ClarkeComments.com

Hello all:

Well, I started classes this week. Not quite what I expected.

I am taking three classes: History of Christianity, The Bible as Literature, and Introduction to Crime Analysis.

The Intro to Crime Analysis class is easy. I’ve worked in Criminal Justice and Public Safety for a while, so none of it is new to me.

The Bible as Literature, on the other hand, I’m having a tough time with. The class, in a nutshell, is looking at the Bible as Literature through the lense of German Higher Criticism. The text (and the instructor) make the assumption that the Bible is uninspired, written totally by humans, and that the author had many points in mind, including religious ones, when they wrote the text. I’m having a hard time seperating my beliefs from the class, and I am struggling. However, I did get some good comments from the instructor on our discussion (its all online) so maybe I’m getting the hang of it. We’ll see. I know one thing, I’ll be glad to be finished with this one, and its just week one. Higher Criticism of the Bible isn’t my ball of wax…

I’m not sure yet what to make of my History of Christianity class yet. It is my only class that I am taking in a classroom, and I missed the first session because I was at the Symposium. I spoke with the professor over the phone and she seems very friendly. I started reading the text last night for this class, and found that the writers are fairily secular, and its very odd reading a text book on the History of Christianity when they question the diety of Jesus.

I’m definatly taking all of this “learning” with a grain of salt, but hopefully it will be helpful to me later as a follower of Christ.

-Clarke

Hello all:

I meant to write yesterday, but we hardly got any sleep, and we went back to our hotel room and went to bed.

The symposium was great. I learned alot, and my wife actually wants to get a copy of the Encyclopedia.

I met Dr. Doug Foster, per Travis’ recommendation. He was very friendly and gracious. I also got to meet Dr. Newell Williams, who is a Disciples historian who is the President of the Emmanuel School of Religion. Brite Divininity School. I wanted to meet Dr. Paul Blowers, but ended up not having the opportunity.

The second day of the session was made up of presentations by Foster, Williams and Blowers. Each presenter talked about a stream of the Restoration Movement that was not their own. It was an interesting twist to hear the thoughts and opinions on each stream from someone on the outside who is a church historian. There were some great insights, both positive and negative, pointed out by these men. After each presentation the other two presenters gave their opinions and then fielded questions from the audience.

After the session on the three streams, each presenter was asked to talk about their prayer for the future of the movement. Foster spoke about a renewal of emphasis on the Lord’s Supper, and a renewal of study on how we approach the scriptures. Newell Williams, however, was the most surprising in his approach to this question. Williams (the disciples historian) stated that he would like to see the Disciples renew their understanding on baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Williams indicated that this is an important part of our witness to the Christian community that has been neglected by Disciples.

The last day of the symposium included a question and answer session, and then a communion service concluding the program.

It was a wonderful event and a great way to get to know members from other streams of the movement. Many people in attendance were actually contributors to the Encyclopedia. I met the Regional Minister of the Disciples, and found out that the parents of General Minister and President Sharon Watkins were at the symposium. There was a lot of knowledge and experience in the room.

It was announced near the end that the symposium will most likely be expanded next year, and it sounds like it may turn into a viable Restoration Movement gathering.

-Clarke

Hello all:

Well….my wife and I made it down to Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon, to attend the Symposium. My guess is there were about three or four two hundred people in the Morse Event Center for the opening ceremonies.

I only recognized two people besides the speakers, but I had a good time. We sang two songs, both of which were written by members of the Restoration Movement.

Doug Foster, Newell Williams, and Paul Blowers spoke about how the Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement came into existance, and some of the stories of its production.

I think the vast majority of people there are Disciples and Independents. Partly because I only recognized one member of the Church of Christ, and a lot of people there mentioned being alumni of NWCC.

All three of the speakers spoke on how the Encyclopedia has brought people from all streams of the movement together, and how it can be a bridge for unity.

Tuesday is the main session of the Symposium. I’ll let everyone one what happens.

-Clarke

Hello all:

I’m gonna steal an idea from Greg . I’m very curious who reads this blog… I have a bit of an idea because there are some regulars that comment, but I’m really curious just who is out there reading this.

So… I would really appreciate it if you would comment on this post, even if you are a lurker, just so that I have an idea.

In your comment, please tell me your name, website (if you have one), why you read my blog, where you are, and anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself.

Name: Clarke
Website: Clarkecomments.com; Restorationmovement.org
Why I read: Its my blog!
Location: Portland, Oregon
Anything else: I’ll be blogging from the 1st Annual Stone-Campbell Symposium at Northwest Christian College starting tommorow.

-Clarke