither glorify God nor give him thanks (Romans will be brought into the liberty and glory of 1:21). We continue to exchange the glory of the the children of God (Romans 8:21). And those immortal God for idols of our own making. whom God justi es and sancti es, he also glori es (Romans 8:30). Still, as has always been the case, our sin merely serves to advance God’s glory as our judge and as Still, they insisted that because all of this is God’s our savior (Romans 3:7; 10:12-13). And it does work, from start to nish, all the glory for it so in mind-boggling fashion. As Jesus taught his

We live in a time when men and women believe their ultimate duty is to be true to themselves above all

ultimately belongs to God, from start to nish. As confused disciples, “e hour has come for the the Apostle Paul memorably concluded, “‘Who Son of Man to be glori ed. Very truly I tell you, has ever given to God, that God should repay unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and them?’ For from him and through him and for dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it him are all things. To him be the glory forever! produces many seeds. . . . And I, when I am lifted Amen” (Romans 11:35-36). up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:23-24, 32). We live in a time when men and women believe their ultimate duty is to be true to themselves God’s character is most clearly revealed–and his above all as they seek happiness and ful llment glory must be most clearly proclaimed by the in life. Indeed, a body no less august than the church–in the willingness of his son to set his Supreme Court of the United States has declared glory aside in order to become a suering servant a person’s right to determine ultimate meaning for on our behalf, even to the point of death on a him or herself a most basic and inalienable human cross (Philippians 2:9-11). In the nal analysis, right. Never has God’s claim to glory been more the glory of God redounds to our bene t and suspect in the eyes of his own creatures. then back to him, so that, as Paul reminded the Corinthians, “the grace that is reaching more and And yet, the more we trumpet our own inviolable more people may cause thanksgiving to overow dignity and glory as human beings, the more we to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15). struggle to explain where that dignity and glory

...because all of this is God’s work, from start to ﬁnish, all the glory for it ultimately belongs to God, from start to ﬁnish.

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 13 By any measure, it has been a very long stretch of schooling, with largely high marks for comportment. And now, with the imminent close of the current academic year, it is about to come to a satisfying end for Cooper who John Cooper has taught philosophical theology at Calvin eological Seminary since 1985. Prior to joining the seminary’s faculty, Cooper Retires taught just across the pond in the philosophy department at Calvin College from 1978 to 1985.

As he reected on his nearly four decades on campus, Cooper observed that he “tried to hand on to my students what was given to me from the great Christian tradition, from the Reformed tradition, from the Kuyperian/ Bavinckian branch of that tradition. If I rightly understood it and passed it on in a way that was not just replication, but application John Cooper admits he’s been stuck in a bit of a rut to the next generation, then I would have accomplished a great ever since he arrived for his ﬁrst kindergarten class in deal. And if I did that with any Passaic, New Jersey, almost 65 years ago. enthusiasm or contagious interest, then that was an extra blessing.” “I’ve been trying mightily to be a good boy in school In addition to serving as a guide since I was 5 years old,” said Cooper. “Maybe at age and mentor to his students at the 70, I can give that up.” college and the seminary, Cooper also made himself readily available as a resource to the Christian Reformed Church Synod and other denominational leaders as the church struggled with a drumbeat of dicult theological and cultural controversies during recent decades.

14 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 He has written fearlessly about and the universe. Both of those of what the CRC is and stands for women in church oce, inclusive themes are major current issues in is shared by other churches, as well. language for God, same-sex philosophical theology. For example, Tim Keller (a pastor marriage, creation and evolution, and writer in a Presbyterian Church and other topics on which there are Cooper, the son of a preacher in America multi-campus church in strong and divergent opinions in who migrated from the Reformed New York City) has a vital ministry the CRC. Church in America to the Orthodox and is proof positive you can be Presbyterian Church and then on thoroughly Reformed and grow “I’ve done so not because I wanted to the CRC, is at times bluntly a mega-church in a culturally to lobby one way or the other, but critical of many current trends in the diverse metropolis.” because I wanted to keep us on church -- but he also sees signs of track about scripture, about proper faithfulness and hope both inside the As he takes leave of Calvin Seminary, hermeneutics, and sound doctrine,” denomination and in other churches Cooper voiced hope that the he explained. "I wanted to keep where confessional Reformed school will “continue to educate us honest because there was a lot thinking, worship, evangelism, and our ministers in Scripture and in of misunderstanding of Scripture confessional Reformed theology, but and misrepresentation of others’ in a way that’s practical and life- positions by both sides.” relevant. It’s my hope that Calvin “Our faith is in Seminary will continue oering Cooper unapologetically holds the gospel of enough intellectual substance and an a traditional, high view of the Jesus Christ and emphasis on reading the Scripture authority of Scripture — a stance deeply and applying Scripture and that causes him concern about if you understand its basic doctrines to real life — developments in many parts of the and practice it because it’s the Word of God that church today. well, then life shapes your life.” “It seems like part of the church ﬂourishes” He hopes to spend more time in embraces the theology and politics his retirement traveling with his of American evangelicalism and wife, Sylvia, and perhaps put the another part endorses the theology nishing touches on a couple of and politics of mainline Protestants,” engagement with the world are being books he is writing. Cooper also Cooper said. “I am grateful for articulated afresh. expects to maintaining his practice those who remain Reformed in of swimming three or four times a doctrine, piety, and the vision of “Our faith is in the gospel of Jesus week year-round and running in the Contemporary Testimony, ‘Our Christ and if you understand and Michigan’s more hospitable seasons. World Belongs to God.’ ” practice it well, then life ourishes,” he said. “Orthodoxy and existential “Maybe my story is ‘six decades In addition to his defense of historic ourishing are two sides of the same shalt thou labor and do all thy work, theology for the CRC, Cooper has coin for me. and the seventh decade is a sabbath published widely read books and unto the Lord,’ ” Cooper said with a articles on the human body-soul Cooper continued: “In God’s good chuckle. “If it goes that way, it’ll be relation and also on panentheism, providence I can see that the best OK with me.” the primary mainline view of God

