The Pneuma Review » institute

Workshop of the Holy Spirit: An Invitation to Theological Education

Rick Wadholm — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 22:00:18 +0000

Doug Strong and Jess Bielman, Workshop of the Holy Spirit: An Invitation to Theological Education (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2022), 152 pages, ISBN 9781532689093.

Doug Strong and Jess Bielman offer this short volume intent on reimagining and reoffering an ancient medieval metaphor (the “workshop”) for contemporary practices of theological education that are integrative of the life of the academy and the church together. The volume proposes to take readers on a journey of recovery. Chapter 1 introduces the ancient construct of “apprenticeship” as a means of education in theology and ministry that is intentionally hands-on and oriented around a relationship of discipleship rather than simply courses taken independently with hopes that the student will gain integrative mastery on their own. Foundationally this is a call to mentorship that is facilitated via Spirit-empowered transformational experiences in community, discipline, and vocational holiness and wholeness.

Could the ancient construct of apprenticeship—hands-on and relational—be a model for education in theology and ministry?

In chapter 2 “Craftsmanship”, Strong and Bielman propose that the “craft of the kerygma” (the proclamation of the good news of Jesus) is the product of their proposed model of the workshop of the Holy Spirit. Students are apprenticed into this proclamation work through means of smaller groups taking time toward genuinely sharing life together. Chapter 3 addresses the ways in which guilds were formed of co-laborers within a particular craft that provided support and nurture toward mastery. This is also proposed for ministerial training in seminaries that emphasis life in the Spirit (in community) “is the place from which ministry flows; life in ministry is not the axis on which your life in the Spirit spins” (75). Chapter 4 carries the reader forward into the image of the journey-man/woman as a means of rethinking the interplay of praxis and ministry. This chapter takes up the spiritual disciplines as “tools for the work” of transforming the journey-man/woman (Scripture, prayer, community, worship, Eucharist, fasting) toward creating a “rule of life” (114-116). Chapter 5 concludes the volume with a proposed move toward mastery as one also trains up others and serves the Church well. This mastery is always under the mastery of the Spirit as “ongoing companion,” “creative inspirer,” and “signpost to the future reign of God” (132, original emphasis).

A change of vision for theological education is needed.

While Strong and Bielman make much good use of this medieval metaphor it seems it may be more a repristination of an ancient practice that was itself faltering and not simply replaced by falsely driven ideas and practices. The ancient guilds organized around workshops only pertained to specific fields of study (production of goods as a trade, for example) and never pertained to all fields of study or development (the ancient professions of medicine, law, and divinity; p. 29). Furthermore, the “masters” were practitioners themselves as they took on students. This meant that specialization was always limited and becomes highly restrictive toward developments beyond that which is expressed in localized practices. Perhaps this image works best for those very specifically within theological education seeking only to give themselves to particular forms of vocational ministry but does not open the way for those who may pursue more advanced research levels of education. While the language of Philipp Jakob Spener drives the metaphor as the workshop of the Holy Spirit shaping the ministers, this imagery belongs to an era of disciplines that fit the times as they were shifting and may miss potential for modern models that themselves may speak into the very foci of Strong and Bielman. Granted that any metaphor is not meant to be carried too far beyond its intent, yet this metaphor may at some level undermine the very purposes of the project however praiseworthy and necessary for the day. A change of vision for theological education is needed to address the issues but also to work toward total transformation into the image of Christ Jesus by the Spirit of God.

For the student and those they serve, theological education is supposed to bring about personal transformation into the image of Christ Jesus by the Spirit of God. However, most theological education tends to function as a business and a cognitive intellectualist project.

