Some unusual insight from Huff Post on Jesus & the Gospel of John

I'm usually not a big fan of the theological articles that appear in the Huffington Post, but I'll make an exception for this fine article from Robert J Morgan...

Recently The Huffington Post and other publications have explored two new books relating to the person of Jesus Christ and the Gospel of John. Both books dismiss the possibility that the Apostle John actually wrote the Fourth Gospel or that Jesus of Nazareth is accurately portrayed in its contents. These are not innovative assertions. Both new books follow old lines of scholarship and skepticism that reject the divine claims of Christ, the historicity of his miracles, and the active theism that permeates the New Testament record. But many others scholars -- the ones less often interviewed in the media -- hold a valid countering view: Both internally and externally there is strong evidence the Apostle John was behind the writing of the Fourth Gospel and that he composed his account with the accuracy of an eyewitness and the pen of a brilliant thinker.

Read the rest here.

Trinity Seminary to Partner with the North American Lutheran Church

The North American Lutheran Church (NALC) has chosen to partner with Trinity School for Ministry to create a “Seminary Center” for the training of future NALC pastors. In a nearly unanimous vote on August 8, 2013, the Convocation of the NALC took action to establish a new North American Lutheran Seminary (NALS). This seminary will not be a degree granting institution, rather, it will partner with existing accredited seminaries to provide sound theological education for NALC students. Trinity will soon welcome a new NALS Seminary Director to its Ambridge, PA campus to oversee the formation of NALC students, whether at Trinity or at one of the Houses of Study that will be developed throughout North America.

Lutheran students will earn a degree from Trinity School for Ministry, taking the core courses required in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) curriculum. For some courses they will take Lutheran alternatives taught by NALC professors to ensure a solid foundation in confessional Lutheranism.

“We're very excited about this new partnership as the Seminary Center for the NALC” remarked the Very Rev. Dr. Justyn Terry, Dean/President of Trinity School for Ministry. “One of the great excitements about Trinity is that we believe we are forming Christian leaders for mission. Wherever they are, they will be on the mission of God. The way in which we have been able to come together [with the NALC] around the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a great encouragement to me. It does seem that once again in this new reformation era that we are being called together to contend for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the faith once delivered to the Church.”

Read it all here.

From PEARUSA... new liturgical music from Drew Collins

Songs for the Liturgy by Drew Collins

7/24/13BY LWATTS

I discovered Anglicanism four years ago. Having led worship since high school, I found myself leading for the first time at Wellspring Church in Englewood, CO, on a Sunday in October 2009. The next morning my wife Sarah jokingly said, “We went to bed last night as regular Christians and woke up this morning as Anglicans!”

As long as I’ve led worship I’ve been interested in learning about my vocational roots. The Anglican tradition offers such a beautiful opportunity to explore worship because of the rhythms of the church year, the richness of the liturgical texts, and the connectedness to the historic Church. While we’ve come to love the tradition, our feeling at home in Anglicanism is largely due to the local community that we’re part of at Wellspring. We deeply appreciate being part of a church family that cares about the neighborhood, that gives sacrificially, and that loves one another so well. In the midst of this body I have found the inspiration to write and arrange songs for the Church.  Read it all here.