westminster seminary california
FALL2018
old school in a new age 4
8
18
OLD SCHOOL IN A NEW AGE
THE LORD WILL PROVIDE
RETURNING TO SERVE IN MANILA
by Michael S. Horton
by Jordan and Kendra Dahl
by Anacleto S. Carag
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
W
estminster Seminary California was founded on the legacy of Old Princeton Seminary, which was a bastion of Old School Presbyterianism during the nineteenth century. To be "old school" meant to be defenders of biblical orthodoxy as summarized in the Reformed and Presbyterian confessions, especially against those who wanted to water down the Bible’s teachings in order to make them more palatable to American individualism. J. Gresham Machen outlined the distinctives of Westminster Seminary as preparing specialists in the Bible through rigorous instruction in the biblical languages, defending biblical orthodoxy, and continuing the legacy of Old Princeton. Westminster Seminary California is honored to continue this tradition today through a faculty of pastor-scholars fully committed to the confessions and through an unparalleled curriculum that integrates the biblical languages in all of its core courses. But what does it mean to be old school in a new age? Some would suggest that it means “modernizing” our theology in order to appeal to the current culture. But compromising biblical teaching has never served the church well. Does that mean we should merely mimic Old Princeton theologians and pretend we are living in the nineteenth century? In this issue (p. 4), Michael S. Horton, the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, answers this question. Also in this issue, current students Jordan and Kendra Dahl (p. 8) describe their experience leaving home in North Dakota, moving into Westminster Village, and studying together at WSC. Alumnus Anacleto S. Carag (p. 18) also shares about his ministry in the Philippines. Finally, long-time Professor of New Testament, S. M. Baugh, reflects on his time at WSC as a student and professor. We look forward to seeing many of you on campus at our Annual Conference January 18-19, 2019. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support as WSC continues to serve Christ’s Church through the preparation of her servants. Cordially in Christ,
“SO THEN, BROTHERS, STAND FIRM AND HOLD TO THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU WERE TAUGHT BY US, EITHER BY OUR SPOKEN WORD OR BY OUR LETTER.”
Joel E. Kim WSC President
–2 Thessalonians 2:15 2
UPDATE | FALL2018
FALL2018 UPDATE | FALL2018 PRESIDENT Joel E. Kim EDITOR Marcus McArthur DESIGNER Megan York
4
MICHAEL S. HORTON
PRINTER Precision UPDATE magazine is a publication of Westminster Seminary California. For address changes, duplicate mailings, or additional magazine requests, please write or call. Westminster Seminary California 1725 Bear Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92027 PHONE (888) 480-8474 FAX (760) 480-0252 EMAIL development@wscal.edu WEBSITE www.wscal.edu PERMISSIONS: UPDATE grants permission for any original article to be photocopied and distributed, permitted that the wording is not altered in any way, no fee is charged beyond the cost of reproduction, and no more than 500 copies are made. Any exceptions to the above must be explicitly approved by Westminster Seminary California. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: This article originally appeared in UPDATE, a publication of Westminster Seminary California (WSC) and is reprinted with permission. For more information about WSC, visit www.wscal.edu or call (888) 480-8474. MISSION: The purpose of UPDATE is to showcase Westminster Seminary California’s distinctively Christ-centered, graduate education through the work of its faculty, students and alumni who are serving as pastors, teachers, missionaries, and leaders worldwide in light of our overarching mission “to glorify God through graduate theological study. . . for those who will serve in the Christian community and the larger society.” Since 1979, Westminster Seminary California has offered a distinctly Reformed and rigorous education in order to glorify Christ, promote His Gospel, and serve His Church. The strength of our degree programs lies in our faculty’s unified commitment to the inerrant Scriptures and the Reformed confessions. Westminster Seminary California is the only dually accredited seminary in the Western United States serving confessionally Reformed churches. 2018-2019 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Richard Blauw, Jr Mr. Daniel J. Bryant The Rev. CJ den Dulk Mr. Lyle Faber The Rev. Thomas K. Groelsema The Rev. Dr. David Hall Mr. Milton D. Hodges Dr. Lloyd H. Kim The Rev. Scott R. Korljan Mr. Brian Miller Mr. James W. Onnink Mr. Ronald W. Prins Mr. Pete Sara Mr. Roger A. Swets The Rev. Charles A. Tedrick Mr. Kent Van Groningen The Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen The Rev. Dr. Eric B. Watkins ©2018 Westminster Seminary California All rights reserved.
wsc a l .ed u
& KENDRA 8 JORDAN DAHL
16 ANACLETO S. CARAG
INFOCUS
ONMISSION
4. Old School in New Age
18. Returning to Serve in Manila 20. Alumni News
ONCAMPUS
INPERSON & INPRINT
8. The Lord Will Provide 10. Westminster Village 14. Honoring Dr. Dennis E. Johnson 15. 2019 Annual Conference Registration 16. 2018 Commencement
22. Faculty Speaking & Writing 24. 2017-2018 Annual Report 25. Honorarium & Memorial Gifts 26. Up Close with S. M. Baugh
3
INFOCUS
OLD SCHOOL in a
NEW AGE by Michael S. Horton
4
UPDATE | FALL2018
I
t has been my pleasure to serve the church as a minister and, on loan, as a professor at Westminster Seminary California (WSC) for two decades. Many reasons come to mind when I consider why I feel so privileged to be a part of this institution. But one that stands out is its identity as an old school in a new age.
old school It might help to begin by saying what I don’t mean by “old school.” First, “old school” doesn’t mean that we’re actually that old as an institution. At first blush, it doesn't seem appropriate to call WSC “old school.” Founded in 1979, it hardly has the ivy-covered and time-worn stones or bricks of stately divinity schools that go back to the founding of our republic—and even earlier. Yet it really is a continuation of the best of that tradition. You can visit the old schools and discern rather quickly the recent vintage of their theology. The main ones we think of—Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown—were founded as seminaries for orthodox Calvinist ministers. Gradually, they changed their mission, message, and curriculum in a pragmatic effort to be more attractive to a modern culture. Wedded to the spirit of the age, they have become widowers. By “old school,” therefore, I don’t have actual age in mind but the soul of the place—its mission and vision; curriculum; and the faculty, staff, and students who are so deliberately committed to the highest standards of preparation for the ministry. Second, I don’t mean by “old school” that we’re committed merely to the past. No less than the present and the future, the church’s past is a mixed bag of valiant defense of the truth and feeble capitulation to popular and academic trends that distort God’s Word. What C. S. Lewis called “chronological snobbery” cuts both ways: not only discounting anything that’s old, but clinging only to that which is old. We’re not antiquarians. We love the creeds and confessions not because they are old but because they have stood the test of time in summarizing the Bible. We want to say exactly today what is confessed in those summaries. The late John Webster, perhaps the greatest British theologian of the last several decades,
“BY 'OLD SCHOOL,' THEREFORE, I DON’T HAVE ACTUAL AGE IN MIND BUT THE SOUL OF THE PLACE—ITS MISSION AND VISION; CURRICULUM; AND THE FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS WHO ARE SO DELIBERATELY COMMITTED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY." wscal .e d u
5
“TO KNOW GOD’S WORD AND TO PROCLAIM AND TEACH IT FAITHFULLY, WHETHER IN THE U.S. OR ABROAD, IN CITIES OR IN SMALL TOWNS, TO YOUNG OR OLD, IS WHAT THE CHURCH REALLY NEEDS." once told me, “I think that Westminster Seminary California represents the irenic face of Reformed theology in America.” Kicking myself for not having brought my iPhone to record it, I suspected that not everyone in the U.S. would agree that our “old school” reputation is irenic. People often associate “old school” with being narrow-minded, mean-spirited, censorious, and arrogant. My colleague David VanDrunen is invited often to participate in academic colloquia with major Roman Catholic, mainline, and evangelical scholars. We all like to get out of our comfort zone and learn from others, as well as to make a case for classic Reformed faith and practice. We’re not nostalgic about the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. We don’t freeze the Reformed tradition into a timeless standard. But we have a deep connection to teachers of the past who give us deeply-needed wisdom for the present and the future. I mean by “old school” that our commitment as a faculty is to question the veracity of the world’s wisdom rather than the Word of God. In addition to preserving the continuity of the apostolic teaching, “old school” refers to our resistance to
6