Several weaknesses bear mentioning. Despite being in the title of the volume, the idea of the “Spirit” as integrative and foundational seems to lack in development throughout this volume (where other works take up such a task, see Amos Yong and Dale Coulter, The Holy Spirit in Higher Education: Renewing the Christian University [Baylor University Press, 2023; Editor’s note: see review by Rick Wadholm Jr]). To be fair, the Spirit is mentioned often, but in many ways, this stands only for some unnamable contribution or role rather than explicated within any sort of explicated pneumatological bases. The Spirit functions almost more as a feature of chaos to the structures of institutions (eg, 132; which may be the case, but is not always the case). Another weakness is ways in which this volume may not weigh its sources as well as it should, but simply takes up sources that wrote spiritually and pietistically without due accounting for the foundations behind their writings and at times misrepresenting them. This is exemplified in claiming Henri Nouwen was an “Anglican priest” (76) rather than a Catholic priest. This lack is technically part of their aim to speak from and into a broad spectrum of the Church, but it makes for an unequal hodge-podge approach more than an intentional integrative approach. Finally, the turn to “workshop” takes up the language of commodification rather than what seemed the aim of the volume in humanizing by the Spirit to transformation and conformity to the Son of Man. This is exemplified not only in the language of “workshop” but the language of “tools” used to shape us and then naming the spiritual disciplines. The disciplines are formative but calling them “tools” (87-89) turns this from transformative personal engagement with the Spirit, into manufacturing metaphor that dehumanizes. While this does not seem the intent, it becomes the implication.

Despite the noted issues with this volume, it still offers a refreshing rethinking of the moves within theological education that have tended to turn it into business and a cognitive intellectualist project rather than the personalizing and transforming Spirit empowering encounter it is meant to be for the sake of the individual, the Church, and the world. This book might function well for a group of professors, administrators, pastors, and students to read together over several weeks of discussions centered around the journey into the “workshop” re-storying proposed. As such it might just offer the “academy opportunity to make it a place of spiritual and intellectual flourishing for the sake of the church’s health” (144). May it be so.

Reviewed by Rick Wadholm Jr.

Publisher’s page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781532689093/workshop-of-the-holy-spirit/

Preview Workshop of the Holy Spirit: https://books.google.com/books?id=SyKcEAAAQBAJ

Missionary Training Institute 2018

Dave Johnson — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 15:32:22 +0000

The Global Missions Center, under the direction of Dr. Teresa Chai, invites you to participate in the Missionary Training Institute.

When: April 1-15, 2018

Where: Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS), Baguio City, Philippines

Program Director Dave Johnson says, “This is designed for new missionaries and those considering a missionary calling. It’s also a great opportunity for current missionaries who desire continuing education.”

Because MTI is an official program of APTS, you can receive academic credit from the institute. A total of 6 credits at BA/MA level can be taken during the 2 week schedule with additional course fees and academic assignments.

According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, 91% of all Asians are not yet followers of Jesus Christ. Let’s change that!

Course coverage:

MIS 601: Issues in Cross-Cultural Ministry- (April 2-8)

Cultural Anthropology
Animism and Missions
World Religions
Cross-Cultural Communication
Missionary Life
Week-end Practicum

MIS 602: Missionary Methods and Strategies- (April 9-15)

Language Learning
Church Planting
Signs and Wonders
Missionary Strategies
Missionary Mentoring
Week-end Practicum

Costs:

On-Campus (2 weeks): Total cost $260.00

(Includes dorm room, food, snacks, study materials, admin fee and week-end practicum)

Off-Campus (2 weeks): Total Cost $180.00

(Includes study materials, admin fee, week-end practicum, and snacks)

Additional Cost if taking for credit: APTS Fee:

Admin Fee: $18.50 per credit
Credit Fee: $30.00 per credit

Requirements:

Application Form
English Proficiency test for non-English speaking participants
References from Mission Board or Pastor

For more inquiries:

Highlights from Black Theology and Leadership Institute 2014

Candace Laughinghouse — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 18:53:34 +0000

The 2014 Black Theology and Leadership Institute

Candace Laughinghouse sent these highlights with her report of the 2014 annual Black Theology and Leadership Institute at Princeton.

From right to left: Worship in the chapel. In the midst of a great conversation within my cohort for the week. Me and Prof. Dr. John W. Kinney – Dean of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.

