Leadership and Christian Formation in the Early Church

This seminar will explore how the Holy Spirit used early Christian leaders to form people’s faith and life. Looking at martyrs, Chrysostom, Augustine, and many other leaders in the first few centuries (100-500 A.D.), we will examine leadership gifts, worship practices, preaching strategies, spiritual disciplines, and theology. As we learn about early church history, we will discuss and apply it to Christian formation today.

The director is David Rylaarsdam who began his teaching career at Smith Memorial Bible College in Nigeria, and since has taught at the University of Notre Dame, Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, and now, Calvin Theological Seminary. He has also served a variety of churches as interim pastor and received missionary training in Mexico City. David sees church history as an opportunity to listen to testimonies of older brothers and sisters in the faith.

David has contributed to numerous publications and presentations. His dissertation topic was “The Adaptability of Divine Pedagogy: Sugkatabasis in the Theology and Rhetoric of John Chrysostom.”

Both scholars and pastors are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is February 10, 2014.

Funds provided by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship with funding by Lilly Endowment, Inc.