educational trends toward disembodied and private methods. In an age of online education, we remain committed to a student body that says, “I’m all in,” committing to leave their nets for a few years to be molded by the sort of formation that only comes with residential education. Preparation for the ministry is not just about memorizing facts—data-dumps from one mind to another—but about living in community, both in the church and in the common life of professors and fellow students, as well as their families. For this, a seminary has to be small enough to offer easy access to faculty and large enough to offer expert faculty and a richly-diverse student body. Pastor-scholars training pastor-scholars; that’s the “old school” idea. There is tremendous pressure to cut corners in theological education, to make it easier to obtain a degree without necessarily obtaining a sufficient education. It’s interesting how we think about this today. Many think that preparation for the ministry should be easy. Yet the ministry itself isn’t easy at all. Furthermore, in a life-threatening situation would we want a thoroughly-trained surgeon or someone who acquired his medical knowledge from YouTube videos? Don’t Christ’s sheep, for whom he died, deserve the very best that we can offer them in terms of preparation as doctors of the soul? After all, we are not in the business merely of extending life but of conveying life through the Word of God. Yes, it’s a commitment to come to a residential seminary for three years. But it is the kind of commitment that a lifetime of ministry requires. Much of today’s ministry seems preoccupied with secondary matters—like Martha, “anxious about many things,” when we should be tacking more closely to Mary, who “chose the better part” by sitting at Jesus’s feet to drink in all that he had to teach her about himself. All of this, along with on-campus housing, makes WSC “old school” not only in its doctrinal commitments but in its approach to seminary education. That is the WSC promise: an education worthy of your calling. But what makes WSC “old school” more than anything else is its commitment not only to a high view of Scripture but to the integration of biblical exegesis throughout every course. J. Gresham Machen’s vision for Westminster Seminary was to make “experts in the Bible.” This was a time when the mainline seminaries were preparing critics of the Bible who turned to modern disciplines not only to supplement but to challenge the basic teachings of historic Christianity. There are solidly faithful evangelical and Reformed seminaries today. I have had the pleasure of teaching short courses at a few of them. Yet I’m impressed with the focus of WSC on the “meat-and-potatoes” of a curriculum that has proved itself
UPDATE | FALL2018
over many decades. It’s an “old school” curriculum—literally, even, in the sense that much of it is a continuation of the program at Old Princeton in its heyday as a bastion of Reformed orthodoxy. We are not distracted by a variety of programs in youth ministry, sports ministry, business ministry, children’s education, and spiritual formation. We don’t even have a lot of courses in missions. It’s not that we do not take these concerns seriously. We take them so seriously that we believe that whatever the Lord calls our graduates to do, they will need the same knowledge, skills, and wisdom to apply to fields that they may know better than we do. To know God’s Word and to proclaim and teach it faithfully, whether in the U.S. or abroad, in cities or in small towns, to young or old, is what the church really needs. That mission never changes, even though the context does.
new age Despite being “old school,” we’re hardly unaware that we live in the twenty-first century. Of course, we see it as a challenge. There are all sorts of obstacles to the gospel ministry in the world and in our cultural moment in particular. But we’re not hand-wringing conservatives. There are also tremendous opportunities. Sure, orthodox Christians are seen increasingly as “outsiders”—by some, even a threat—to liberal democratic societies. But after a long time of confusing Christ with culture, it may be a severe mercy that the church is now revealed as what it has in truth always been, even in America: “a little flock” to whom the Father has nevertheless “been pleased to give [us] a kingdom” (Lk. 12:32). That kingdom, growing in breadth and depth in the power of the Spirit through the Word and sacraments, “cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:28).
Confident in God’s Word, as summarized by our confessions, believers can strike out into the turbulent waters of our contemporary cultures with a degree of calmness, “prepar[ing] to give to everyone an answer for the hope that we have, but with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15). At WSC, we realize the importance of knowing our context—the questions, history, criticisms, and arguments of people we meet every day. No one has to be reminded that we live in a global village. But there’s nothing like an actual village—a new student village—where this reality is experienced in person. As confessional Reformed faith and practice become the standard, with Christ as the magnet, the growing changes in color and cultures aren’t threats but joyful opportunities. This is an exciting time! Our faculty speaks not only in a variety of churches and conferences across the U.S. but around the world, with books translated into more than 13 languages. Strategically located at the gateway to the Global South, our student body reflects the growing diversity of America and our own churches. In addition, every year nearly 140 students come from 6 of the world’s 7 continents to study at WSC, at great personal sacrifice in many cases. Just think of the impact as they return to be used by the Lord to plant, water, and harvest even in parts of his vineyard that are threatened by serious persecution. The diversity of our student body is one of the greatest encouragements to me personally. Many have just been introduced to Reformed theology and eagerly devour and discuss what they’re learning, commiserating about how they’ll be able to proclaim, teach, and apply it in future ministry. We know we’re not alone among seminaries. We have sister institutions that are “old school in a new age” as well. But I remain convinced that WSC is the best place to discover what this means.
MICHAEL S. HORTON is the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Escondido with their four children.
wscal .e d u
WSC'S New
SMART CLASSROOM Over the summer, a new smart classroom was installed in Classroom 4 on the seminary campus. Our smart classroom is made up of an interactive television, auto-tracking camera, and smart speaker/microphone array. The new equipment allows the seminary to record and stream class sessions if desired. In the future, interactive classes could take place over technology like Zoom, where students in other parts of the world will be able to ask questions while watching a lecture, just as if they were in the classroom. Additionally, the interactive TV allows videos and other visual-intensive items to be displayed and magnified more clearly. The seminary began pursuing a smart classroom in November 2017, resulting in a planned summer project for one classroom to see how the technology would work. The installation began on July 11, and all technical tasks were completed by September 17. It is now fully operational and available for professors to use. We are grateful for this valuable addition to our campus and the ways it will continue to enrich our students’ education and expand the seminary’s reach.
ONCAMPUS
the lord will
PROVIDE by Jordan & Kendra Dahl
I
n January 2017, we sat in the back of a Westminster Seminary California classroom and asked the faculty panel before us, “What would you say to someone from across the country, with an established career, three kids, a dog, and a mortgage? How can seminary work for me?” Dr. Estelle responded simply, “The Lord will provide.” Later, Dr. Clark reassured us: “It will be okay.” We were skeptical and scared, but with these simple phrases stuck in our minds, we began taking the next steps toward what seemed impossible. Less than six months later, we’d sold our Minnesota home and were back in Escondido–this time with our three children and a moving truck trailing a few days behind. As we walked through our small two-bedroom apartment that summer, we wondered: Are we crazy? How in the world did we end up here?
HOMETOWN Fargo, ND
our stories I (Kendra) was raised in an evangelical Christian home, in a variety of denominational settings, but I graduated college having forsaken my faith. Angry at God’s unachievable standards, I fashioned a Jesus that suited my social and political aims and rejected orthodox notions of church and Christianity. An unplanned pregnancy just a few months out of college prompted a move back home and a shift in plans, but my confused theology and residual anger kept me far from the church for nearly three years. It’s only by God’s grace that I found myself sitting with my two-year-old daughter Hadley in the congregation of a small church plant eight years ago. There, I heard the gospel preached for what felt like the first time. Later that week, I opened my Bible to Romans, and Paul’s description of humanity brought me to tears. I saw myself in those pages—one who had exchanged the truth about God for lies, deserving of death and condemnation. But still, I knew only of the “try-harder-do-better” Christian life. Over the next few months, I came to understand my inability to save myself and recognized my desperate need for rescue, available only through Jesus Christ. Hadley and I were welcomed into a church small group, and there I found a safe place to work through my questions. I had always understood the Bible as a list of isolated rules and commands, but this
PROGRAMS
Jordan: 2nd year M.Div. Kendra: 1st year M.A.B.S.
church preached Christ from all of Scripture, and it came to life. I devoured it, eager to find the truth I’d missed all those years. I’d believed the gospel was, “Follow the rules!” or “Follow your dreams!” or “Fix the world!” This gospel was the first that was truly good news to be received and believed, not worked for, and it is the one that ultimately changed my life: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I (Jordan) grew up on a cattle ranch in North Dakota. I was raised by Christian parents who demonstrated a commitment to Scripture and to the local church, driving 50 miles each way to church on Sunday. It was an evangelical Baptist environment, where I “asked Jesus into my heart” at a young age and was baptized at age 10. It was in my junior high and high school years that I really began to grapple with the personal implications of the faith. I attended summer camp, and though it was a stretch from my introverted comfort zone, it proved formative for me, and I returned each summer. There, I was challenged to “give my life to Jesus,” and I found a passion for music. I picked up the guitar and slowly overcame timidity in singing, later becoming more involved with music and my church. While I was given a great foundation, my convictions grew and changed after leaving home. In college, I heard someone
“I CAME TO UNDERSTAND MY INABILITY TO SAVE MYSELF AND RECOGNIZED MY DESPERATE NEED FOR RESCUE, AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST."
