President Kim Visits Korea

From its inception, Westminster Seminary California has existed to bless and be blessed by the global church. This is captured in one of its earliest mottos: “Building a Base to Serve the West and Reach the World.” The seminary’s bylaws identify the unique opportunity afforded by its western location in participating in the global church, particularly in Latin America and the Pacific Rim. The institutional bylaws observe, “In its degree programs the seminary has the goal of making students aware of the issues raised by the increasing cultural diversity in their societies and throughout the world, and of educating them to approach theological and practical ministry issues with cultural sensitivity and discernment.” Such was and remains the missionary heartbeat of this institution.

At the end of the 20th century, scholars in the field of missions not only looked back to evaluate the past century but also looked forward to anticipate what was in store for the new millennium. Even during the chaotic events during the 20th century, God in his sovereign control has had history in the palm of his hand. Despite the rise and fall of major ideologies and two world wars, the last century has seen, through God’s amazing grace, the tremendous growth and spread of Christianity throughout the globe. But the world is much different than it was in the early 1900s. A hundred years ago, 90 percent of the world’s Christians lived in North America and Europe. Only 10 percent of the world’s Christians lived in continents south and east. Since the year 2000, there has been a dramatic shift. Nearly 70 percent of the world’s Christians now live in the non-Western world. WSC is committed to serving the global church in its changing landscape.

This spring, President Joel E. Kim spent 10 days in Korea preaching, speaking, and meeting with pastors and leaders at Korean churches and schools. On April 27, President Kim spoke at Yullin Church in Seoul, Korea. Rev. Nam Joon Kim has served as Senior Pastor of Yullin Church for nearly three decades. In 2014, WSC was blessed to welcome Rev. Kim as the speaker at its commencement ceremony in Escondido. President Kim’s trip also featured speaking engagements at two Presbyterian schools located south of Seoul, Calvin University and Hapdong Theological Seminary. On April 30, he spoke at the Korean Evangelical Theological Society (KETS) meeting at Yullin Church. Protestant theology professors in Korea founded KETS in 1981 to promote Protestant theological scholarship and dialogue among Korean scholars. President Kim concluded his trip to Korea by preaching on the Lord’s Day, May 1, at Songwol Church, which is located in Incheon. Throughout his trip President Kim was humbled by the warm welcome by the communities at these Korean churches and schools as he brought greetings from Westminster Seminary California, delivered lectures, preached the Word of God, and learned about the Lord’s gracious work in South Korea.

1 | President Joel E. Kim preaches at Yullin Presbyterian Church (Seoul, South Korea). 1 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Redeemer OPC (Santa Maria, CA). 8 | Dr. Bryan Estelle preaches at Bethel Reformed Presbyterian Church (Fredericksburg, VA). 8 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Reformed Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles, CA). 15 | Dr. A. Craig Troxel preaches at Reformed Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles, CA).

2-4 | Dr. A. Craig Troxel speaks at the OPC Deaconal Summit (Wheaton, IL). 5 | President Joel E. Kim preaches at Crossway Community Church (Brea, CA). 11 | Dr. David VanDrunen speaks at the Evangelical Reformed Church of Bucharest Conference (Bucharest, Romania). 13-17 | Dr. A. Craig Troxel speaks at the OPC Presbytery of Southern California Family Camp (Twin Peaks, CA). 14 | Dr. David VanDrunen speaks at Protestant Theological University (Amsterdam, Netherlands).

14 | Dr. David VanDrunen speaks at Protestant Theological University (Groningen, Netherlands). 6/17-7/3 | Dr. Michael Horton speaks at Theological Global Conference (Africa). 19, 26 | Dr. Bryan Estelle preaches at Christ Reformed Church (Anaheim, CA).

3 | Dr. Bryan Estelle preaches at El Camino Presbyterian Church (Goleta, CA). 4-8 | Dr. A. Craig Troxel speaks at Camp Caraway OPC Presbytery of Southeast Family Camp (Sophia, NC). 17 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Faith Presbyterian Church (Long Beach, CA). 18-21 | Dr. Michael Horton speaks at the RTS DC Summer Intensive Course (Washington, DC). 24 | Dr. A. Craig Troxel preaches at Faith Presbyterian Church (Long Beach, CA).

