Non-profit org. U.S. Postage PAID Institute for Christian Studies Lewiston, N.Y. Permit No. 49 Volume 36, Issue 3, September 2002 Is your address correct? Address change requested / Return Postage guaranteed ORDER FORM Equipping Christian Perspective Newsletter (USPS 335-530) leaders around the Thirty-five years old PRICE QTY TOTAL is published by world Ontario Summer Conference 2002 CD and Tapes Institute for Ambassadors of Reconciliation: Christian Studies Reconciliation and Contemporary Culture by John Suk You might be surprised that this fragile infant, with a short life-expectancy, is The Christian Community: Ragtag Band of Reconciled Reconcilers Editorial Committee: alive and healthy after 35 years. The Institute for Christian Studies was started by George Vandervelde Harry Fernhout, Sunday Worship Service with message by John Suk John Meiboom, in 1967 in a house in mid-town Toronto with only one professor. Hendrik Hart, CD: $13.00 $ Yvonne Barber with a fresh Ph.D. degree from a European university, established ICS’s Tape: $10.00 $ Design: Willem Hart Communications classroom all over Canada. By Bob VanderVennen Books for Sale Coordinator: Chris Cuthill The Bible and the Task of Teaching By David Smith and John Shortt $24.95 $ aybe the (Top) Bob VanderVennen Religion With/out Religion: The Prayers and Tears of John D. Caputo Send all address In this issue: Dutch immi- (far right) at the opening of edited by Jim Olthuis changes to: grants of the the Institute in 1967. To his $47.95 $ Circulation Manager, M 1950s were left, Calvin Seerveld, and far A living vision 2 The Beautiful Risk: A New Psychology of Loving and Being Perspective the only ones who could left Albert Wolters. Loved by Jim Olthuis $29.95 $ ICS have pulled this off. They Special “Othuis” Package Deal: 229 College Street Ontario & Alberta had the religious vision of (Middle) A Board meeting The Beautiful Risk, I Pledge You My Troth, and Suite 200 Conferences 4 an academic project that with Louis Tamminga as Keeping our Troth for only $45.00 $ Toronto Ontario, would be Christian from Chair in the late 60s. Art and Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts (2nd Edition) Canada M5T 1R4 the inside out. They lived Adrienne Chaplin and Hilary Brand $32.95 $ Interview: Lambert out of the convictions of (Bottom) A typical class at Bearing Fresh Olive Leaves: www.icscanada.edu Zuidervaart 6 Abraham Kuyper who ICS in the new building a Alternative Steps in Understanding Art Calvin Seerveld $35.00 $ suggested that there is not 229 College Street during the In the Fields of the Lord: A Calvin Seerveld reader U.S.A. subscribers/ Dialogue at ICS 8 a square inch of this world 80s Edited by Craig Bartholomew $35.00 $ supporters please that is not claimed by Theology, Music and Time by Jeremy Begbie $45.00 $ contact: God as his own. All of life directed learning.” They Friends of ICS New book 10 was driven by that vision – ran with the previously Total Order $ 678 Front Street NW education, politics, labour unthinkable idea that the *Shipping & Handling Charges Suite 159 relations, public media – study of academic subjects Grand Rapids everything was held to- was intrinsically religious – Canada: Add $2.75 plus 75¢ per additional item $ MI 48504 gether with religious sin- that you don’t add Christ- US: Add $3.75 + $1.00 per additional item $ ews. The antithesis was a ian ideas and ethics after Other: Add $5.75 +$2.00 per additional item $ Authorized Second Class secular world-view and you’d done your research, postage paid to the USA utterly rejected. but you started academic Final Total $ and Territories, mailed They took those con- study and research with from Box 110 victions with them when Christian ideas because ICS offers a wide variety of books: from scholarly and academic titles to popular and devotional. To recieve Lewiston, NY 14092 they came to Canada by God was creator and a full listing of our available publi-cations go to www.icscanada.edu. You may also call (1-888-326-5347 or the boatload and soon sustainer of everything, 416-979-2331) and request a book list, or mail in this form. Publications mail found that Canada’s and only in him was agreement no. 105244 universities were not open meaning. Many Christians Please send me your complete list of books available through ICS Reg. no. 2091 to their vision. Needing didn’t understand that, and Name leaders to champion their university scholars thought ideas they made plans to it was crazy. Address CityProv/State Address correction requested start their own Christian From four men who Postal Code/Zip Phone/E-mail university. first spoke that dream out ISSN 0847-0324 The vision was large. loud the circle grew. An Payment An Educational Creed educational Association was written to express the was born in 1956. In 1959 Cheque/Money Order PRINTED IN CANADA ON RECYCLED PAPER vision, with the educatio- a summer conference for VISA # nal purpose stated to Signature Expiry “develop Scripturally- (Continued on page 3) Perspective / VOLUME 36 / NO. 3 / SEPTEMBER 2002 / 12 1/ INSTITUTE FOR CHRISTIAN STUDIES from the ICS TO CO-SPONSOR CONFERENCE TOPICS Fall INCLUDE: president A living vision CONFERENCE CELEBRATING THE courses Runner and Vollenhoven WORLDVIEW COURSES Thirty-five years ago a fledgling Institute for Christian Studies opened the doors LEGACY OF H. EVAN RUNNER John Kok (Dordt of 141 Lyndhurst Avenue in Toronto to graduate students interested in pursuing College, IA) Worldview Foundations hroughout his lengthy teaching career at Calvin Gideon Strauss integral Christian learning. College, H. Evan Runner was a dynamic advo- Runner and the Thursday, 7:00 pm T cate of a Christian worldview and its implica- Problem-Historical Approach Faith, Justice and Public Policy y some measures, 35 years represent a gene- learning is infused with convictions and outlooks tions for the study of philosophy and various other Tony Tol (Free Univer- ration in the life of an institution. And indeed, rooted in commitments held in faith. Because they fields, as well as its implications for Christian social Jonathan Chaplin sity, Amsterdam) within two years the entire first generation of were also convinced that universities play a key role in engagement. Runner’s impact was by no means Wednesday, 7:00 pm ICS faculty will have retired. This anniver- expressing and shaping the spirit of our culture, they limited to Calvin College. He was instrumental in B Runner’s Implications Crossings: Post-Modernisms and Christianity founding of the Institute for Christian Studies in 1967 sary, then, marks a good occasion to reflect on and regarded the development of a Christian graduate for Issues in Theology celebrate a generation in the life of ICS. school not as a luxury but as a basic necessity. These and was the teacher of most of the first generation of Ron Kuipers John Vander Stelt While the overarching vision of the Association convictions are echoed in the institutional plan ICS faculty members. Beyond Calvin College and Monday, 7:00 pm (Dordt) which established the Institute in 1967 was the adopted in 2001, which states that our mission is “to ICS, Runner’s ideas and emphases also played a formative role in the development of Dordt College, CORE COURSES development of a Christian university, the founders provide accessible graduate education that addresses Runner’s Legacy for As we reflect made a deliberate choice not to launch a full-fledged the spiritual foundations of learning and equips Trinity Christian College, The King’s University “ Social/Political Theory Philosophical Foundations College and Redeemer University College. Individual on these words, institution with wide-ranging programs. Already in Christians around the world to be effective leaders in and Action 1965 the governing board adopted a strategy that the academic arena and in other areas of society.” As scholars in a wide variety of fields also regard Runner Lambert Zuidervaart James Skillen (Center for and as we called for the establishment of a small “Centre for we reflect on these words, and as we listen to the as a very influential teacher. Monday, 9:30 am Public Justice, D.C.) sustained scholarly analysis, for student guidance…, testimonies of current students and recent graduates, ICS will co-sponsor a two-day academic listen to the Philosophizing Between Vogues and Traditions: for mutual discussion… translation and original we realize that the vision of the founding generation is conference with these institutions to explore and Runner’s Legacy for the Nature, Supernature and Miracles in the testimonies of publication.” still vital in the life of ICS today. For that, too, we celebrate the academic legacy of Dr. H. Evan Runner, Natural Sciences Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas The aim was to assemble a relatively small team of give thanks. who passed away in March of this year. The Uko Zylstra (Calvin current scholars to work with qualified graduate students on At least one other aspect of the life of ICS deserves conference runs from Friday October 4 to Saturday Bob Sweetman College, MI) students and underlying, direction-setting issues in the develop- special mention as we look back over the years: our October 5 at Redeemer University College in Tuesday, 9:30 am ment of “scripturally directed scholarship.” Establish- financial blessings. True, the Institute has not Ancaster Ontario. Runner’s Legacy for Philosophical Anthropology: Twentieth Century recent ing this centre and assembling a team of committed developed a reputation for affluence! On the contrary, The conference will open with an overview of Social Philosophy Theories of Intersubjectivity scholars, the founders believed, was strategic for the we have often faced financial shortages and our graduates, we Brad Breems (Trinity long-term development of Christian learning, and for financial managers have needed excellent juggling Jim Olthuis Christian College, IL) realize that the the formation for a generation of academic leaders.