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2012 |
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Committed to the Kingdom
In recent issues of Point of Contact we have sought to address how the current economic circumstances are touching the lives of our seminary and its alumni. In January, the leadership of the seminary had to enact some difficult decisions to address the seminary’s financial situation. The best way to bring you up to date on what has transpired is simply to include the seminary administration’s public announcement (right). As you read the announcement, I’m sure your reaction to this news will be similar to the alumni I’ve had opportunity to speak with in person, sadness and great concern for the institution that has built so much into our lives. I would ask you to pray, and to ask your churches to pray, for the administrative staff members whose positions have been eliminated. Please also pray for the faculty and administrative staff who continue to serve at the seminary with reduced personal and institutional resources. May I also ask you to consider if the Lord might lead you, or friends you are aware of, to contribute to Westminster in some way at this critical time? As you will see in the administration’s announcement Westminster remains committed to fulfilling our mission of providing excellent reformed theological education. We cherish your prayers and participation in helping us honor this historic commitment. Partnering with you for kingdom purposes,  Rev. John Currie, MAR, director of student development and alumni relations
P.S. Sign-up and login for access to all our rich, historic audio archives. The Media Center is easily accessible for your ongoing equipping. At www.wts.edu, go to popular links on the lower right hand corner of the page. Science, Human Origins, and Human Dignity
Registration is now open for the third annual Westminster Conference on Science and Faith! The third annual Conference on Science and Faith will be held on April 14th, 2012, at the ACE Conference Center in the greater Philadelphia area. Speakers include Westminster professors Rev. Dr. Vern Poythress, Rev. Dr. David Garner, Rev. Dr. K. Scott Oliphint, and Rev. Dr. William Edgar; as well as CCEF counselors Dr. Edward Welch and Dr. Michael Emlet. Click here for more information and to register. |
Westminster’s Continuing Commitment to Excellence in Theological EducationJanuary 20, 2012 For over eighty years, Westminster Theological Seminary has been blessed of God to carry out its teaching mission, investing the riches of the Scriptures in the lives of literally thousands of people around the world. By God’s provision and grace, we intend to continue our vital ministry of Reformed theological education. Founded in 1929 at the heart of America’s darkest financial hour, the Lord saw fit to bless Westminster, and he has sustained us through years of ebbs and flows in financial provision. There has been no time in the last 50 years of Westminster’s storied history that has been without prayerful dependence on God’s people to give. But now in 2012, the reality of a lean economy has brought unprecedented pressure. Like other non-profit organizations in this country, Westminster has suffered significant downturn in contribution income and faces looming challenges. In order to sustain our Westminster legacy, we must face this economic situation with honesty, implementing the appropriate austerity measures. Seeking to act prayerfully and wisely, we have reduced our staff size and carried out other strategic cost-cutting initiatives, including a seminary wide reorganization. These painful reductions serve not as bailing measures on a sinking vessel, but rather deliberate steps to ensure the ongoing integrity of Westminster’s flagship theological education. As President Lillback put it, “Westminster is called by God to prepare leaders in His worldwide Kingdom. In fact, in the last two years, our student recruitment has remained strong and our new M.Div. student enrollment has been at a record level. We are deeply committed to this task of training leaders. To that end, we continue to use wisely the resources our Lord has graciously provided for us. Our hard decisions today express our long term commitment to assure that Westminster flourishes tomorrow. Moreover, these actions have not reduced the size of our faculty. Thus in the years to come, we will continue to fulfill our mission to educate gospel-driven leaders to impact our world with the unchanging truths of God’s Word.” We are tremendously grateful to the Lord for the faithfulness of the Westminster staff and faculty, which have served the institution through the years, and we remain thankful to those who continue to serve with God-given call and commitment. Students at Westminster continue to receive the historically rich, biblically and theologically rigorous, and strategically relevant Reformed theological education. Now in 2012, even with the financial challenges, we find ourselves well positioned to carry out our seminary mission on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ: to form Christian leaders to proclaim the whole counsel of God throughout a changing world. Christianity and Liberalism Italian Translation
Dr. Machen's book Christianity and Liberalism will soon be published in Italian. Over 75 years ago, Rev. Dr. J. Gresham Machen was taken up into glory to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In God's providence, however, Dr. Machen did not leave without giving us one of the most important books of modern Christianity: Christianity and Liberalism. It has been translated into at least six different languages, and now, this monumental work will be translated into Italian.
Click "Full Story" for more information. Reformer of Basel
New Book by Dr. Diane Poythress Dr. Diane Poythress, wife of Westminster professor Rev. Dr. Vern Poythress, has recently published a book entitled Reformer of Basel: The Life, Thought, and Influence of Johannes Oecolampadius. Order your copy at the Westminster Bookstore!
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