Continuing Education

COURSE


James Osterhouse - New Church Development in North America

COURSE


Quentin Schultze - Hearing the Word in a Visual Age

COURSE


Lyle Bierma - The Doctrine of Baptism

COURSE


Burt Braunius - Adult Education in the Church

TRAINING: TIMOTHY LEADERSHIP

COURSE


John Bolt - The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

SEMINAR: PREACHING
RETREAT & EQUIP: From Patmos to Paradise: Preaching to the Seven Churches (Rev. 2-3)

This seminar for preachers involves a detailed study of John's inspired message to Christians living in Asia Minor with the larger goal of helping pastors prepare a sermon series that they will preach in their home congregation. This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Preaching and Calvin Theological Seminary.

COURSE
Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry

Duane Kelderman and Kathy Smith will lead this study of the theology and practice of pastoral ministry with a view to creatively and critically engaging changing views of the church and its ministry in our contemporary culture, and enhancing the practice of pastoral ministry. The course will integrate this theological understanding of pastoral ministry with the basic practices of pastoral ministry: worship, preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and congregational leadership.

COURSE


Darwin Glassford - Youth and their Culture

SEMINAR
Preaching for a Postmodern Audience: Using Imagination in Preaching

This seminar will be led in the Korean language for Korean students and pastors by Shin Suk Ko, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto. Participants will explore both the history of preaching and current models of preaching (particularly the "Four Pages" approach to sermon-writing) to suggest ways to use imagination in preaching that will reach especially postmodern listeners. Co-sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Preaching.

SEMINAR
Imaginative Reading for Creative Preaching

In June 2008 Calvin Theological Seminary President Neal Plantinga is taking his hugely popular and successful seminar, Imaginative Reading for Creative Preaching, to beautiful Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado. Offering this seminar at Snow Mountain will provide participating pastors with not only a wonderful opportunity to attend a deeply enriching seminar but will also allow whole families to come along to enjoy the spectacular scenery and the family-oriented programs offered at the YMCA of the Rockies facility. This seminar is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Preaching.

WORKSHOP
The Preachers' Oasis

All preachers benefit from having some time away from the pressures of sermon preparation and delivery. Led by Randall Bytwerk, Scott Hoezee, and Mary Hulst, The Preachers' Oasis workshop is designed to give pastors just such a break while at the same time providing an opportunity to reflect on the preaching task with an eye toward getting better at what we are already good at. We want to deepen the gifts God has given us, refining the skills by which we employ those gifts for proclamation and ministry.

CONSULTATION
Faculty and Alum Consultation

Invited alumni/ae of Calvin Theological Seminary will meet with faculty members to share their ministry experiences and discuss together the seminary culture, pedagogy and curriculum with a view to improving in these three areas.

COURSE
Ron Nydam - 727 - Human Suffering and Pastoral Care

COURSE
Howard Vanderwell - 685 - Planning and Leading Congregational Worship

COURSE
Cal Van Reken - 541 - The Theology of C.S. Lewis

COURSE
John Rottman - 663 - Preaching the Parables of Jesus

COURSE
Lyle Bierma - 491 - Heidelberg Catechism

CONFERENCE
A Pearl And A Leaven: Herman Bavinck for the Twenty-First Century

This conference proceeds from a conviction that Bavinck's theology and its practical application to church and society provides us today with valuable insight and wisdom for theology and Christian discipleship. The conference will consider Bavinck's times, his theology, his contribution to the ecclesiastical, social, cultural, and political life of his day, and its relevance for Christian vocation in the 21st century.

WORKSHOP
The Art of Worship Team Leadership

Paul Ryan and Greg Scheer, of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, will lead this instruction in the role of worship teams, vocals and harmony, guitar, piano, bass, drums, putting all the instruments together, rehearsing effectively, and leading worship. Contact Sid Hielema: shielema@redeemer.ca

WORKSHOP
Our Body Together in Christ

This workshop will help churches learn better ways to include people with disabilities in the life and ministry of the church. Sectional topics include: Providing Respite Care, Autism, Handling Disruptive Behavior, Mental Illness, Pastoral Care, a panel discussion on inclusion, and Starting Inclusive Support Groups.This event is sponsored by CRC Disability Concerns, the CLC Network, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Friendship Ministries and Western Theological Seminary.

SEMINAR: PREACHING
Sex, Second Coming and Sanctification: Preaching I Thessolonians - From Text to Sermon

Jeffrey Weima, professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, will lead this seminar for preachers who wish to brush up on the exegetical steps required in moving from the biblical text to a sermon that faithfully expresses its message for the church today. This event is co-sponsored by Sunnyside CRC and CRC Classis Columbia.

CONVERSATION: DISCERNING YOUR CALLING


Heidi De Jonge, pastor for discernment at Calvin Theological Seminary, will meet with Kuyper College students to share each other's stories of God's call on their lives, learn about the gifts and desires needed to flourish in vocational ministry, and receive helpful thoughts and tools for practicing the discipline of spiritual discernment.

CONFERENCE: PREACHING


Thomas G. Long, Bandy Professor of Preaching at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, will be joining us for the day. Listen to his lecture "Accompany Them with Singing: The Recovery of Authentic Christian Funeral Practices" from our lecture archive of June 28, 2007.

LECTURE
2008 Sexuality Series

Clinical psychologist, Henry Cloud, will speak on boundaries and ethics. This event is co-sponsored with Calvin College and Wedgwood Christian Services. For updated information visit Student Life.

SEMINAR: PREACHING
Sex, Second Coming and Sanctification: Preaching 1 Thessalonians: From Text to Sermon

This seminar for preachers, led by Jeff Weima, professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, aims to help preachers brush up on the exegetical steps required in moving from the biblical text to a sermon that faithfully expresses its message for the church today. This event is co-sponsored with the Center for Excellence in Preaching. More information coming.

CONVERSATION: DISCERNING YOUR CALLING


Heidi De Jonge, pastor for discernment at Calvin Theological Seminary, will meet with high school and college students to share each other's stories of God's call on their lives, learn about the gifts and desires needed to flourish in vocational ministry, and receive helpful thoughts and tools for practicing the discipline of spiritual discernment.

CONVERSATION: DISCERNING YOUR CALLING


Heidi De Jonge, pastor for discernment at Calvin Theological Seminary, will meet with high school and college students to share each other's stories of God's call on their lives, learn about the gifts and desires needed to flourish in vocational ministry, and receive helpful thoughts and tools for practicing the discipline of spiritual discernment.

CONFERENCE
2008 Christians and Money Conference

Mark Vincent and Ken Medema will be among the guest presenters at this 3rd annual stewardship conference. Co-sponsored with the Barnabas Foundation. For continued updates visit

LECTURE: STOB - GIL MEILAENDER


Gilbert Meilaender, Professor of Christian Ethics at Valparaiso University, will be our guest lecturer for the annual Stob Lectures.

LECTURE: STOB - GIL MEILAENDER


Gilbert Meilaender, Professor of Christian Ethics at Valparaiso University, will be our guest lecturer for the annual Stob Lectures.

SYMPOSIUM ON WORSHIP
Calvin Symposium on Worship

Co-sponsored with the Center for Excellence in Preaching and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. For continued updates visit