Schedule of Classes

Fall Semester

Classes start Tuesday, September 7

Last day to register or add classes: Monday, September 27

PMP Distance Learning

Register as soon as possible to get started

Deadline: end of December

Register now for classes

• List of  Classes and Times

• Fall Semester residence classes begin September 7

• Distance classes — begin work any time.  Concentrated classes in Tacoma take place May 31 – June 10, 2011

This month’s new church bulletin insert features WRS graduate Allister Stone, M.D. (M.Div., 1995).  Allister writes about “The Problem with Medicine,” looking at life and death through the eyes of a Christian medical doctor.  He is pictured on a medical mission trip to Liberia.

The insert also summarizes the work of the Women’s Auxiliary of the seminary—ladies who labor to make the seminary better for students and faculty alike!

Feel free to download the bulletin insert and print it on two sides of the paper and cut in half.

WRS supplies a new church bulletin insert four times each year.  Previous inserts are available as well.

Friday night, April 30, at 6:00 p.m.
The dinner is free, and there will be a fun program.  An offering will be taken for this year’s special project–equipment for distance learning classes.
If you can come, please RSVP so we will have enough food!

Author and speaker Solano Portela, an expert in Christian education and a leader in the burgeoning Christian school movement in Brazil, will deliver this year’s lectures, entitled “Christian Education–A Reformed Imperative.”  Lectures will be held at the seminary April 19-20 and 22-23, 7:00-9:00 p.m.  Free refreshments will be provided.

Portela has written articles and books in both English and Portuguese dealing with the Reformed faith and its application in the education of our children.  He is a leader in the Association of Christian Schools International in Brazil, and has served in various administrative positions in the Mackenzie Presbyterian Schools and Universities, with 47,000 students.

Here are the topics for each evening:

Monday, April 19: “The Need for a Reformed World and Life View – Guiding our thoughts with Psalm 19″

The Christian Weltanschauung, defining it from Psalm 19; demonstrating the biblical world and life view; this worldview applied to several areas of knowledge (economics, government, history, and so on), showing that there is a difference in how Christians should approach and teach each one of these areas

Tuesday, April 20: “Distinctive Characteristics of Christian Education”

An explanation of Christian school education, building on the biblical worldview, comparing it to secular education, stressing the role of teachers and parents in this process

Thursday, April 22, “Christian Education and Culture”

The Christian view of culture, showing how the Bible uses aspects of human culture as an expression of God’s common grace; demonstrated in the tabernacle, in the temple, and in Revelation; the dilemma between flesh and spirit, not matter and spirit, as an ethical divider; the different  approaches suggested by Niebuhr and Machen (stressing the latter); the relation of Christian education and culture in the role of the Christian School

Friday, April 23, “Doing Christian Education in a non-Christian Setting”

The amazing work of God going on in Brazil; the setting and experiences of Mackenzie Schools and Universities; the progress of Reformed Christian teaching in a non-Christian setting (75% of parents and students are from a non-evangelical Christian background); lessons in developing text-books with a Christian worldview

Through the last few years we have published 1/2 – page church bulletin inserts.  These are well-done, interesting, and timely.  You may download and print up these for your church.

Here is a list of available inserts:

• Featuring John Witherspoon
• Featuring Martin Luther
• Featuring J. Gresham Machen
• Featuring Easter at Westminster Abbey
• Featuring Patrick Henry
• Featuring “Tax Time Again”
• Featuring WRS and Bible Presbyterian Distinctives
• Featuring WRS and Myanmar

For the Spring Semester, the last day to add a course or register for courses is Tuesday, February 16.

For this year’s Pastoral Mentorship Program (PMP) distance learning, the deadline for open registration has passed.  However, still can ask permission to register for a course or courses, which requires faculty approval.  Inquire with the registrar for details.  The concentrated classes for this year will be held on weekdays from Tuesday, June 1, through Friday, June 11.

 Fall 2010 Residence Classes

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2010-2011 PMP Classes

The latest issue of the WRS Journal is now online!

Entitled John Calvin: 500 Years after His Birth (Part 2), the issue includes articles emphasizing the teachings and influence of Calvin, both in the church and in society. The previous issue (Part 1) outlined Calvin’s life and work. Contributors to this issue are Tim Prussic, Jason Anspach, James Huff, Garry Cole, Alister Stone, Leonard W. Pine, and Hans A. Zeiger. In addition several book reviews are added online which could not be included in the printed edition, by Morris McDonald, Ben Robinson, John Battle, and Judith Collins.

All previous issues of the WRS Journal, the complete 16-year run, are available at the seminary website.

Many excellent books and journals honoring John Calvin have been produced and published during this commemorative year. Western Reformed Seminary is happy to take part in this upsurge of interest in the Genevan Reformer, and in the way that the Lord used him to define and defend and promote the biblical, Reformed faith.

On  October 31 WRS sent out this press release, announcing our new, redesigned and enhanced website:

On this Reformation Day of 2009, Western Reformed Seminary is happy to announce the unveiling of our new, totally redesigned website (www.wrs.edu).  WRS, located in Tacoma, Washington, is the approved seminary for the Bible Presbyterian Church for the training of its ministers and other workers.  The seminary also serves other Bible-believing Reformed and Presbyterian churches.

In addition to a new design, the website now includes new content and many new features.  All past issues of the WRS Journal are available, indexed by author and totally searchable.  The seminary also has posted all its course syllabi for public use, including class notes for the entire Bible, theology, and church history curriculum.  The seminary’s Catalog, handbooks, and student enrollment forms are available online.  The audio section includes all of the Ronald W. Taber Lecture Series in addition to various other conference lectures.  A popular feature is a Bible Reading Plan, which divides the Bible into daily readings of similar length, arranged chronologically.

Because of the total redesign, the web addresses of most pages have changed.  The best way to reach all the pages is through the home page, www.wrs.edu.  For more information, please contact the WRS office, information@wrs.edu, or call #253-272-0417.