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 15 “I thoroughly enjoyed the parish ministry at the beginning of my career and this season of teaching at the seminary also has been a great gift,” said Deppe, who joined the Calvin Seminary faculty in 1998 as a professor Dean Deppe of New Testament. Yet even Deppe’s sunny disposition and relentless positivity have been tested severely during the past two Retires years as he’s battled through daunting health challenges brought on by the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the resultant chemotherapy and stem-cell transplant treatments.

At times, he acknowledged, the pain and dizziness have been excruciating, leading him to write psalms and journal entries in his online Care Pages chronicling his suering and his dependence on God’s faithfulness and the support of his community of faith.

During the darkest days, Deppe penned a psalm of raw lament that began with this stanza:

“is psalm will not end in Dean Deppe’s cup always has been half full or better con dence. All of my pain must come out. — whether serving as a pastor to people in the core city, suburban sprawl or a more rural outpost in the is ode will not break into praise. My tears must be allowed to ow. Minnesota hinterlands, or lecturing on the life lessons and hard sayings of Jesus to an adult education group or I will not allow my duty to win out this time. I will feel the pain and classroom of students at Calvin Theological Seminary. say ‘OK.’

I will face all of the darkness and I will not inch from my deepest desperation.”

16 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 And in the midst of it all, he wrote Rapids, suburban Toledo, Ohio, come alive in yourself, and in the lives this entry: and Prinsburg, MN, he joined the of your congregation. So I try to get seminary faculty the same year as students to ask questions of the text — “I am determined to ght this Ronald Nydam, who was a close friend why this? Where does that come from? disease with all my strength. and con dante. I try to be enthusiastic myself for the Probably the best way to ght it text, and have that enthusiasm run o is to be at rest and at peace in the “We knew each other, and both of said on them.” Lord. I know that there are cancers we would like to make the seminary of the soul and spirit that I must more of a positive place,” Deppe roughout his academic career at ght as well. My pastor says that the recalled. “All of us in the academy have Calvin Seminary, he’s taught the New Lord wants to transform D words been trained to be critical, trained to Testament narratives, including the like discouragement, depression, nd something wrong. You look for gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, despair, disease and death to mistakes, you look for the missing and also prepared his students for R words like renewal, repair, pieces. So both of us decided we understanding the New Testament by resurgence, reconciliation, and my would try to make a dierence by teaching the Greek language. favorite, resurrection.” arming the strengths of students instead of looking rst or only for And now, after the faith-building yet Now in remission and able to handle a their weaknesses.” harrowing journey through the valley full teaching and advising load, Deppe of the shadow, Deppe is facing the has nonetheless decided to retire at the Deppe especially appreciates the next season of life with characteristic close of the current academic calendar, growing diversity of the student body gusto. As he wrote in a psalm he as he marks his 66th birthday. at the seminary, serving this year as entitled, “A Deeper Strength for a the leader of a mentoring group that Higher Challenge:” includes students from Ethiopia, “We would like South Korea, China, Canada and “But now Deep is calling to deep in to make the the U.S. my life. e shallowness is falling seminary more of away. “One of the strengths I have is to a positive place.” get students ready for the pastorate,” e voice is strong and a new layer, said Deppe. “Today, churches are a deeper foundation, is created with “I’ve been feeling really great this fall so dierent from each other. I tell each divine encounter. and winter, but, even without the students that not only are you questionable health concerns, when interviewed by the church, but you e mountain leading to the sky is you hit 65, something happens with need to interview the church so tall, but the Lord is lifting me to see your energy level.” he said. “You still you know what their philosophy of his high places. can do it, but everything becomes a ministry is in order to get a more With each steeper climb, my legs little harder.” perfect t.” become rmer, for the Lord is Deppe is a 1973 graduate of Calvin Deppe also has sought to make the strengthening me. College and holds two master’s Bible a source of endless curiosity At the top of the mountain, the degrees from Calvin Seminary and his for his students, asserting that “since vision is clear. ere is no doubt. doctorate from the Free University in you have to spend the next 40 years My Redeemer lives!” Amsterdam. After serving Christian with the Bible, it can get a bit boring Reformed congregations in Grand if you don’t have a way of making it

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 17 Defeating the Powers of Darkness and Establishing a Kingdom of Love

by Chris Meehan, Calvin Seminary Diploma in Ministry graduate; commissioned pastor at Coit Community Church

In chapter twenty-seven of his gospel, when Matthew describes the temple curtain being torn, the earth shaking, and the rocks splitting (verse ﬁfty- one), he was describing the death of Christ shaking the world at its core, theologian N.T. Wright told a group of Calvin Seminary students and faculty during the Stob Lecture, held earlier this year in the seminary chapel.

