Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1975

Back To School
Frank De Vries

Certain experiences in life make us extremely grateful to sisters and brothers in the Lord. I am very grateful to the brothers and sisters of the Bethel Reformed Church to provide me with the opportunity to spend three weeks at Regent College for additional education and refreshing inspiration.

Some years ago the Reformed Church saw the need for continued education for its pastors and teachers. It was decided by General Synod that a pastor should be given one week study leave plus $10,0.00 each year for 'professional development'. "By mutual agreement this time and money may be accumulated to a maximum equivalent of four years of service." (Book of Church Order page 73).

With the approval of consistory, I was released of my pastoral duties for three weeks to study. I registered for two courses at Regent College located on the campus of the University of British Columbia. "Paul's letter to Colossae" was taught by Dr. J. I. Packer from Bristol, England, and Dr. C. Rene Padilla taught "The Church in Today's world".

Other courses offered at Regent during this summer session were "The Message of the Minor Prophets" by Dr. C. Armerding; "Christian Responsibility and the Sanctity -of life by Dr. C. Gregory; "Biblical Doctrines of Sin and Forgiveness" by Dr. P. Garnet. The above are a sampling of experts and courses offered at Regent.

Let me share with you a word or two about Regent College. It is a rather new venture which has as its "Primary objective . . to train young graduates to become effective Christians in their own professions and leaders in their churches." Furthermore, "Specifically it is designed to help young graduates upgrade their understanding of the Christian faith by means of a year's post-graduate work . . ." Also "Eventually it is hoped that Christians will be available to teach in such fields as linguistics, literature, school counseling, and in ethical issues assiated with such fields as ecology, business and medicine."

For me it was exciting to study in an environment of engineers, elementary and high school teachers, graduate students in law and medicine, and pastors representing various denominations in the U.S.A. and Canada. Being at Regent we also had the opportunity to attend public lectures by visiting professors at the Vancouver School of Theology (combination of United and Anglican theological schools) summer session.

For next summer the following scholars have been tentatively scheduled to teach at Regent: John Stott, F. F. Bruce, Kenneth Hamilton and John Yoder.

Pastors need to up-date their education; they need to refresh their theology. The Lord of the Church has appointed some people to be experts in theology or-other disciplines related to our total life.

Pastors need to regularly sit at the feet of the Lord's appointed teachers and be nourished by them through the Holy Spirit.

Since pastors are called in the first place to proclaim and teach the living Word of God in a contemporary world, their continued education should be aimed at a better understanding of God's word and the world in which they and their parishioners live. I am saying this because there is the temptation in our day for pastors to spend valuable time to study the latest gimmicks (an ingenious device or scheme for attaining an end . . . ) in the area of evangelism or church growth, for example. The end of such gimmicks being to make the Christian faith appealing and easy to accept, and to accommodate it to worldly values of our day.

During my three weeks at Regent I once again was reminded of the fine theological training I received at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Mich. I was not squeezed into some manmade theological strait jacket which has left me free to grow in the knowledge of the will of God with all wisdom and understanding that His Spirit gives (Colossians 1 : 9).

I am back in the Christian school of life with an even greater appreciation for our Reformed theological heritage centered in the living Word of God and His revelation. To Him be the praise!

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