Seminary Without Walls

photo taken from ECC official website

Philip Anderson, Professor of Church History at NPTS, was honored by the Swedish government.  The King of Sweden bestowed upon Professor Anderson the insignia of the Royal Order of the Polar Star.  Professor Andersen’s scholarly contributions and his work in “promoting Swedish relations with North America” earned him this prestigious award which is usually reserved for members of the royal family of Sweden or foreign nationals.  Read the full story on the Evangelical Covenant Church website.

Mark Seversen, Pastor of Hillcrest Covenant Church in Prarie Village, KS, will serve as Pastor in Residence Monday, November 17th thru Thursday, November 20th.  Pastor Seversen will preach in Chapel on Thursday. His sermon, The Triumph of Humility, is based on Judges 4-5.  Students, faculty and staff are invited to a lunch forum with Pastor Seversen on Thursday afternoon.  The forum, Left Handed Leadership: Elvis in the Fog of Leadership will take place in Olsson Lounge.  Lunch will be provided.  Pastor Seversen is also available to meet one-on-one with students on Tuesday between the hours of 10:30 am and 5:15 pm.  The sign-up sheet is posted outside of Mary Miller’s office in Nyvall Hall.

Posted by Jim Dekker, Co-Director of Center for Youth Ministry Studies at North Park University

Having spent much time in various capacities and contexts of youth ministry the term “whatever” captures my attention. To me, it means that youth ministry happens in so many ways, at so many levels, and in so many diverse contexts. What happens can be whatever the situation demands. Having said that, I am not the only one saying “Youth Ministry: Whatever”. For some, youth ministry may be a ‘whatever’ program that chases whatever likes and dislikes of adolescents: this game, that activity… Ten minutes later, another “whatever”, and so the program changes into whatever. And then there is the mood of “whatever”. The kind of thing said when an adult requires something from a reluctant or stubborn teen. The message is: “I will do it but it doesn’t mean anything to me”.

Youth Ministry in our churches may be similar. We may have a program where teens participate but it has little meaning. We may be doing a ministry that chases whatever opinionated wind that blows. Or we may be doing youth ministry based on whatever worked for the temporary youth leader (or intern) years ago. I propose that any of these “whatevers” are unhealthy for the church community and the impacts they have on youth.

Meaningful youth ministry takes work. It pays attention to youth culture, today’s varied family systems, and the capacities of adolescents. Meaningful youth ministry is informed by deliberate theological perspectives that provide hope and strength in today’s cultural soup of confusion. Meaningful youth ministry takes seriously the ‘first break-up’ just as it would the impact of divorce or the death of a high school friend. It respects the Scriptures when many call for “… just wanna have fun.” It goes on missions trips to other cultures when people are saying, “just serve our own community.” It talks about sex and drugs, suicide and depression, self injury and anorexia when all seems fine in our community. In short, youth ministry is just that, Youth Ministry: Seriously

For more information about the Center for Youth Ministry Studies click here.

Chapel this year at North Park Seminary has a particular weekly rhythm structured around the essential worship tasks of GATHERING, COMMUNING and PROCLAIMING.  Three days a week we meet at 9:30am for roughly 30 minutes of worship: each service centers on one of these three primary points of orientation for worshipers.

On Mondays we meet for a service of GATHERING in which we celebrate the goodness of God and the faith of God’s people via musical expression.  One of the premises of this service is that most of us heard at least one strong sermon on Sunday at our own faith communities.  This service, we hope, sets a tone of gratitude and gladness as we enter into a new week together.  The style of music varies from classic hymnody to contemporary to gospel to bluegrass.

Tuesdays our services culminate with our COMMUNING at The Lord’s Table.  The sacraments of the church provide another essential point of orientation.  The focus of these services is constant with a communion homily pointing to Table as preparation for receiving the gifts of God for the people of God.  Bread and Cup are distributed in a range of ways:  Examples this semester include a liturgical service from the Episcopal tradition as well as a service from the Thai tradition.  On three occasions teams of students from Dr. Michael Van Horn’s Foundations of Worship class will have planned and led these Tuesday morning worship experiences.

Thursday chapel services are ordered around the PROCLAIMING task.  The preached word is another of the primary points of worship orientation:  These services are built around biblical witness offered by a diversity of voices as far as race, gender, students, faculty and guests.  Two weeks ago, for example, University Provost Joseph Jones was our preacher.  Last Thursday our new denominational President Gary Walter preached.

This post was provided by Assoc. Prof. of Ministry and Director of Field Education Tim Johnson

Members of the Commission for Biblical Gender Equality (CBGE) will host a lunch forum on Monday, November 10, 2008 at noon in Olsson Lounge to discuss the mission of CBGE and it’s impact on the greater Covenant community.  The dvd Called and Gifted will be shown.  Lunch will be provided.