8
UPDATE | FALL2018
say that God does all things for his own glory, and I determined to understand. I became convinced of God’s sovereignty over all things, including my salvation. While my growing interest in theology caused me to consider seminary at the time, I chose instead to complete a degree in electrical engineering and began working in that field immediately out of college.
married life I met Kendra six months after she came to faith. We shared a commitment to reform our life and doctrine increasingly in accordance with Scripture, and were excited to embark on that process together. We got engaged after only six weeks, and married a few months later. While our love for theology and the church caused us to consider seminary at various points, I was established in my career as an engineer and we enjoyed living near our parents with our growing family. We embedded ourselves into the life and ministry of our church. Over these years, our love for Christ’s church deepened. I began learning more about Reformed doctrine (thanks in large part to Drs. Horton and Clark) and began to wonder if the Lord might be calling me to more focused service in his church. I’d reached a transitional point in my work as an engineer, and my longing grew for like-minded fellowship in a confessional environment. Meanwhile, Kendra was seeking ways to be trained to write about and teach the Bible to women faith-
“IF THERE IS ONE THING WE’VE LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROCESS SO FAR, IT’S THAT WE CAN TRUST THE LORD FOR EACH NEXT STEP." fully. What had always been in the back of our minds seemed to have come to the forefront, so we planned a trip to California to visit Westminster.
life now We’ve been in Escondido for over a year now, and I just completed my first year in the M.Div. program. It was a lot of transition—learning how to live with one car, on part-time income, and far away from our families. While we initially both hoped to attend seminary, Kendra deferred our first year to allow some space for getting settled. Additionally, financial constraints, family logistics, and transportation made the thought of two fulltime students in the family seem impossible. But the opportunity to move on campus this summer was an incredible blessing that has made it possible for Kendra to begin as a full-time student as well. This fall, we get to learn Hebrew together. We can’t say with confidence what our plans will be when seminary is finished. If there is one thing we’ve learned through this process so far, it’s that we can trust the Lord for each next step. We’re trusting Him to clarify my calling
during our time here, whether that might be confirming a call to pastoral ministry or to further education. I was recently licensed to exhort by the URCNA and am an intern at the church where we have become members, and we are grateful for the care and mentorship we are receiving there. Kendra’s education will equip her to continue to write and serve in the local church wherever the Lord calls us. The reassurance we received when we visited WSC in January 2017 proved true. We could never have anticipated the Lord’s provision as we took that first step. It certainly hasn’t been without difficulty. Leaving behind our family and friends–especially our church community–brought with it a grief that still lingers at times. But wherever there has been a void, the Lord has provided abundantly. He has provided this incredible privilege of learning together from some of the greatest pastor-scholars; he has provided for our every physical need; he has provided fellowship and support in the student housing community and our local church; and he has provided everything we need in Christ. We are so grateful and know that whatever comes next, the Lord will indeed provide.
VISIT. MEET. LEARN. EXPLORE. Seminary for a Day is a unique opportunity for prospective students to experience WSC firsthand. Join us at one of our upcoming events!
JANUARY 18, 2019 | MARCH 8, 2019
wscal .e d u
wscal.edu/visit 9
WESTMINSTER VILLAGE OPEN HOUSE CEREMONY Students and their families began moving into Westminster Seminary California’s on-campus residential village in early June. While construction crews continued to work on site throughout the summer, residents started moving in as apartments became ready. As of the start of summer Greek class toward the end of July, 46 of the village’s 64 apartments were occupied by students from around the country and the world, including South Korea, Brazil, China, and the Philippines. By the start of the fall semester, 60 apartments were occupied, leaving a few units open for visiting faculty and prospective student visitors. Even in the early summer, Westminster Village started to form into a special community. Each evening children play outside together riding bikes and scooters, while adults fellowship around the fire pit and built-in barbecues in the center of the village. In addition, crews recently installed playground equipment near the outdoor commons area. Friends of the seminary funded the playground in honor of WSC Board Chairman Ron Prins’s late wife, Jane Prins, who had a special love for children. The playground has proven to be a favorite gathering spot for the many children living in the village. On July 27, the newly-populated village was buzzing with new students, spouses, and children as the Westminster Student Association hosted a barbecue for new students, res-
Pray for WSC
WESTMINSTER VILLAGE Please pray for these new residents and families of the village as they grow together, support, and encourage one another.
10
idents, faculty, and staff. The new outdoor community patio was overflowing with conversations, games, children playing and, of course, food. Such group meals have been a staple of the village community, especially Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. In addition to the outdoor common spaces, such as the fire pit, barbecue area, and playground, an indoor Commons building will open to residents this fall. The shared indoor space will include a kitchen, fitness room, and large recreational/meeting room, which can be used for informal gatherings or events. While fundraising for the project continues, many students and families have already been blessed by the generous support of the seminary’s friends through Westminster Village. Some new students reported that they had written off seminary as too expensive until this affordable on-campus housing became available. Thank you for helping to make this long vision of WSC a reality. Praise be to God for this wonderful blessing.
VILLAGE DEDICATION WSC Trustees, faculty, alumni, and other friends of the seminary toured and attended the dedication of Westminster Village on Thursday, May 24, 2018. President Joel Kim welcomed the participants and reflected on the tremendous blessing the apartments will have for students. President Emeritus W. Robert Godfrey thanked the Board of Trustees and all who contributed to making this vision become a reality. Long-time Trustee Rev. LeRoy Christoffels read Scripture and prayed for the Lord’s blessing on the 64 apartments that would soon be homes to many students and their families. UPDATE | FALL2018
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
AMBER GREEN wife of William Green, 1st year student
"The student housing enables my husband to be a seminary student without neglecting his joy and duty of fathering our five kids. We were a bit apprehensive about moving across the country and away from family with 5 kids, but felt God was calling us to Westminster. God calmed our fears and blessed us abundantly, especially through seminary housing! He provided more than we could imagine in terms of help, friends, and support just in our neighbors! William is able to study Greek for a few hours and then take a break (and simultaneously give me a break) by walking our 5 month old twins around campus, taking the kids to the playground, or making coffee at home. We have a gracious God who creates families, and we are beyond grateful to be part of a seminary that also values families in theory and practice! Our deepest thanks go out to all who have made this possible!"
“WE HAVE A GRACIOUS GOD WHO CREATES FAMILIES, AND WE ARE BEYOND GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF A SEMINARY THAT ALSO VALUES FAMILIES IN THEORY AND PRACTICE!" "One aspect of WSC that stood out to me the most during my first year was a deep and beautiful sense of fellowship among faculty and students. While WSC is rigorously academic, the community functions like a tight-knit family. However, many students lived quite far from the seminary, often making it difficult for them to participate in all the community activities like chapel, prayer groups, or WSC student association events. The arrival of student housing has drastically helped with these challenges. Not only does it provide affordable housing, but it has also increased a sense of community on campus. I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who helped make this possible."
