New Orientation Format

This fall WSC implemented a new, expanded orientation schedule for incoming students. This new format places greater emphasis on student success in the classroom and enhanced campus community. While previous orientations occurred on a single day, the new format devotes three days to introducing incoming students to academic and community life at WSC. This expansion of the orientation schedule is part of an intentional effort to enhance student preparation, both inside and outside of the classroom.

The first day featured President Joel E. Kim’s devotion; an overview of enrollment, registration, and financial aid matters by the enrollment team; a new student and faculty lunch; and an evening reception. This reception has long been a favorite event on the academic calendar among the entire WSC community as each new student introduces themselves and tells the story of how they came to study at WSC. The second day kicked off with a session with Academic Dean Ryan Glomsrud walking new students through the academic expectations at the seminary, followed by a Westminster Student Association “How to Survive Seminary” workshop. Dean of Students Chuck Tedrick discussed student life at WSC over lunch. Later that evening, the seminary hosted a special dinner on campus for international students and spouses.

On the final day of orientation, new students enjoyed Dr. Troxel’s discussion of the spiritual life of a seminary student, followed by break-out sessions for each degree program. These sessions highlighted the unique requirements and emphases of their respective degree program. The orientation activities culminated with a campus-wide ice cream social held in the WSC Village. The positive feedback from participants has led the seminary to continue this expanded orientation format for the foreseeable future. It is our prayer that it will serve incoming students well in preparing them for seminary education, as well as a lifetime of service to Christ’s church.

INCOMING CLASS STATS

+1 VISITING STUDENT

Apair of professors taught summer courses on WSC’s campus based on their respective award-winning books. David VanDrunen, Robert B. Strimple Chair of Systematic Theology at WSC, taught a course related to his recent Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World (Zondervan Academic, 2020). The book won Christianity Today’s prestigious 2021 Book of the Year award in the “Politics and Public Life” category. The course examined the Christian’s role and status in contemporary pluralistic political communities, offering a biblical-theological model of political engagement and exploring themes such as race, religious liberty, justice, authority, and civil resistance. Students learned how the Bible prepares them to live in societies that are indifferent or hostile to Christianity, societies in which believers must live faithful lives as sojourners and exiles.

In addition, the WSC community had the honor of welcoming Carl Trueman, Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College, back to campus. Trueman taught a summer course based on his recent book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution (Crossway, 2020), which won The Gospel Coalition’s 2020 award for best book in the “Public Theology and Current Events” category. In this course, Trueman led students in exploring the origins and development of modern identity politics and reflecting on how this affects the church, as well as how Christians should respond.

Both of these summer courses provided WSC students valuable opportunities to explore how the church should engage a changing culture in a faithful, biblical manner. The seminary community was thrilled to have each class meet in person on campus, which provided additional opportunities to interact with the professors face to face.

POLITICS AFTER CHRISTENDOM David VanDrunen

Politics After Christendom reflects on the status and responsibilities of Christians in their contemporary pluralistic political communities, presenting a biblical-theological model of political engagement. THE RISE AND TRIUMPH OF THE MODERN SELF Carl R. Trueman

In this timely book, Carl Trueman analyzes the development of the sexual revolution as a symptom—rather than the cause—of the human search for identity.

BEN SASSE, U.S. SENATOR