“e crucial thing that comes through again In the atonement, said Wright, something explosive and again is that Christ’s cruci xion sent shock has happened—the powers that “have had the waves through the whole creation,” said Wright world in a stranglehold” lost their grip and a great in the subsequent Q&A presentation moderated force of love triumphed, saving the world and its by John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute people from sin. “God has lowered himself to the of Christian Worship. “Christ’s death and rising world and put it right. … Jesus comes to a place showed the victory over the dark powers of where sin is heaped up and dies for that sin.” evil. … e cross robs them of their power.”

18 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 e Stob Lecture program, supported Lecture Colloquium, he highlighted Wright argued that the doctrine of by an endowment from the Stob ways in which the cross of Jesus is penal substitution, when separated family, is jointly run by the college God’s victory over evil powers and from this larger picture of the and the seminary. Beginning in 2017, brings healing to the world. Wright restoration of creation, can easily each year the Stob Lectures will helpfully notes the role of the cross in be distorted into the idea of “God underwrite a January Series speaker healing the fallen creation and leading being determined to get his revenge who has expertise in apologetics, to the new creation being prepared by on someone for something and then ethics, or philosophical theology. God for his people.” taking it out on someone who is Combining the Stob Lectures innocent. … e trouble is, people and January Series provides an In his lecture, Wright said he wants to can take this idea and use violence to expand the idea that Christ’s death on justify what they believe is right.” the cross was, as commonly believed by a range of evangelical Christians, Asked about heaven during the an act that absolved people from their Q&A, Wright said, “e whole Wright helpfully sins. While Wright believes in this emphasis of the New Testament is not notes the role of teaching, which is also called “penal interested in where people go when substitution,” and emphasizes that they die. What is signi cant is about the cross in healing Jesus did defeat sin on the cross as the kingdom coming to earth as it is the fallen creation our substitute, Wright argues there is in heaven.” and leading to the much more to what happened on the cross that is often neglected: the cross, Wright is an award-winning author new creation being he said, has opened the door to the with nearly fty published works, prepared by God full transformation of creation. “We including Simply Christian and need a larger vision of the biblical his most recent book, e Day the for his people. narrative if we are to understand, Revolution Began: Reconsidering the preach, and live out the message and Meaning of Jesus’ Cruci xion. meaning of the cross,” he said. opportunity to use the endowed lectureship to reach a worldwide audience. Because the January Series has signi cant recognition as a platform to discuss important ideas Preparation for from an intellectual and theological Reaccreditation perspective, the leadership of the seminary and college believe this new format will broaden the scope and Calvin eological Seminary is preparing for a comprehensive impact of the Stob Lectures. evaluation visit by the Association of eological Schools. e ATS evaluation committee is scheduled to be on campus in March 2018. Reecting on this most recent Stob If you have any comments concerning Calvin eological Seminary's Lecture, Ronald Feenstra, academic quali cations for continued accreditation, please send them in writing dean and professor of systematic to the President or Board Chair of Calvin eological Seminary (3233 theology, noted, “N.T. Wright is Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546) and/or to the Commission one of this generation's nest New on Accrediting of the Association of eological Schools (10 Summit Testament scholars. In his Stob Park Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15275-1110).

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 19 Handlon Students Mark First Milestone at Convocation by Jonathan Gorter

“You’re running against yourself,” said Ronald Feenstra, academic dean and professor of systematic theology at Calvin eological Seminary. Addressing a crowd of students at the Handlon convocation ceremony, Feenstra charged students to resist the temptation to compare themselves to others around them, and to instead focus on knowing their abilities and pushing themselves to do their best. “We are all running against ourselves. Not our professors. Not each other. Ourselves,” insisted Feenstra. “But we Professor Lee Hardy and President Jul Medenblik lead also do not run alone.” the procession ough Feenstra’s message is universally applicable, the address eological Seminary. e Calvin the students and faculty to the had a particular weight given that the Prison Initiative (CPI) is a ve-year convocation ceremony. As provost recipients were inmates. Comparison program, and these students have just Cheryl Brandsen called their names, can be crippling in any sphere, but received a certi cate for successfully the students continuing their second certainly when one is living behind completing one and a half years of year stepped forward and received prison walls. their education—one of three major their certi cate. milestones along the road to earning A year and a half ago, the rst cohort the B.A. After earning their certi cate, the of twenty students from the Handlon quali ed second year students are Correctional Facility in Ionia, MI, “is makes another crucial step looking forward to earning their began the process of earning a in the process,” said president associate's degree in another year and bachelor’s degree in ministry leadership of Calvin eological Seminary half. After that, they’ll reach for the through Calvin College and Calvin Julius Medenblik, who welcomed nal milestone, the bachelor’s degree.