BY THE NUMBERS
60 occupied units
181 residents
78
students
65 children
11
JOHN JACOBI 2nd year M.Div.
wscal .e d u
Westminster Village
states represented
$325,000 annual savings for students
GET A CLOSER LOOK You can view more photos and a video at wscal.edu/ campaign/progress
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN NEWS:
AT HOME IN THE WESTMINSTER VILLAGE
O
n June 1st, the first wave of students and their families began arriving at Westminster Village loaded with anticipation, as well as furniture, books, bikes, books, dishes, toys, and more books, excited to settle it all into their new homes. Moving-in days continued throughout the summer, and by the beginning of the fall semester in September 60 of the 64 apartments were filled with single students, married couples, and families with children. Since the students outnumber the covenant kids by only a slight margin (78 students/65 kids), parents have quickly become accustomed to the sound of the doorbell as their children’s new best friends come looking for fun. And the commons building,
outdoor barbecue grills and playground are serving their purpose in providing space for regular fellowship and the building of a close community. Although the apartments are at 95% occupancy and the construction is complete, the funding is yet to be completed. A 25% shortfall remains to cover the costs of building this beautiful residential village that has blessed the students and their families. We praise God for bringing this vision to reality, for providing an affordable, safe, community of faith through which students and families will develop life-long friendships for a life-time of ministry. We pray that God’s people will continue to provide the resources to reduce the $6 million debt that remains on this initiative.
CAMPAIGN FUNDING PROGRESS
75%
of the funds have been raised for this campaign
25% remaining
YOU CAN HELP!
Please call Dawn G. Doorn, Vice President for Advancement at 760-480-8474, ext. 130
12
UPDATE | FALL2018
DID YOU KNOW?
wscal .e d u
One way our faculty have served the global church is through their writings. Here are the number of their books that have been translated into various languages. 1
arabic
1
italian
18
portuguese
1
dutch
28
korean
1
romanian
1
german
1
latvian
4
spanish
1
hebrew
5
mandarin
1
turkish
11
indonesian
13
HONORING DR. DENNIS E. JOHNSON
O
n Wednesday, May 23, 2018, the Westminster Seminary California community gathered at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido for a dinner program in honor and celebration of Dr. Dennis E. Johnson on the occasion of his retirement as Professor of Practical Theology at WSC. During the program, faculty, trustees, and alumni shared their memories, love, and appreciation of Dr. Johnson, one of the founding faculty members of WSC. A resolution was prepared, calligraphed, framed, and presented to Dr. Johnson, highlighting his dedication to the seminary as well as his service to Christ, his gospel, and his church. The resolution concludes: “The faculty extends its thanks for Dr. Johnson’s service to the seminary and prays that his sacrificial labors will continue to produce great fruit in the church of Christ for generations to come and that the Lord will continue to use and bless him and his wife Jane for many years to come in his retirement.” Dr. Dennis Johnson retired at the end of the 2017-18 academic year as Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary California, concluding 37 years of faithful service to the Lord at the seminary. Dr. Johnson became one of the founding faculty members of WSC in 1982 after serving as a pastor at Orthodox Presbyterian (OPC) churches in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and East Los Angeles, California. Throughout his career, he has primarily taught New Testament, preaching, and ministry courses. In many ways, Dr. Johnson’s teaching career and character have reflected WSC’s dual emphasis on premier scholarship and Christ-like piety. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Johnson served as Academic Dean for 14 years over three tenures, successfully leading the seminary through several accreditations. Dr. Johnson has authored many books on preaching and the New Testament, including commentaries on Revelation, Acts, and Philippians. In addition to teaching and writing, Dr. Johnson has also served the church as the moderator of the OPC General Assembly and Presbytery of Southern California, moderator of the South Coast Presbytery in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a member of the OPC Committee on Christian Education, and Associate Pastor at New Life Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Escondido. He has also served on the boards of Covenant College and the Rafiki Foundation. The board, faculty, and administration are grateful for Dr. Johnson’s stellar commitment to teaching and administration duties, and his pastoral heart for the students. Dr. Johnson and his wife, Jane, will be missed as they moved to Tennessee over the summer to be closer to children and grandchildren.
14
middle photo: Among the special friends who attended the dinner were two of their four children, Eric Johnson from China (on the left) and Peter Johnson from Tennessee (far right).
UPDATE | FALL2018
JANUARY 18 - 19, 2019 | ON THE CAMPUS OF WSC • ESCONDIDO, CA The Gospel is always under attack. The Reformation rescued the Gospel, and then the Reformation came under attack. The Synod of Dort met to help all the Reformed churches by reaffirming the great themes of the Reformation: salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. As we celebrate the 400th anniversary of this important event in the history of the Reformed and Presbyterian churches, we will see the vitality and usefulness of canons for today.
PLENARY SESSIONS & SPEAKERS
REGISTER TODAY!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18
Early Bird Registration ends 12/1/2018
Evening
Three ways to register now:
“Why Dort Happened, or Why Arminius is Not the Hero of the Story” w. robert godfrey
• Online: (recommended) Visit wscal.edu/conference
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
• Phone: Call (888) 480-8474
Morning “A Real Atonement for Real Sinners" — michael s. horton “Unconditional Election and the Free Offer of the Gospel” — r. scott clark “Dort and the Holy Exercises of Piety” — charles k. telfer
Afternoon “The Relevance of Dort in Oprah’s America” — joel e. kim Questions & Answers — speaker panel
• Mail: Complete, detach, & mail the form below to: Westminster Seminary California Attn: Annual Conference 2019 1725 Bear Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92027
NOTE: Cancellations and refund requests must be made in writing, by email to conference@wscal.edu, or by fax to (760) 480-0252, and received by January 2, 2019, in order to receive a full refund, less a $10 cancellation fee.
CUT HERE
ATTENDEE INFORMATION
$50 per person X
=$
through 12/1/2018
Name (first/last) Person 1
$60 per person X
=$
after 12/1/2018
Name (first/last) Person 2/Spouse
$70 per person X
=$
after 1/1/2019
Address
$10 per person X
=$
per boxed lunch
=$
TOTAL
City
State
Phone Number
Zip Email
Name of Church
METHOD OF PAYMENT Check Visa Mastercard American Express Discover Registration cannot be proccessed until payment is received Credit Card Number wscal .e d u
Expiration Date
Signature 15
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2018!
W
estminster Seminary California’s Thirty-Seventh Annual Commencement Exercises took place on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido. Master’s degrees were conferred on 26 students, with 17 receiving the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree and 9 receiving the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. WSC President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Church History, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, delivered the commencement address, titled “Life After Seminary,” encouraging the graduates to consider that although they live and will go forth to minister in a constantly changing world, they are servants of the unchanging and constant Word of God. Dr. James Renihan, Dean and Professor of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies, delivered the Invocation, and Rev. Richard Colquitt, the father of graduate Christopher Colquitt, read Scripture from Deuteronomy 8:1-11. Dr. Dennis Johnson, retiring Professor of Practical Theology, offered a prayer for the graduates. Preceding commencement, on Friday, May 25, a reception for the class of 2018, family members, and friends was held in the WSC Chapel. Six degree candidates gave personal reflections on their time at WSC, and President Joel Kim delivered a charge to the graduates from I Thessalonians 2:1-12, remind-
ing them that the calling of ministers and leaders within the church is not about pleasing men, but pleasing God; not standing apart, but serving among; and not just leading, but being led. The Class of 2018 includes students from nine U.S. states and four foreign countries, including South Korea, Philippines, China, and Ireland. These graduates represent several denominations, including the PCA, URCNA, OPC, ARBCA, KAPC, CRC, Acts 29, and various non-denominational churches. Please join WSC in praying for these men and women as they go forth to serve as pastors, teachers, missionaries, scholars, and leaders, joining more than 1,200 WSC alumni who are using their theological education to glorify Christ, promote his gospel, and serve his Church across the United States and in more than 30 countries throughout the world. Audio and video from the graduate reception and commencement are available on the WSC website. We would also encourage you to watch a video featuring 2018 graduates as they reflect on their experience at WSC. You can find these resources online at: http://wscal.edu/commencement-2018
“WHAT A JOY AND PRIVILEGE IT WAS TO BE TAUGHT THE RICHES OF THE GOSPEL BY MEN OF DEEP LEARNING AND HUMBLE PIETY. WESTMINSTER CALIFORNIA IS A SPECIAL PLACE I WILL
ALWAYS TREASURE." 16
Christopher Colquitt, M.Div., 2018
UPDATE | FALL2018
LIFE AFTER SEMINARY
I
was at Westminster Seminary for 43 years and still left without a degree! So I had to meditate on these things, and have realized, yes, it can be good after seminary. You may be able to give a graduation speech in the future. You may get your picture hung in the library in the future. But above all, you will continue to serve the Lord in various ways, in various callings. And I just want to make two not entirely brief points. First is that you go out to serve the Lord in a constantly changing world. But you go out to serve the Lord with an unchangingly constant Word. And I hope you'll always bear that in mind. There's no real way of telling how the world is going to change in the near future, in the more distant future. That's actually an encouragement to historians. It assures that we will continue to be employed and have changes to mark…. Change is inevitable, isn’t it? Change can be violent or it can be peaceful. It can be small or it can be great. But change will happen. And what we face, at this moment, as we go out for ministry is a world increasingly dominated by secular ideologies.
