Comments for A New Year’s Resolution for our Church: Don’t Take the Reformed Tradition for Granted at http://www.pres-outlook.org , comment 1 to 2 out of 2 comments http://www.pres-outlook.org Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:23:07 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.pres-outlook.org/insights-opinions/blog/A-New-Yeara-s-Resolution-for-our-Church-Dona-t-Take-the-Reformed-Tradition-for-Granted.html#comment-4342 I'm tutoring a seminarian in basic Reformed theology so that she can pass her ords. When we started our conversation back in October, 2008, I asked her, "Who is the Head of the Church?" She answered, "God." We opened the Book of Order, where she learned that Christ is the Head of Church. This faithful woman has been Presbyterian all her life. What had she learned? What does she need to unlearn? I asked her about the Sacrement of Holy Communion. Someone had taught her Zwingli's version: "It's a memorial," she said, adding, "I think it's more than that, though." I suggested she draw up a "crib sheet:" transubstantiation, consubstantiation and (I laughed), the pneumatic presence -- as in, "think of a flat tire". Compare and contrast. Taught her the role of prepositions in a Reformed grasp of the Trinity ("in," "with," "through," and of course "by" the Holy Spirit - as a punch line. ) Prepositions mean relationships refering to the immanent and economic Trinity. She's reading John Leith (which I use in the congregation) and now the Barmen Declaration to understand the relationship of Word and Spirit. Years ago, while working overseas, my pastor and mentor from the Reformed Church of France gave me Calvin's 1559 Institutes in French, the 1954 Labor and Fides edition, which has become "MY" Institutes. The student has never opened up the Institutes in any language and took Reformed Theology in seminary. What did she learn? What does she have to unlearn? So, where do we go from here? Jill - Rosemary Jill Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:56:28 +0100 http://www.pres-outlook.org/insights-opinions/blog/A-New-Yeara-s-Resolution-for-our-Church-Dona-t-Take-the-Reformed-Tradition-for-Granted.html#comment-4305 Thanks, Michael! You said it far better than I could have, so I just want to say a hearty "Amen" to your comments. To show that I "walk the walk" as well as "talk the talk", I decided that the best way to begin celebrating Calvin's 500th birthday was to re-read the Institutes. It was my 4th re-reading; I began in the fall and finished it just before Christmas. It was a great theological feast! I hope others are doing (or will be doing) the same thing. So, Michael, to use an old expression, "Preach it, brother!" And personal good wishes to you. Doug Harper - M. Douglas Harper, Jr. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:25:37 +0100