7 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Faith Presbyterian Church (Long Beach, CA). 21 | President Joel E. Kim preaches at Faith Presbyterian Church (Long Beach, CA). 28 | Dr. Bryan Estelle preaches at Faith Presbyterian Church (Long Beach, CA).

8 | Dr. David VanDrunen speaks at the Scattered Seeds Symposium (Pittsburg, PA). 9 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church (Pittsburg, PA).

For more faculty books, see the bookstore ad on p. 27 or visit us online at wscal.edu/bookstore.

Engaging Or Transforming The World?

This book argues for the separation of the church and the state. Additionally, Estelle claims that the historically reformed position is that Christ is ruler of all; however, he manifests his rule in different ways. These basic categories, i.e., that God rules the church as a redeemer (a spiritual kingdom) and rules the state and all other social institutions (the civil kingdom) as creator and sustainer, has been widely held by Reformed thinkers for centuries until the modern period.

How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears that Divide Us

We can express fear of just about any threat to our well-being, but will find raised eyebrows if we mention fearing God. However, what if we are depriving ourselves of the only antidote to our crippling fears? In Recovering Our Sanity, Michael Horton argues that the only way to conquer the wrong kinds of fear is to embrace the right kind.

Bradley J. Bitner, “The Theological Vision of Geerhardus Vos: Theological Education and Reformed Ministry,” Themelios 46 (2021): 641-64.

Review article of Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspectives, Guy Prentiss Waters, J. Nicholas Reid, and John R. Muether (eds). (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020). Ordained Servant, November 2021.

Joshua J. Van Ee, "Jewish Worship under Greco-Roman Rule," Tabletalk (February 2022): 12-14.

The Westminster Seminary California Annual Conference is one of the highlights of our year and one of the best opportunities for us to visit with friends of the seminary face-to-face. The 2022 Annual Conference was scheduled for January 14-15 on the WSC campus. A few days before the conference was to begin, our speakers had their addresses planned and outlined, programs were printed, WSC Trustees were in town to attend the conference and semiannual Board meetings, and in-person classes were in session for the winter term. However, the Omicron variant of COVID was spreading rapidly around San Diego County, the United States, and around the world. In fact, Omicron infections in the United States would hit its peak the very day our conference was scheduled to begin – Friday, January 14. The WSC community was not immune to these infections, as students, conference organizers, and even speakers were testing positive.

The seminary was extremely disappointed to have to cancel the 2022 Annual Conference just three days prior to the opening session. We could not in good conscience welcome so many dear friends to campus at a time when conference presenters, administrators, staff, and student volunteers were sick. In addition, further outbreaks could have put in-person classes in jeopardy for our winter term. For everyone’s sake, we felt canceling the conference was the prudent, though difficult, decision. Thankfully, all infected members of the WSC community recovered from their illnesses, and the Omicron variant subsided after January. We are extremely grateful that the Lord, in his good providence, has allowed WSC classes to remain in-person throughout the winter and spring semesters. Yet we regret the inconvenience canceling the conference caused many of our friends, some of whom had already flown into San Diego from around the country. However, we are pleased to announce that the 2023 Annual Conference will be held on campus next January, taking up the same theme and speaker schedule of this year’s canceled conference. The theme of the 2023 Annual Conference will be “From Faith to Faith.” John Calvin said that faith is the axis around which everything in the Christian life rotates. Our conference will explore various facets of doctrine and life as they touch upon the centrality of faith in the Christian life. In particular, we will examine the nature, heart, gift, challenges, and hope of faith. The slate of conference speakers will include Dr. Michael S. Horton, Dr. A. Craig Troxel, President Joel E. Kim, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, and Dr.

Bradley J. Bitner. As always, the conference will conclude with a speakers panel addressing questions from attendees and online viewers.

We hope you will plan to join us on campus for the 2023 Annual Conference in January for a time of learning, worship, and fellowship. Please stay tuned for registration details in the coming months.

HORTON TROXEL KIM GODFREY BITNER

JANUARY 2023 WSCAL.EDU/CONFERENCE