continued on page 22 20 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 21 Handlon Students Mark First Milestone at Convocation continued from page 20

“We take these classes seriously,” “Misconducts have gone dramatically the teaching at Handlon. said Rafael, a rst year student. “We down. Arguments among inmates all learn at our own pace, but we have gone down. ese guys are like “It’s invigorating for the faculty,” said are committed and we do learn.” minded individuals and they support Elizabeth Vander Lei, Academic Dean each other,” said Traylor. “ey at Calvin, who works closely with get incentives, and there’s positive selecting professors for teaching at pressure put on them now that Handlon. “Where does our Calvin they’re students.” mission live out any more than it Not only does here?” has negative “ere’s been a 180 degree turn- around in the way [the inmates] ough CPI aims to equip inmates behavior conduct themselves,” said Maurice with degrees, the program’s inuence decreased, Williams, a guard at Handlon for the is much larger than a certi cate on past four years. paper. but positive Not only has negative behavior “is is about helping individuals repercussions decreased, but positive repercussions who have fallen to get back up have already have already begun spreading from the prison and into the surrounding begun area. “ese guys want to help. ey spreading … put together a math and algebra program for local elementary students that they tutor, and they’re expanding “These guys their curriculum to include a geometry program soon.” are like minded Currently, thirty-seven students are individuals and enrolled in the growing program. Last René and Armondo, two second-year year, the rst convocation was held in students enrolled in CPI, have even they support the visitors room; this year, students started growing their hair out. “We and faculty had to meet in the more want to donate to Locks of Love,” each other.” spacious gymnasium. said René. “It’ll take two years at least to get ten inches, and we want to wait According to the sta at Handlon, as until everybody’s hair is ready so we the program grows it requires more can all donate at the same time.” eort on their part to monitor visitors and activity around the facility. Arthur, a rst year student, attributes and make a dierence in society,” But Corey Traylor, a resident unit some of the new energy to the faculty said Kenneth McKee, the Deputy manager at the prison for the past who “pump positivity” into the Director of the Correctional Facilities eighteen years, noted how this eort students whenever they teach. But it’s Administration for the State of has paid o. not just the students that bene t from Michigan. “Behavioral issues are

22 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 basically non-existent. e rst year class has a GPA of 3.55, and the second year class has a 3.65. at’s impressive, and these students are dedicated.”

“[is program] is like the hand of God coming in and touching us,” said Valmarcus, a rst-year student. “ere is nothing more ful lling than living out your purpose. CPI helps us live that out.”

ough they study and take tests in a dierent setting, students enrolled in the CPI program are proud of their Calvin identity.

“So, what’s going on at the Knollcrest campus?” asked Arthur. Academic Dean Ronald Feenstra giving convocation address

The Gospel Comes To Italy OCTOBER 5 – 17, 2017 THE MINISTRY OF PETER, PAUL, AND MARK Walk in the footsteps of the apostles Peter, Paul, and Mark during the day, then study their New Testament writings and lives at night! Highlights include visits to the Vatican with its Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral; the impressive monuments of ancient Rome; Hadrian’s Villa; the city of Pompeii; Paestum; and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. The tour also involves visits to other sites of historical and cultural importance such as Assisi, Florence, and Ravenna. Most evenings feature a study session that deals with the ministry of the apostles Peter, Paul, and Mark.

For more information contact Dr. Jeffrey A. D. Weima 616-328-3110 | [email protected] www.jeffweima.com St Peter’s Cathedral in Rome

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 23 Seeds of Justice, Harvest of Shalom by Nancy L. Dresser, MDiv Distance Student

“Mexico does not exist in reality,” we were told by Pastor Dan Gonzâlez of the Comunidad Teologica (a consortium of denominational seminaries) on our ﬁrst evening in Mexico City. “In reality there are many Mexicos.” As the days passed, I began to understand what he meant.