wscal .e d u
On May 26, 2018, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, President Emeritus of Westminster Seminary California (WSC), delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of WSC. Here is an excerpt of the address, titled “Life After Seminary.” Last year, you remember, we celebrated the reformation. We talked a lot about the solas of the reformation. Grace alone. Faith alone. Christ alone. Scripture alone. The glory of God alone. Well, we go out to minister in a world, in this country at least, where there is another sola: bread alone. Bread alone. Sola pana for you Latin scholars. Why do I say that? It's because we live in a world where many, many people believe it is only this life. It is only the physical realities of this life that matter. And so you're going out to be servants of God to try to convince people that there are spiritual realities that matter. That it’s not only this life that matters. That man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. That's a high calling. It's a demanding calling. It may be a dangerous calling. But it's what the Lord calls you to. We live in a post-Christian world, as many have said. Which means it's often hard to get people to even think about Christianity because so often their reaction is, “Oh, I know all about that. We’ve tried that. It doesn’t work. We're done with that….”
…But the encouragement that is ours, the hope that is ours, the confidence that must be ours, is that in a constantly changing world there's an unchangingly constant Word. And that’s what you have been here studying. That’s what you’ve been working on. That's what we as an institution are committed to. We can’t anticipate the world you will be ministering to in 10 years, 20 years, 40 years. But we know that what you'll need for that world is a confidence in the unchangingly constant Word of God.
“THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT IS OURS, THE HOPE THAT IS OURS, THE CONFIDENCE THAT MUST BE OURS, IS THAT IN A CONSTANTLY CHANGING WORLD THERE'S AN UNCHANGINGLY CONSTANT WORD."
17
ONMISSION
RETURNING TO SERVE IN MANILA by Anacleto S. Carag
I
n 1984, then in my sophomore year at FEBIAS College of Bible in the Philippines, I was browsing through a magazine at the library when an advertisement for Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia caught my attention. I was struck by the WTS commitment to the inerrancy, infallibility, and authority of the Scriptures. I thought, “This is the school where I want to be trained after my studies at FEBIAS!” However, after learning how cold it gets in Philadelphia, I asked that my application be sent to Westminster Seminary California (WSC). During the summer 1989 Lausanne International Congress on World Evangelization in Manila, I received a call from Dr. Robert G. den Dulk and his beloved wife, Nellie, to meet them at the Manila Hotel. At the time I was an up-and-coming teacher at FEBIAS. The interview was a treasured moment; no less than the President of WSC and his wife took time to talk with me! They encouraged and inspired me to pursue my studies at WSC. I had made a commitment with the Lord to serve him at FEBIAS with all my best, so I determined to return home after seminary should the Lord provide the opportunity. While a student at WSC, and to the present, Dr. Robert and Mrs. Nellie den Dulk were like “Dad and Mom” to me. But after just a month at seminary, I wanted to quit. One Old Testament professor was teaching what seemed “a foreign doctrine!” Dr. den Dulk gently counseled, “Don’t quit; just listen and you will begin to appreciate him.” I soon learned that the “foreign doctrine” he taught, and I am now espousing, was biblical Reformed theology. Since then I have been encouraging my students and friends to come to WSC. And this semester my son, Robert Scott, is starting his studies at WSC in pursuit of an M.Div. degree. Praise the Lord, and thank you all for your encouragement, prayers, and support. Faithfulness to the ministry of the Word by godly professors, as well as by the president and his wife, who modeled
what they taught through prayer times and their mentoring with love and concern—they all helped me to continue on with my journey toward spiritual growth and maturity. At WSC I earned my M.Div. and M.A. in Religion in 1994 and D.Min. in 2005. My D.Min. project was titled, Biblical Hermeneutics for Effective Preaching. In 2007, this was edited and published in book form to promote deeper understanding of the Scripture toward effective preaching and teaching of the whole counsel of God. It now serves as one of the textbooks in the Biblical Hermeneutics course at FEBIAS. Building on the biblical foundation formed at WSC, I went on to earn my Ph.D. at De La Salle University in Manila. Before my last year of Ph.D. work, the den Dulks provided me an opportunity to take a study leave. Even as an alumnus, WSC continued to bless me by providing me a Resident Scholarship while working on my doctoral research at the WSC Library. The library’s extensive collection included all of the primary sources I needed for my project on The Merging of Presuppositionalism and Evidentialism. By God’s grace, I graduated with distinction, Magna Cum Laude. It was a struggle deciding whether to stay in the U.S. or return to the Philippines. I had some tempting offers to remain in the U.S. But I remembered my covenant with the Lord made in 1984 to return to the Philippines equipped to serve his church. It stands to the present. FEBIAS, and in the Philippines, is where the Lord has called me to serve him. WSC has had a great impact in my life and ministry. It deepened my love for God’s Word and his work. I learned to deal with issues and trends in the light of the Scriptures. It broadened my perspective in the areas of ministry—in counselling, teaching, and preaching—which guides me now in challenging, encouraging, and inspiring the next generation of workers and servant leaders to be faithful.
“WSC HAS HAD A GREAT IMPACT IN MY LIFE AND MINISTRY. IT HAS DEEPENED MY LOVE FOR GOD'S WORD AND HIS WORK."
18
UPDATE | FALL2018
“IF THERE IS ONE SEMINARY THAT CAN EQUIP THE NEXT GENERATION OF SERVANT LEADERS AND WORKERS MOST EFFECTIVELY AND FAITHFULLY, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND WESTMINSTER SEMINARY CALIFORNIA." I have been serving the Lord for 24 years at FEBIAS in several roles – as a member of the faculty, Dean of Academic Affairs, and President/Director (from 2007 to the present). FEBIAS is a higher education institution recognized by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) of the Republic of the Philippines. It was established in 1948 with the primary objective to train pastors, Bible teachers, evangelists, missionaries, Christian musicians, Christian educators, and teachers. It has produced more than 2,000 graduates who have made a significant mark for God’s kingdom as leaders and workers in the Philippines, Asia, and other parts of the world in various capacities. I graduated from FEBIAS in 1987 with a Bachelor of Theology, major in Pastoral Studies. My son, Robert Scott, and my daughter Nelie Ann, both named after the den Dulks, are alumni of FEBIAS. In 2017, Robert Scott graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, major in Missions. In 2018, Nelie Ann graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, major in Christian Education; she is presently pursuing a Doctor of Medicine at Manila Central University, one of the oldest medical universities in the country. My youngest, Stephanie Joy, is in her fourth year as a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student at the University of the Philippines, the leading state university. All of them aspire to be better, if not excellent, servant leaders in the Lord’s vineyard. My wife, Emilie Buenviaje Carag, a Doctor of Dental Medicine and Registered Nurse by profession, serves as School Dentist and Nurse at FEBIAS. “As for me and my [family], we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). I am an ordained Minister of the Gospel. Presently, I am an Associate wscal .e d u
Pastor of Sampaloc Bible Christian Community, a fast-growing missionary-disciple-maker-church in the heart of Manila, where the whole Carag family worship and serve during weekends. I also help other local churches and missions. My work with CHED includes chairing the Technical Committee, as well as serving as a member of the Technical Panel for Humanities and the Quality Assessment Team in the area of Religion of the National Capital Region. These committees are responsible for developing standards and programs in assessing and monitoring Bible colleges, seminaries, and other higher education institutions in the country. I also serve as a member of the Evaluators Team of the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC). PCNC is an accrediting body recognized by the Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue, which certifies non-government organizations as donee institutions and recommends tax exemption for donations. I am what I am because of God’s grace, WSC’s unparalleled preparation for the ministry, and your unwavering support. I praise and thank the Lord for all of you who have supported and helped me in my pursuit through your support of WSC. If there is one seminary that can equip the next generation of servant leaders and workers most effectively and faithfully, I would highly recommend Westminster Seminary California. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Rom. 11:36). DR. ANACLETO S. CARAG serves as President of FEBIAS College of Bible in Manila, Philippines, where he lives with his wife, Emilie, and daughters Nelie Ann and Stephanie Joy. His son, Robert Scott, is pursuing his M.Div. at WSC.
