- Sovereignty and Free Will in the Restoration Movement - Dr. Doug Foster
January 31, 2003 - Biblical Interpretation - Dr. Ken Cukrowski
November 15, 2002 - Introduction to Theology - Dr. Jeff Childers
October 11, 2002 - Sovereignty of God - Dr. Frederick Aquino
September 20, 2002
Friday Faculty Forum: Sovereignty and Free Will in the Restoration Movement
January 31, 2003
Dr. Doug Foster of the College of Biblical Studies led the first Friday Faculty Forum of the spring through an exploration of the theology of Providence in the Restoration Movement, the goal being to explore how our heritage has uniquely addressed the foundational question of God's action in the lives of people. Faculty members were initially met with the assignment of forming a definition of "Providence". They responded with words like care, sustenance, work, sovereignty, and purpose; some made reference to scriptures such as Matthew 6:25 and Romans 8:28 as examples of God's direct care and involvement in our lives.
Historically the Restoration Movement, Dr. Foster explained, has held a very high view of God's sovereignty, while simultaneously attempting to reconcile a strong emphasis on human free will. The Stone-Campbell movement was responding to two main ideas of its time: Calvinism, in which all activity is essentially predetermined by God, and Deism, wherein God has created the earth but does not intervene in its history or the lives of its inhabitants. Throughout Restoration history, believers have explored the extent to which God acts directly in the lives of those who seek Him, including questions about the reality of modern-day miracles and the necessity of a divine interpreter (such as that of scripture) to validate individual encounters with God. Of course, another contributing influence is our identity within the traditional American personality, with its elevation of the individual, his/her rights and his/her inherently valid experiences.
The main achievement of this forum was to raise great questions and to provide a venue for stimulating discussion. Faculty brought up issues regarding of the role of the Holy Spirit in God's actvity in our lives, the responsibility of church leadership as they make decisions while acknowledging God's ultimate rule, and the best way to mentor students who struggle to discern God's will as they make life-forming decisions.
Article by Jordan Pownall, Adams Center Intern
Friday Faculty Forum: Biblical Interpretation and Classroom Application
November 15, 2002
Dr. Ken Cukrowski, professor and associate dean of the College of Biblical Studies, challenged faculty members with an insightful crash course in hermeneutics during the final Friday Forum of this fall semester. The discussion yielded the key elements of hermeneutical reflection, a process that is crucial, necessary and sometimes painful. Everyone, Dr. Cukrowski asserts, interprets. The variable is whether the interpretation will be done well or poorly.
The session opened with an exercise requiring the identification of directives and commands from scripture as either "permanent" or "cultural." Dr. Cukrowski used the activity as a tool to begin analysis of how we create our hermeneutical structure and what rationale we implement in the process. The practice of hermeneutics requires careful consideration of multiple features so that the result reflects the complexity of scripture, a goal that has not always been reached. One of the key considerations the forum addressed was the level at which the text of scripture is deemed authoritative. If scripture is read and interpreted at the [rule] level, all statements are considered commands. If, on the other hand, a reader approaches on the subtler [principle] level of authority, he or she seeks the intent and spirit behind the words.
Another critical aspect of this process is the necessary inclusion of cultural factors, those affecting the original context from which scripture arises, those affecting the church throughout history, and those that surround us today. We should be mindful of the possibility that culture, as a consistently potent force inextricably connected to our perspectives, may overlap truth, and scriptural statements may be simultaneously "permanent" [and] "cultural."
Other considerations suggested by Dr. Cukrowski include the effect of divergent interpretations on community and the literary features of a text, including genre, figurative language, and the immediate context of a passage. Perhaps most importantly, focus on the theological core throughout scriptural exploration serves to enrich and sharpen our hermeneutical reflection.
Article by Jordan Pownall, Adams Center Intern
Friday Faculty Forum: Introduction to Theology
October 11, 2002
"If Theology is the Answer, What was the Question?"
Dr. Jeff Childers of the College of Biblical Studies facilitated a Friday Faculty Forum on October 11, in which he addressed the question, "What does it mean to think theologically?" Discussion centered on the necessity to view questions of theology from within the context of the "big picture" of scripture. Theological reflection is based on four resources-scripture, reason, experience and tradition, each of which is an integral part of the unique perspective an individual has on theology. The key to theological thought is identifying the meta-narrative of scripture and asking questions in relation to the revelations it yields, rather than simply proof-texting. This means avoiding the practice of narrowly searching scripture for statements directly made regarding an issue, but rather utilizing the four foundational resources to discern the nature of God and His relationship to creation and then reviewing the topic in that light. Applying this technique does not produce easy answers, but, more importantly, creates authentic theological conversations.
It is also critical, Dr. Childers pointed out, to understand theological questions in terms of a hierarchy. By determining whether an issue is one of dogma, doctrine or opinion, we are able to clarify our discussion and focus on those items most central to our faith. The apostolic example is to begin with the dogmatic lens, viewing things in relation to the core issues of Christianity. This sets up a kind of rubric of key questions by which all issues can be examined. The result is a centering view of God that places everything in our lives in relation to Him, while not reducing the intrinsic value of these areas. Excellence in any given discipline is therefore a worthy goal as it is a testament to one's vision of God as creator. As educators, faculty members can provide students with a method for theological thought so that they can think in this way throughout their lives. Informing students about the big questions to ask gives them a ready tool for thinking critically and theologically about their world.
Report by Jordan Pownall
Friday Faculty Forum: Sovereignty of God
September 20, 2002
Faculty members from multiple disciplines met September 20th in the resource area of the Adams Center for the first Friday Forum of the fall semester. Dr. Fred Aquino of the College of Biblical Studies facilitated discussion on the topic of the sovereignty of God, as addressed in the pre-assigned article God’s Sovereignty in Today’s World by Clark H. Pinnock. The group probed the complex issues of the extent of God’s role in our individual lives, the reconciliation of evil in the world with God’s omnipotence, and how faculty ought to mentor students in light of these issues. The implications of whether God is a micro- or macro-managing sovereign present difficult questions that faculty and students alike must face. Several in attendance told of their previous experiences with students related to this topic and their desire to both guide and learn alongside them. The topic sparked a host of excellent questions concerning the nature of God and the way in which we live in response to Him, and many of the professors and administrators present expressed the strong need to create relationships with students and explore these ideas together.
Report by Jordan Pownall