24 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 From January 2 to January 11, ve that bind disparate theologies into garbage everywhere, scarcity, violence, students from Korea, China, Canada, one unity, and the gospel of the and children raising children - this and the United States, travelled to warm welcome to the stranger and is the reality of life on the streets for Mexico for the course, Seeds of Justice, the foreigner. And this is the Mexico thousands of kids. Every day these Harvest of Shalom, led by Professor where every day, small seeds of justice children must pay a bribe so that the Mariano Avila of Calvin eological are planted in the hope and assurance police leave them alone. ey get the Seminary. We were there to explore the of a nal harvest of Shalom. money any way they can. ese ones complex relationship between church, are the most vulnerable, the most culture, mission, and justice within the We visited a church that provides neglected, and the most abused. Hispanic context. sanctuary, safety, food, clean water, and rest for migrants making the During such moments on this trip we Mexico is an alluring country of treacherous journey across the country all had to ask ourselves, when does striking contrasts – abundance on the freight train commonly known their pain become our pain, their and poverty, beauty and sadness, as ‘e Beast.’ When we oered to trouble, our trouble, their suering, hospitality and unrest. One begins to pray, one young man asked us to pray our suering? At what point are we appreciate this reality when immersed that he would survive the next day. willing to enter into an injustice and in the history, art, landscape, and e pastor of this church told us the make it our injustice? Because that is narratives that de ne Mexico’s people. story of a recent migrant who arrived what Jesus did. For Him, it became And so, we spent time exploring some with a badly wounded arm, sustained very personal. of Mexico’s national and historic in an assault on the road. He was treasures. Visits to the historic center taken to hospital but his arm couldn’t I remember what a Catholic Priest told of Mexico City and the Templo be saved. e doctor told him that us at during our visit to his mission. Mayor, one of the main temples of this is where his journey ended, since He told us that maracas used to be the Aztecs, the ancient Mesoamerican two arms are needed to hold onto the lled with seeds. He said, “When we city of Teotihuacan with its pyramids rail car. To stay is to die. To leave is to shake them, we recognize that we are (both UNESCO World Heritage be at the mercy of armed gangs and bringing life. When we put maracas sites), as well as the National Museum criminals, facing likely rape, theft, on our ankles, we are imposing life on of Anthropology exposed us to the beatings, and then deportation at the history. We are walking… stepping on wealth of creativity, ingenuity, and end of it all. It’s an impossible choice. history with new life.” It’s a powerful visionary thinking of the indigenous For some migrants, this was their third image. I think all of us left Mexico peoples. We experienced the Mexico attempt to reach a chance at life. e convicted that we were to walk in this of music, dance, passion, sensuality, desperation compelled a desperate way. With the seeds of life on our feet, story, and art through the beautiful response among us. ose who were each step bringing God’s world closer and disturbing works of the great able, handed over sweaters, backpacks, to Shalom. muralists at the Palace Beaux Artes, the money, and the shoes on their feet. I enthralling Ballet Folklórico, and the imagine it was a somewhat amusing fun of the Mariachi. scene, this group of students and their teachers, traipsing back to the And then there were the dicult days. seminary in sock feet. e days where we acutely witnessed the suering and injustice that is We learned much from the pastors and daily life for so many. Here is where volunteers who work tirelessly, and at we experienced another Mexico, one great personal cost, to bring relief and where the gospel is alive and becoming hope to Los Niños de la Calle – the esh. is is the gospel of the woman children of the street. Our hosts did on the street selling tortillas, the their best to prepare us for what we gospel of the many ways to say hello, were about to see, but there really is the gospel of the funeral celebrations no way to be prepared. Crude shelters,

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 25 Surprised by Snow: Study Tour through Greece and Turkey by Laura de Jong, MDiv 2017 graduate

They didn’t tell us there’d be snow. “It will probably rain,” Professor Weima warned us, “and it might not be as warm as you think.” But snow, adorning palm trees and turning marble streets into long slip and slides? Unexpected. Some of us thrilled at the novelty of witnessing the largest snowfall in Greece in thirty years. And almost all of us said, at one point or another, “So, you mean, Paul might have seen snow? Would he also have wandered through the valley below the Taurus mountains and glanced up at their snowy caps? The early Christians might have worn something on their feet other than sandals?!”

26 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 In just two or so weeks, we saw so much. We walked through the city of Ephesus on a cold, clear day, unhampered by the usual crowds of tourists. We climbed over the massive ruins of the temple in Didyma, climbed to the top of the theater in Aspendos, built snowmen on the acropolis in Assos, felt small wandering through the cli monasteries of Meteora, and stood tall next to the Parthenon in Athens.

And everywhere we went, we felt the layers of religion built up over time. In Antalya we stopped by a 2nd century pagan temple turned 6th century church turned 10th e January study trip to Turkey and century mosque turned 14th century Greece was an exercise in shattering church turned 16th century mosque, was strange, unpatriotic, and an perceptions. Many of us pictured nally destroyed by a re in the 19th economic burden. It seems not the Biblical lands as at and dusty. century. In Turkey we heard of the much has changed. But we were met with mountains, challenges that come with being rivers, lush valleys, and everywhere a Christian in a Muslim country. And so the trip was surprising we looked, the sea. We learned In Greece we visited a Protestant and fascinating and informative, that the white marble statues and Church, and I was surprised to but mostly, it was humbling. I temples we value so highly for their hear that Protestant Christians was humbled by the grandeur of pristine, calm purity were actually also face pressure and disdain in a creation. I was humbled by the faith colorful and intricately decorated. predominantly Greek-Orthodox of Christians much stronger than my In museums we cocked our heads in country. In our study sessions, we own. And I was humbled and awed astonishment at the technology of learned of the particular challenges by the faithfulness of God, who has ancient safety pins and gazed closely the early church faced because caused his church to persevere and at gold jewelry so intricate it can’t be religion was so closely tied to social continues to use broken vessels to replicated today. and political life – following Christ declare his praise.