From Left to right: Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas of Vanderbilt Divinity School lecturing on Social and Gender Justice. My cohort led by Pastor Dr. Leslie D. Callahan. Dr. Walter Fluker signs books at the end of class.

As a wife, mother and doctoral student, my children attend every conference with me. Here, my daughters are saying their goodbyes to Dr. Yolanda Pierce – conference host.

The 2014 Black Theology and Leadership Institute

Candace Laughinghouse — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:07:18 +0000

Highlights from Black Theology and Leadership Institute 2014

Yolanda Pierce

This summer, I was selected to attend the annual Black Theology and Leadership Institute (BTLI) at Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Yolanda Pierce – the Elmer G. Homrighausen Associate Professor of African American Studies and Literature and Liaison with the Princeton University Center for African American Studies – has managed to create a think-tank of fellow leaders and theologians within the black church. The week-long event consisted of lectures, nightly chapel services fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, cohort sessions with theologians-in-residence, and more.

Gregory Ellison

“If we want people to receive water from our overflowing fountain of knowledge and ideas, then we have to bring it in a cup they recognize.”
—John W. Kinney

Dr. Pierce began the session with her lecture entitled, “The Occasion: ‘Telling the Truth and Shaming the Devil’”. She confronted the expectation that a prophet does not and should not face persecution. Of course, we are familiar with the Scriptural adage that ‘we are not to touch God’s anointed’ (Psalm 105:15 and 1 Chronicles 16:22). However, there are times the prophet experiences the persecution within him/herself. The battle is accepting the fact that God is the God of the oppressed, as well as the oppressor. How do we preach this tension? Well, this tension is where God resides. In the end, the entire world is suffering because the prophets will not get in their place and call forth liberating theologies instead of the stain-glassed doctrine and steepled theology that relies on the hopelessness of the people that enter the door.

Jonathan Walton

Bishop Yvette Flunder’s lecture on sexual justice involved challenging leaders to rethink the praxis that limits who can sit at the table theologically. What I enjoy most about BTLI is that there were varying positions on major issues but we all had respect for one another’s evolving theology. The following day, Prof. Dr. John W. Kinney confronted the agendas of black theologians and preachers who are completely out of touch. He admonished preachers who ignored the advancement of the people within the pews. He then went on to suggest that “If we want people to receive water from our overflowing fountain of knowledge and ideas, then we have to bring it in a cup they recognize.” If black leaders and theologians are going to solve the issues of racial injustice in society, then we must restructure our presentation and attitude towards the congregation. How can this occur when we get mad at the congregation for not receiving the sermon, instead of questioning our own delivery? Prof. Dr. Gregory Ellison decided to shake things up. We participated in what he calls “Fearless Dialogues” (www.fearlessdialogues.com). This involved the entire group engaging in a role-play experience that created space for hard conversations concerning varying situations that effect everyone. The goal was to help us see the gifts in others, hear values in stores and work toward transformation and change in self and others. Prof. Dr. Jonathan Walton challenged our hermeneutical lens and dared us to construct a genuine approach to reading and preaching the biblical text. Prof. Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas lectured on the problems of Social and Gender Justice in the black church. While teaching young girls to remain abstinent and being lax on the same issues for young boys, we are indeed perpetuating a rape culture within the pews. She maintains that “Our clarifying task as leaders is: will you be on the side of right or popular? Make up your mind.” We ended the week with Dr. Walter Fluker’s lecture on the beloved community and our responsibility as leaders to navigate the traffic at the intersection that requires a skill set that leaders must learn – “we must look, listen and learn.”

BLTI14 was a huge success. The conversations continued into the late hours and most of us remain in conversation daily via social media. I highly recommend fellow Pentecostals to apply and glean from the knowledge, networking and resources available at BTLI – July 11-18, 2015. You will not be the same.

Yvette Flunder

Walter Earl Fluker

Stacey Floyd-Thomas