LEARN. RECONNECT. REFRESH. WSC’s Alumni Winter Refresher courses provide opportunities to learn, reconnect, and refresh. We hope a trip to San Diego will give you a chance to warm up and catch your breath in January! These week-long classes intend to serve alumni as continuing education. Alumni may audit classes for free as well as catch up with old friends, professors, and enjoy San Diego. Among the unique 2019 winter course offerings are The Divinity of Jesus Christ in the New Testament by Nick Brennan, a Cultural Hermeneutics course by James Gilmore, Missions to Mexicans on the Move by David Crum, and The Covenant of Works by J.V. Fesko. Please also join us January 18-19, when WSC hosts its Annual Conference, "Remembering the Canons: After 400 Years" (see pg. 15). We hope to see you on campus! You can view the course schedule and register online.
wscal.edu/awr 19
WSC Community
ALUMNI NEWS
AT A GLANCE
reformed churches in 40 mile radius
avg. temp. 77.5°
1985
2014
1993
2016
Kyu Young Whang is teaching and serving at Westminster Theological College and Seminary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. David Chong completed a D. Min from World Mission University in June.
2000
Daniel R. Hyde's book, Grace Worth Fighting For: Recapturing the Vision of God’s Grace in the Canons of Dort will be published by The Davenant Institute in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Canons early in 2019.
2002
53% 47%
single student
married couple
36%
married w/ kids
Susan Erikson released the book When Dragons War, A Confident Engagement Through Prayer, Through Praise, and Through God's Word published by Wipf and Stock Publishers, September 25, 2018. The work includes 35 Devotional chapters on spiritual warfare and is available on Amazon.
2005
Stephen Coleman was appointed Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and Senior Research Fellow at the J. Alan Groves Center for Advanced Biblical Research in 2017.
2012
represented 83 colleges
54% age 21-29 37% age 30-39 9% age 40+ 20
Nick Brennan recently was awarded a PhD in New Testament from the University of Otago, New Zealand, after examination of the thesis titled, "The Son as God: the Theological Salience of Divine Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews," which was also named as an exceptional thesis in the Division of Humanities.
Mike Awtry was called as Associate Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa, CA, a couple months ago. The installation will be November 4th. Dan York and his family moved to Durham, UK, so he can pursue a Ph.D. in Old Testament studies at Durham University.
2017
Ruby Jeffery moved to Cincinnati, OH, to begin a Ph.D program in History of Biblical Interpretation at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Mingming Li is serving as pastor of the Chinese Reformed Church of San Diego (PCA). Rev. Li passed the ordination exam of South Coast Presbytery (PCA) on September 23, 2017. He was ordained and installed as Pastor of the Chinese Reformed Church of San Diego on September 24, 2017. On that same day, the Chinese Reformed Church of San Diego was received into the PCA. Chinese Reformed Church of San Diego is the first Chinese church in the South Coast of America to join the Presbyterian Church in America.
2018
Richard Haynes and his wife moved to Riverside, CA, to take a high school Bible and Theology teaching position at Woodcrest Christian School for the 2018/19 school year. Also, in June he was accepted as a Chaplain in the US Army Reserve. Erik Odell is fulfilling a full time teaching post at the Geneva School in Laguna Woods, CA.
2013
Tim Taylor was ordained as a transitional deacon in the Missionary Diocese of CANA East (Anglican Church in North America). The ordination occurred at our annual diocesan synod this past May.
Send us your recent updates for future issues of the magazine at alumni@wscal.edu.
UPDATE | FALL2018
CONCURRENT MEETINGS OF URCNA AND OPC AT WHEATON COLLEGE Synod Wheaton 2018 was a special gathering for the churches within the federation of the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) in that synod was in session concurrently with the 85th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). Both denominations planned their gatherings at Wheaton College in Illinois in order to join in celebration of the much-anticipated publication of the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, which was a joint effort of the two churches. These meetings provided a wonderful opportunity for Westminster Seminary California (WSC) alumni from both the URCNA and the OPC to join together for dinner with WSC President Joel E. Kim. After the dinner, President Kim spoke to the alumni and friends about the seminary, the beginning of his new presidency, and God’s continued blessings to WSC. He also gave an update on Westminster Village, the new residential apartment complex for WSC students.
PCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ATLANTA The 45th Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) General Assembly, themed “Love God and Love Neighbor,” gathered in Atlanta from June 13-15. WSC alumni and friends gathered at the Hyatt Regency for a dessert reception, where President Kim provided updates on the life of the seminary, including the new Westminster Village, which had opened to students and their families earlier that month. A special moment of the assembly occurred when Dr. Alexander Jun was elected moderator. The first ethnic minority moderator of the PCA, Dr. Jun serves as Professor in the Department of Higher Education at Azusa Pacific University in California. Dr. Jun also served as the Westminster Student Association convocation speaker on the WSC campus this fall. During his lecture series, he expressed his indebtedness to WSC faculty for their outstanding scholarship over the years, as well as their friendship.
CONNECT WITH WSC ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
Following us on social media is a great way to stay in the loop about seminary news, upcoming events, campus life, and new faculty resources and publications! facebook.com/westminstercalifornia @wscal @westminsterseminaryca vimeo.com/wscal
wscal .e d u
21
INPERSON & INPRINT
FACULTY SPEAKING PRESIDENT KIM IN SOUTH KOREA In addition to their full teaching and writing loads, WSC faculty also serve the global church by traveling to other states and countries frequently to preach at churches and speak at conferences. Last academic year, our 12 full-time faculty members participated in 90 preaching or speaking engagements in 18 U.S. states and 9 countries. This service to the church continues throughout the summer months as well. Last summer, President Joel E. Kim embarked on a two-week preaching and speaking trip to South Korea. President Kim, who was born in Korea and lived there until he was nine years old, began his activities by preaching at three services on the Lord’s Day, July 1. He preached twice at Seoul Jesus Vision Presbyterian Church and the evening service at Songwol Presbyterian Church. On July 3, he visited Seoul’s Torch Trinity Graduate University, which has a passion for Christian missions. Later that day, President Kim joined other Reformed pastors and scholars from around the world in speaking at a Global Alliance for Theological Education (G.A.T.E.) conference. Conference participants convened at Youngnak Presbyterian Church in order to explore opportunities for greater international collaboration in theological education. Later in the week, President Kim visited Hapdong Theological Seminary. 22
Founded in the same year as Westminster Seminary California, Hapdong is a Presbyterian seminary located in Suwon. On Saturday, July 7, he delivered a paper at a meeting of the Korean Evangelical Theological Society, which is a Christian academic association similar to the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) in the United States. The session was held at Baekseok University. That Lord’s Day, July 8, President Kim preached four services, including three at Choonghyun Presbyterian Church, pastored by Rev. Kyu Sam Han. That evening, President Kim preached at Yullin Presbyterian Church near Anyang, where Rev. Nam Joon Kim serves as pastor. President Kim concluded his trip with a visit to Koshin Theological Seminary, located in Chunan near Seoul. Trips like this provide important opportunities for Westminster Seminary California. Not only do they allow WSC faculty to serve the global church through preaching and speaking, they also create and strengthen relationships with likeminded churches and institutions around the world for potential future partnerships. As President Kim observed in his opening convocation address this fall, “We are at a moment where we have an opportunity to bless and be blessed by the churches around the world.” Please pray that the Lord would continue to use WSC in the strengthening of Christ’s global church, while also using the global church to strengthen WSC.