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 27 Forming Better Leaders for Today’s Churches by Geoff Vandermolen, Director of Vocational Formation

“Our interns have been life-giving to our congregation,” wrote Pastor Nate DeJong-McCarron in a recent email to the Vocational Formation Ofﬁce. DeJong-McCarron, pastor at Fuller Ave CRC, went on to say that Calvin Seminary interns at Fuller have strengthened Fuller’s ministries and helped several of Fuller’s members recover their own passions for ministry. DeJong-McCarron concluded, “Interns have spurred on a culture of ministry engagement at Fuller!”

Reect for a moment on these well formed for ministry leadership proposed to me, it was only natural descriptors: life-giving, strengthening upon graduation. for me to say yes. What also drew me ministries, and spurring on a culture of to contextual learning was that I was ministry engagement. Most ministry intrigued with how I could put into leaders would be honored to have The goal of this practice what I was learning in the these words de ne their ministry classroom immediately. impact. initiative is to marry Calvin Seminary’s Matt Mulder serves alongside Ellens With that in mind, it is wonderful as an intern pastor at Fuller Ave CRC. to hear that these are the outcomes ﬁne academic Mulder oered these observations: arising from the work of a small group of rst year seminarians engaged in learning with I have enjoyed building a practical a pilot project at Calvin eological the day-to-day bridge between my academics and Seminary. e goal of this initiative the tangible work of ministry. I’ve is to marry Calvin Seminary’s ne classroom of local also enjoyed embracing and being academic learning with the day-to-day church ministry. embraced by a church community classroom of local church ministry. that is glad to have me in their Participating students attend their midst. regular classes and serve simultaneously e students engaged in this project in a local church setting. is process were asked why they took up this In addition to building bridges encourages students to integrate challenge. Derek Ellens, an MDiv between the classroom and their academic learning with contextual student from Canada, wrote: ministry context, students are experience. is integrative strategy realizing that this experience has a is being implemented with the hope When the opportunity to jump formative impact on their life. Zachary that students will gain the kind of right into a pastoral internship, DeBruyne, also from Canada, was able ministry experience and skills to be rather than wait for two years, was to oer this important observation:

28 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 Formation Groups will be led by a new leader each semester who is skilled in the area of ministry focus for that semester. Finally, each student will participate in deliberate vocational assessments at both the launch of their degree program and the midpoint of their studies.

Why would Calvin Seminary make changes to well established programs? In short, because we care deeply about local churches. We also care about the formation of excellent pastoral My concurrent internship changes Within a concurrent contextual leaders who can lead with humility the way I interact with my learning environment, each student that is born out of the potent mix education. I regularly incorporate will be paired with an on-site of biblical and theological training, and contextualize the classroom Vocational Mentor. is mentor healthy self-knowledge, and formative content that I am learning. It has will be from the concurrent site ministry experience. Finally, we care changed me to become a more at which the student is serving, about helping our students meet reﬂective, organized leader. and will teach ministry skills and the challenge of being well formed encourage the formation of emerging disciples and leaders for the sake of the ese statements are hopeful signs that student leaders. is mentor will church and for the glory of God. Calvin eological Seminary is once also process vocational assessments again improving the formation of the such as the Birkman, as well as Want to learn more about these hearts, minds, and leadership skills of engage in theological and evaluative plans? We would love to hear from emerging leaders in the church. In fact, conversations with the student from you. Please feel free to contact the the ndings of this pilot project have within the context of ministry. In Vocational Formation oce by caused the faculty of Calvin Seminary addition, students will also be part emailing vocationalformation@ to courageously create and adopt a of a modular, peer based Formation calvinseminary.edu, or simply give us new plan to integrate contextual and Groups. ese Formation Groups a call at (616) 957-6045. We would classroom learning as the new normal. will be a consistent group of peers love to share more about our passion with whom the student can study, for forming emerging leaders for God’s Starting in September 2017, students learn, grow, reect and pray. ese Kingdom. from both the MDiv and MA degree programs will be placed in concurrent contextual learning environments as part of each degree program. In addition to having the opportunity to learn in the classroom from astute and insightful faculty for which Calvin Seminary is already known, opportunity will also be given for students to in real time ministry aimed at increasing their engagement in theological, practical, and formative learning.

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 29 Distinguished Alumni 2017 Award Winners

REVEREND HOWARD VANDERWELL

Baptized in First Christian Reformed Church in Muskegon, MI, by his grandfather, Rev. Samuel Eldersveld, Howard Vanderwell subsequently received his early education at Muskegon Christian Schools and Western Michigan Christian High School.

