Theology

Thousands are expected to attend a prophecy conference in Southern California Friday that will examine what the Bible has to say about the End Times and the current economic crisis.

For Pastor Jack Hibbs, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Hills, host of the Southern California Prophecy Conference, the economic crisis recently hit closer to home when two visitors came to his church after their husbands committed suicide because of the financial crisis.

He said the purpose of the Feb. 20-22 conference, titled "Finding Hope in the Global Crisis," is not to frighten people but to offer them some hope. more >>

More than 30,000 English-speaking congregations around the world trace their lineage through John Calvin, the 16th century theologian whose thoughts exerted considerable influence over major religious figures and entire religious movements.

And this year, many will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of his birth. Many more, however, will probably not.

"Many Presbyterians greet the news that 2009 will mark the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth with a yawn, a roll of the eyes or even a derisive snort," writes Joseph D. Small, director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Theology Worship and Education. more >>

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has opened conversations between the church and academia on feminist theologies, hoping to develop insight on how the Church can live out its commitment to combat sexism in the church and society and to advocate justice for women.

Although Lutheran feminist theologians have been writing and working in Lutheran and non-Lutheran institutions for a long time, the church and academia have rarely come together to discuss their work, says Dr. Mary Streufert, director of the Justice for Women program, part of the denomination's Church in Society arm.

Until now, the discussion on feminist theologies has been mainly confined to some ELCA universities and seminaries, said Streufert. more >>

Correction appended

The Emerging Church movement is seeking to revitalize the faith but may infect an entire generation with a philosophy that kills it, according a Reformed Presbyterian pastor and theologian.

"If churches embracing the principle of Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone) fail to understand and address the concerns voiced in the Emerging Church conversation, we may lose an entire generation of professing believers,” says the Rev. Rutledge Etheridge, an adjunct professor of systematic theology at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS) in Pittsburgh and pastor of Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church.

According to Etheridge, the Emerging Church movement – known for flexible methodology and efforts to be culturally relevant – seeks to glean the good from Christianity's past while painting a fresh picture of the faith today. Those familiar with the movement say its members seek to live their faith in what they believe to be a "postmodern" society, while its leaders are often critical of traditional evangelical churches and often place high value on good works or social activism. more >>

The flagship seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention plans to become the first Protestant institution in the United States to offer a Ph.D. in spirituality, according to an announcement this week.

And the men behind the new program say Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s introduction of the new degree this month comes at a key time.

"Spirituality is one of the fastest-growing areas of theological education," noted Don Whitney, senior associate dean of Southern's School of Theology and director of the Center for Biblical Spirituality, according to the news service of the Louisville, Ky.-based seminary. more >>