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS
november 25 | Dr. Brian D. Estelle preaches at Providence Presbyterian Church (Palm Desert, CA).
december 2 | President Joel E. Kim preaches at Theophilus OPC (Anaheim, NC). 2 | Dr. Bryan D. Estelle preaches at Christ URC (Santee, CA). 2 | Charles Telfer preaches at El Camino OPC (Goleta, CA). 7 | Joel Kim speaks at prayer service at Sarang Community Church PCA (Anaheim, CA). 8 | President Joel E. Kim speaks at a prayer service at Disciple Church PCA (Irvine, CA). 9 | Dr. Brian D. Estelle preaches at Providence Presbyterian Church (Palm Desert, CA). 9 | Dr. S. M. Baugh preaching at Calvary OPC (La Mirada, CA). 16 | Dr. Brian D. Estelle preaches at Providence Presbyterian Church (Palm Desert, CA). 16 | Joel Kim preaching at Christ URC (Santee, CA). 23 | Dr. Bryan D. Estelle preaching at Christ URC (Santee, CA). 30 | Dr. Joshua J. Van Ee preaches at Faith PCA (Anchorage, AK).
UPDATE | FALL2018
FACULTY WRITING
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS
february 17 | President Joel E. Kim preaches at installation service of Joel Zahaki at Trinity Church PCA, Central Oahu Hawaii (Mililani, HI).
This major new book provides an introduction to Thomas Aquinas’s influence on Protestantism. The editors, both noted commentators on Aquinas, bring together a group of influential scholars to demonstrate the ways that Anglican, Lutheran, and Reformed thinkers have analyzed and used Thomas through the centuries.
6 | Dr. Joshua J. Van Ee preaches at Faith PCA (Anchorage, AK). 20 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Oceanside URC (Carlsbad, CA). 25-26 | Dr. David VanDrunen speaks at the Christ Presbyterian Church Conference (New Braunfels, TX). 1/31-2/2 | President Joel E. Kim speaks at the Covenant Presbyterian Church Conference (St. Augustine, FL).
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IN THE WORD Weekday Inspiration by Derke P. Bergsma The unfolding drama of God’s saving revelation in history is traced from Genesis to Revelation in a series of selected Bible readings followed by interpretive comments. Throughout, the focus is upon Jesus Christ, anticipated in the Old Testament and revealed as Savior in the New Testament with the promise of his return. This is the good news of the Gospel.
february 24 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Theophilus OPC (Anaheim, CA).
march 8-9 | President Joel E. Kim speaks at the New Life La Jolla PCA Conference and preaches at New Life La Jolla (La Jolla, CA). 14-16 | Dr. W. Robert Godfrey speaks at the Ligonier Annual Conference (Orlando, FL). 17 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Grace OPC (Sheboygan, WI).
ROMANS (LECTIO CONTINUA) by J. V. Fesko Romans is one of the best-known books in the Bible and likely the most famous letter in history, as it is the apostle Paul's most systematic presentation of the gospel of Christ. In this expository commentary, J. V. Fesko considers this panoramic view of the breadth, height, and depth of divine grace. Fesko helps us understand both the big picture of Paul's letters and also key passages in his writings by paying careful attention to the structure of redemptive history. Be edified as you read this survey of Romans, observing the consistent way the apostle exalted the glory of God as he called for the obedience of faith.
View more faculty speaking events at wscal.edu/news-andevents/faculty-speaking-calendar
ARTICLES
“A House of Cards? A Response to Bingham, Cribben, and Caughey,” in Matthew Bingham, Chris Caughey, R. Scott Clark, Crawford Gribben, and D. G. Hart, On Being Reformed: Debates Over a Theological Identity (London: Palgrave-Pivot, 2018), 69–89.
wscal .e d u
For more faculty books, see the bookstore ad on p. 27 or visit us online at wscal.edu/bookstore.
AQUINAS AMONG THE PROTESTANTS edited by Manfred Svensson and David VanDrunen
january
R. SCOTT CLARK
+
BOOKS
J. V. FESKO
“The Priority of Justification to Sanctification,” in Being Saved: Explorations in Human Salvation, eds. Marc Cortez, et al. (London: SCM Press, 2018), 185-200.
DAVID VANDRUNEN
“Legal Polycentrism: A Christian Theological and Jurisprudential
Evaluation,” Journal of Law and Religion 32.3 (November 2017): 383405.
JOSHUA J. VAN EE
"Wolf and Lamb as Hyperbolic Blessing: Reassessing Creational Connections in Isaiah 11:6-8," Journal of Biblical Literature 137, no. 2 (June 2018): 319-337. 23
Westminster Seminary California
ANNUAL REPORT ACADEMIC YEAR 2017-2018
ACADEMICS WSC continues to graduate more men in the Master of Divinity program than all other programs combined. christian reformed church in north america
127 TOTAL STUDENTS
independent/ reformed baptist churches
4%
9%
other reformed/presbyterian denominations korean presbyterian denominations
6% 12%
ALUMNI SERVING IN DENOMINATIONS
29% of divinity 91 master
3
of arts 33 master
visiting/ non-matriculating
presbyterian church in america
FACULTY ACCREDITATION ALUMNI
9%
20% orthodox presbyterian church
11%
13 members 9:1 student/faculty ratio association of theological schools western association of schools and colleges
other churches
more than 1,000 graduates
united reformed churches in north america
FINANCES ORDINARY INCOME
ORDINARY EXPENSES
tuition
instruction & programs
80%
31%
other
WSC does not receive direct funding from the government or from any specific church denomination
11%
$4.5 MILLION
58%
unrestricted gifts
24
$4.4 MILLION
7%
fundraising & development
13%
general & administrative
TUITION PER FULL-TIME STUDENT
$15,750 $7,500
average total cost
$8,250
average net cost
average scholarship/grant
UPDATE | FALL2018
HONORARIUM & MEMORIAL GIFTS Gifts Received from April 31, 2018 through September 30, 2018
IN HONOR OF... Dr. R. Scott Clark Dr. and Mrs. William J. Montgomery Dr. W. Robert Godfrey Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Korthuis Dr. and Mrs. William J. Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd J. Schout Mr. Alan Staton Dr. Michael S. Horton Dr. and Mrs. William J. Montgomery
Mr. William Brouwer Dr. and Mrs. Derke P. Bergsma Mr. and Mrs. Elko Brouwer Ms. Norma Cook Mr. and Mrs. Pete De Jong Mr. and Mrs. Huibert Den Boer Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Doorn II Ms. Faye E. Elliot Mr. and Mrs. Andy Van Die Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Vande Vegte Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Woolsey
Mr. William W. Lambuth Mr. and Mrs. Darrel L. Kuiper
Mr. Howard Faber Mr. and Mrs. Jim Berman Elmira Farms Mrs. Garneth Faber Ms. Leona I. Noteboom Mr. and Mrs. Henry V. Pruim Mrs. Mary Vanderbyl
Mrs. Donna Mae Lammers Kranendonk Ms. Sandra J. Nonhof Mr. Murray L. Nonhof Rev. and Mrs. Melvin B. Nonhof Ms. Sandra J. Nonhof Mr. Arnold Pretz Ms. Sandra J. Nonhof
Rev. and Mrs. Dale A. Van Dyke Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Belz
Mr. Gerritt Hofstee Rev. and Mrs. LeRoy Christoffels Mr. and Mrs. Ben Goedhart
Rev. Brian D. Vos Trinity United Reformed Church
Mrs. Carol Froese Kirchmer Ms. Sandra J. Nonhof
Mrs. Jane E. Prins Mr. and Mrs. Jack Brouwer Mr. and Mrs. Jack E. Brouwer Mr. and Mrs. Brent Cooper Mr. and Mrs. Henry Doorn II Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Faber Dr. and Mrs. W. Robert Godfrey Mr. and Mrs. Milton D. Hodges Mr. and Mrs. Terry D. Kok Mrs. Deborah Patterson Rev. and Mrs. Dale A. Van Dyke Mr. and Mrs. Kent Van Groningen Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Veldkamp
IN MEMORY OF...