In 1959 he received the A. B. Degree edited a book on intergenerational from Calvin College. In 1962 he was worship. We anticipate his next book Reverend Howard Vanderwell, awarded the B.D. Degree from Calvin on Caring Worship in the near future. Calvin Seminary, 2017 Seminary and later the .M. Degree. In 1989, he received the Doctor of In 2002, he retired from the pastorate Ministry Degree from Westminster and began a position as Pastoral eological Seminary Resource Specialist at the Calvin 2. If the local parish becomes the in California. Institute of Christian Worship and as location for your ministry, embrace adjunct professor of worship at Calvin it willingly and arm that it is the Over forty years he has served four eological Seminary. Currently he location in which God’s people are congregations: Lebanon, Iowa; Trinity, battles a fourth encounter with cancer. formed spiritually, children and Jenison, MI; Bethel, Lansing, IL; and To God be all the glory! youth are brought to faith, spiritual Hillcrest, Hudsonville, MI. He has also discernment is developed, and the served on numerous denominational Advice for graduates – 2017: gospel meets the world constantly. boards and committees and has served 1. as delegate to the CRC Synod ten If God has called you to the pastoral 3. When God’s people gather in times, ve times as an ocer. He was ministry, then embrace it with all worship and you have the privilege elected the president of the Synod in your heart, give it your absolute of leading them, consider that place 1990, 1992, and 1998. roughout best, and know that though it will of worship a sacred place, provide his ministry, the preaching of the not always be easy it will always be for them the best of God’s word, Word, faithful worship, and the rewarding as you share a front row give them God’s gracious greeting, provision of pastoral care have seat in participating with God as promise them His grace, and send been his high priorities. He grooms His people. You will them out with a sacred benediction. discover there is no more special Always provide a worship liturgy He has authored eight books, co- way to have spent your life than in that will caringly nurture their authored two books, and with Norma the gospel ministry. spirits. As you stand before them dewaal Malefyt produced one CD and always love them.

30 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 REVEREND JOSEPH TONG, PHD

Born in Xiamen, China on July 17, 1942, his father died when he was 17 months old. Raised by his devout mother, he migrated to Indonesia with his mother, four brothers and one sister. He heard the call to ministry at the age of 16 and entered South East Bible College at age 17, graduating at age 21. He was called and ordained as the pastor of the Synod of Church of Christ the Lord Indonesia at age 24. Reverend Joseph Tong, Ph.D., Calvin Seminary, 2017 At the age of 30, Rev. Tong came of Trustees of ITS (2010-2012) and to the U.S. for advanced studies, serves as Chancellor at ABDI Allah obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Seminary in Indonesia and China Philosophy at Calvin College, and a Aletheia eological Seminary. including: Basic Christian Beliefs; A Bachelor of Divinity and .M. in Reection and Rebuilding of Christian 1974 and 1975 at Calvin Seminary. In recent years, Rev. Tong has been Beliefs; On being a Servant without Later, he pursued and received a Ph.D. heavily engaged in speaking at Shame; Collection of eological in Educational Psychology, specializing conferences and seminars, teaching in Treatises; Philosophical and Ethical in Personality and Socialization, various countries, and serving as an Contemplations; eological Research Methodology and adjunct professor at various seminaries Contemplations; A Study of the First Counseling (1978) at the University of and universities in the the United Born Rights. Most of his works have Southern California, and an M.B.A. States, China, Brazil, the Philippines, been published in Chinese and/or specializing in Church Administration and Indonesia. He has founded Indonesian and are available on (1991) at the Graduate eological over eight eological Seminaries the web. Foundation, Indiana. He has been and Training Centers in Indonesia, heavily engaged in eological USA, and China, and has over 1,000 Dr. Tong’s words for Education for nearly 50 years. He Baccalaureate graduates in China graduating students: has taught systematic, philosophical, alone. He was responsible for bringing biblical and pastoral theology, as well over 1,300 key church leaders, pastors, A Person with Whom God as education and management courses. and theological teachers from the Is Well-Pleased He retired from the Presidency of majority world to the United States International eological Seminary to complete their advanced studies, Be human (ITS) in Los Angeles, California obtain their Master’s and Doctoral Be a servant and Bandung eological Seminary, degrees, and return to their home in Indonesia in 2008 and 2009, countries to serve the Lord there. Be a servant of God respectively. Now he serves as Lest you think that you are Master Professor and President Emeritus at Dr. Tong has written hundreds of the world, other human beings, ITS. He served as Chair of the Board of articles, books, and treatises and even God!

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 31 Reﬂections by Missionary–In–Residence Wayne TenHarmsel

We have all heard it said that God works in mysterious ways. Often the saying can seem like a cop-out used to avoid reﬂecting more deeply on God's ways in our lives. But when I reﬂect on my story, I believe the saying is an appropriate description. Here’s why:

e rst mystery was my landing at other times working in more or less worst grades in high school and at the University of Arizona to pursue temporary jobs. Calvin College were in speech classes. an advanced degree in Chinese I was too old—over forty. I could History. I knew nothing about e second mystery was nding not aord the time or cost. And so Arizona, other than that it was hot myself at Calvin eological on. But I did go to seminary, and and far away from home (Holland, Seminary in 1993. For several years I did make it through. And Calvin MI). For eight long years I was in Arizona, making up undergraduate courses, earning an MA, and laboring But I did go to seminary, on a PhD that never did get nished. I had to settle for an “All But and I did make it through. Dissertation” status. And Calvin Seminary gave me a solid foundation, biblically Armed with my ABD in Chinese history and saddled with a not and theologically. insigni cant amount of debt, I returned to Holland with my family. Finding a job in any way related to I had been feeling more and more Seminary gave me a solid foundation, my eld proved to be impossible at drawn to ministry. e mystery of biblically and theologically. the time. My wife, with her in nitely that is that I (and probably everyone more practical degree in accounting, who knew me) did not consider And then the third mystery found a job with no trouble. So myself “seminary material.” I was happened. One summer day in for the next eight years or so, I was introverted and quiet. I did not feel 2005, when I was serving a church in sometimes a stay at home dad, comfortable speaking in public. My Lynden, WA, I got a phone call from

32 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | Spring 2017 Christian Reformed World Missions (but really from God). ey said they had an opening in China and asked if I would be interested. What a question! I was trembling, but calmly told them I would discuss it with my wife. Of course we went. And for ten years we experienced the mysterious miracles of God over and over.