Pastor Ken Koeman Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Korthuis
Mr. Henry D. Veenendaal Mr. and Mrs. Ben Veenendaal
Dr. Dennis E. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Faber Dr. and Mrs. Jon Holmlund Mr. Stephen A. Hoogerhyde Mr. C H. Iwashita Mr. and Mrs. Arlan F. Memmelaar Dr. and Mrs. William J. Montgomery Mrs. Karin G. Norlin
Mrs. Judy Bosgraf Mr. and Mrs. James W. Onnink Mr. and Mrs. Jim Bosman Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Korthuis
Thoughtful friends may honor either living or departed friends through gifts to the seminary. Those honored will be notified, as will the family of those honored at death. The amount of the gift is kept confidential and is tax deductible.
FOUNDING TRUSTEE ENTERS GLORY Rev. Larry Conard, Westminster Seminary California’s first board chairman, died at his home on Saturday, September 8. A minister in the OPC, Rev. Conard was part of the founding class of trustees. He would serve as a WSC Trustee from 1979-1984, serving as board chairman for all six years. Rev. Conard also served on an ad-hoc committee that petitioned Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia to start a branch campus in San Diego. During his tenure as board chairman, Rev. Conard helped to wscal .e d u
establish WSC as a fully-independent seminary. Rev. Conard was ordained as a minister of the gospel in the OPC in 1968. At the time, he was pastor-elect at Park Hill Church in Denver. Over the course of his career, Rev. Conard pastored several OPC congregations, including churches in Colorado (Denver), California (Chula Vista), and Oregon (Eugene and Medford). Rev. Conard also served as moderator of the Forty-Fifth General Assembly of the
OPC in 1978, which was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After his retirement in 2002, he served several years as stated supply at Covenant Grace OPC in Roseburg, OR, which particularized in 2011. Westminster Seminary California is thankful that the Lord used Rev. Conard as a faithful leader of the seminary, especially during such a seminal period of its history. Please join us in praying for his wife, Bonnie, and their family as they mourn the loss of this wonderful servant of the Lord. 25
UPCLOSE with S . M . B a u g h 1
HOW DID YOU END UP AS A WSC STUDENT?
Dennis Johnson came up to Eugene where Kathy and I (and the Estelles) were going to school, and we met with him for dinner. I was impressed. I had been thinking of Fuller or Dallas previously. At one point I read the biography of J. G. Machen, who was very impressive. I was also acquainted with Geerhardus Vos, whose work was very powerful for someone with little serious theological experience like myself at the time. The fact that WSC was smaller was appealing to me. I felt like theological education would be better if you could get to know your professors personally, which I still believe.
2
HOW HAS SEMINARY EDUCATION (OR STUDENTS) CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED TEACHING?
I think both have changed somewhat, and yet things are still the same in other ways. For changes, we have more international students than when I was a student, which is great! Further changes, I think the computer age has led some students to try to type everything the professors say rather than jot a note or two and think it over to understand the flow of the discussion. When I was a student, if we had typed 26
up the lectures it would have been a very noisy classroom with 20-25 typewriters clacking away! For ways in which things are the same, I think all the theological discussions with my classmates were a rich part of my education at WSC. The new WSC village should allow more of this, which will be a very nice benefit for student learning. I also suspect that we appear to be dinosaurs with our emphasis on the biblical languages, but that's just because we have a high view of Scripture and of the pastoral ministry to develop experts in God's Word. I certainly feel like I was equipped as a student here for a lifetime of work in the Bible.
3
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR LASTING MEMORIES DURING YOUR CAREER AT WSC SO FAR?
My best memories are certainly about the people of our community. The faculty and board members and staff have always been terrific. But I have so many good memories of our students, who are some of the finest quality people on the planet and a privilege to be around. Okay, so that's sappy (but true). Here are some fun memories for me: (1) A graduating senior class once bought some elevator tennis shoes for Bob God-
frey and made him put them on. You could tell he really hated them, but he put them on with good grace! (2) We once had a perspective student in our home for dinner who asked if he could come to our school even if he does not hold to a pre-tribulation rapture. (We allowed him in and he is now a URC minister.) (3) Teaching Greek in a wheelchair a day or two after breaking my leg--okay, that wasn't really fun, but the students understood when I didn't jump up to write something on the board. (4) Ed Clowney shared my office for several years, and we had many great conversations when he was writing his book on the Church. (5) We had some terrific chapel messages over the years. Those of Bob Godfrey and Hywel Jones stand out in my mind. But again, I have many fond memories of our students; they are such great people.
DR. S. M. BAUGH, Professor of New Testament, has taught Greek at WSC since 1983. He added New Testament to his teaching load in 1991. Dr. Baugh also serves as a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He lives with his wife, Kathy, in Valley Center, CA. Two of their three children have attended WSC. UPDATE | FALL2018
FACULTY BOOKS AVAILABLE NOW N E W!
Romans The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament by J. V. Fesko (Reformation Heritage Books, 2018)
The Majesty on High Introduction to the Kingdom of God in the New Testament
N E W!
Monday Through Friday In The Word
Journeys with Jesus
Echoes of Exodus
The Spirit of the Age
Tracing a Biblical Motif
Weekday Inspiration
Every Path in the Bible Leads Us to Christ
by Bryan D. Estelle (IVP Academic, 2018)
The 19th-Century Debate Over the Holy Spirit and the Westminster Confession
by Derke P. Bergsma (Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., 2018)
Learning to Love the Psalms by W. Robert Godfrey (Reformation Trust, 2017)
by S. M. Baugh (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017)
God's Perfecting Presence in Creation, Redemption, and Everyday Life by Michael S. Horton (Zondervan, 2017)
Ephesians
Core Christianity Finding Yourself in God's Story
The Majestic Heart of Christian Faith and Life
by S. M. Baugh (Lexham Press, 2016)
by Michael S. Horton (Zondervan, 2016)
by David VanDrunen (Zondervan, 2015)
Evangelical Exegetical Commentary
God's Glory Alone
Edited by David VanDrunen (Wiley-Blackwell, 2017)
by J. V. Fesko (Reformation Heritage Books, 2017)
by Dennis E. Johnson (P&R, 2018)
Rediscovering the Holy Spirit
Aquinas Among the Protestants
Death in Adam, Life in Christ The Doctrine of Imputation by J. V. Fesko (Mentor, 2016)
Preaching the Whole Counsel of God
Design and Deliver Gospel-Centered Sermons by Julius J. Kim (Zondervan, 2015)
The Trinity and the Covenant of Redemption
Who Is Jesus?
Knowing Christ through His "I Am" Sayings
by J. V. Fesko (Mentor, 2016)
by J. V. Fesko (Reformation Heritage Books, 2016)
Walking with Jesus through His Word
Calvin on the Christian Life
Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures by Dennis E. Johnson (P&R, 2015)
Glorifying and Enjoying God Forever by Michael S. Horton (Crossway Books, 2014)
Visit our campus Bookstore! | wscal.edu/bookstore wscal .e d u
1725 BEAR VALLEY PARKWAY ESCONDIDO, CA 92027 WWW.WSCAL.EDU
REMEMBERING THE CANONS after 400 years
w. r o b e r t g o d f r e y | m i c h a e l s . h o r to n r. scott clark | charles k. telfer | joel e. kim
JANUARY 18-19, 2019 register at wscal.edu/conference 28
UPDATE | FALL2018