One more mystery. One day I found myself sitting in an oce at Calvin Seminary with my name outside the door. I took a picture. I am honored to be here and to be teaching a class about the church in China. My goal is to get to know all the students and to talk with many of them about missions. miracles, and mysteries.

Thursday, October 5, 2017 @ 7:00 PM Calvin College Chapel

Dr. Jared Ortiz Assistant Professor of Religion, Hope College Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Saint Benedict What can Catholics Institute, the Catholic spiritual and intellectual center that and Protestants learn serves Hope College Most Reverend David John Walkowiak J.C.D. from one another today? Bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids

Dr. Karin Maag A conversation upon the occasion Director of the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies Author of Does the Reformation Still Matter? of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation Dr. Ronald J. Feenstra Academic Dean at Calvin Theological Seminary Participant in two decades of official Roman Catholic-Reformed Dialogue

Please invite family & friends, Catholic and Protestant. A New Face At Calvin Seminary

Laura Palsrok joined Calvin she could use her gifts, Laura Seminary last fall as the Assistant applied for and was oered this to the Director of Development. new position. Her primary duties Laura has a B.A. in English and include coordinating events for the German from Calvin College. Prior President and the Development sta to coming here, Laura worked for as well as supporting the Director of 20 years at the Christian Reformed Development in his work in a variety denominational headquarters of other tasks. In her spare time, in the oce of Pastor-Church Laura enjoys spending time with Relations. Her primary focus was family and friends and especially working with pastors and churches her Miniature Schnauzer. Laura is as they moved through the search a member of Hillside Community process. In desiring to nd new Church in Cutlerville. opportunities and challenges where

Pastoral Theology & Care at the Margin: African American Experience & the Holocaust

October 7-10, 2017

Join Prof. Danjuma Gibson along with current seminary students in visiting the African American and Holocaust museums in Washington, DC. You will be exposed to salient themes related to the Black experience in America and the Holocaust, primary & secondary texts and case studies. Limited seats reserved for non-students; please contact [email protected] for more information. Presidents’ Reformation Tour 2017

In March, 2017, President Michael LeRoy of Calvin College and President Jul Medenblik of Calvin eological Seminary jointly hosted a Reformation Tour of Germany and Switzerland, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. is group photo was taken in Worms where Martin Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms in 1521 and refused to recant his writing when faced with charges of heresy. “I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.”

e tour ended in Geneva where guest lecturer Dr. Karin Maag (right), gave historical and theological perspectives on such topics as education, worship, and church discipline. is photo is taken in a classroom at the University of Geneva, founded by John Calvin in 1559. e night before, Dr. Lyle Bierma, the other guest lecturer, introduced the group to the John Calvin, noting that he was a second-generation reformer (25 years younger than Luther) who had studied law, not theology and was a self-taught theologian never formally ordained to ministry.

Spring 2017 | CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM | 35 Non-Proﬁt Org. U.S. Postage PAID Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 657 3233 Burton Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Calvin Seminary: God’s World, Our Classroom

Every year, especially during January, Calvin Seminary offers students the opportunity to travel outside of our Michigan location to study in other places in God’s Taste and See: world. These travel-based courses are instrumental to A Study Tour of Israel/Palestine student learning in a variety of important and lasting January 2-14, 2018 ways, including: In this two-credit course, students will experience the land, Enriching the way students read Scripture geography, history, climate and culture out of which the Bible emerged. Readings, presentations, and papers will be coupled Deepening students’ understanding of and with the lessons of place, such as the Sea of Galilee, Mt. appreciation for Reformed theology Carmel, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. Opening students’ eyes and imaginations to Our purpose—and prayer—for students who enroll in this how God is present and working in his world. travel course is that it will deepen their understanding of Scripture and generate for them fresh, compelling ways to Past opportunities have included travel-based courses communicate the good news of the gospel to the church and to Mexico, Turkey & Greece, and Angola Prison in the world. Louisiana. To this dynamic list, Calvin Seminary is pleased to announce a travel-based course to Please consider these ways you can participate: Israel/Palestine. Pray for our students as they make decisions about the possibility of their participation. Support a student nancially. e total cost of the trip is about $4,000. Some will receive travel scholarships but all will have some funding gap to ll. Join us in our study tour of Israel/Palestine. Limited seats are reserved for non-student learners. For more information please contact the travel course leader, Prof. Gary Burge ([email protected]). Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063614 3475 Mainway, LCD STN 1 Burlington ON L7M 1A9

Calvin Seminary: God’s World, Our Classroom