Human Cloning: A Monster in the Making

The Magazine of Covenant Theological Seminary

COVENANTVol. 20, No. 4 Winter 2005-06

Christ-centered Ministry: An Interview with

the Dean of Students

To Know and Be Known

Westward-Ho: Alumni Church

Planting

Human Cloning: A Monster in the Making?

FINDING

YOUR STORYCHRISTMAS STORY

INTHE

COVENANT MAGAZINE Winter 2005-06

We usually think of the Christmas season as a time of great

rejoicing – and rightly so. As Christians, this is when we

celebrate God’s gracious gift of Jesus Christ to a sinful world

in need of saving. Yet, even as our Savior was born in

Bethlehem on that first Christmas day, opposing forces were

at work attempting to prevent the proclamation of God’s

Word expressed in Christ.

In our own day, many opposing forces still challenge the

full and clear expression of the Gospel message. Two of these are particularly pernicious.

The first is the continuing erosion of belief in the authority of Scripture. The other,

ironically, is a tendency by even those who do recognize the authority of God’s Word

to truncate its message by making moral instruction or societal reform the primary focus

of their sermons. Well intended as such messages may be, if the communication of God’s

Word does not include the proclamation of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, then the

teacher has missed the point. He misleads himself and those under his care into trusting

in something other than the grace of Christ alone for salvation.

A focus on Jesus Christ is central to everything we do at Covenant Seminary.

This focus is reflected in our seven core values, each of which we will examine in some

detail in Covenant magazine, beginning with this issue. Included here is an interview

with Dr. Mark Dalbey, Dean of Students, who discusses the first of these core values:

Christ-centered ministry. Such ministry upholds the authority of God’s Word and

proclaims that Jesus Christ and His finished work are the center of our faith, the

source of our morality, and the motivator for personal and societal reform.

We rejoice at seeing more and more students coming to Covenant Seminary to grow

in understanding of Christ-centered ministry. We rejoice also in sending out individuals

like the alumni you will meet in these pages. Whether it is Mark Kuiper in California,

Bill Boyd in Texas, Shawn Slate in Virginia – or any of many others I could name – God

is using alumni like these to spread His Christ-centered Good News all over the world.

This is the mission for which we at Covenant Seminary live. This is the mission for

which we sacrifice our time, our talents, and our treasure: so that Gospel ministers may be

trained and sent forth to proclaim clearly the message of Christ. Please consider prayerfully

how your own sacrificial partnership in this mission can help bring the joy of Jesus to

those who do not yet know Him.

May Christ be at the center of your heart and your rejoicing this Christmas season –

and always.

Bryan Chapell, President

2Finding Your Story

in the Christmas StorySHAWN SLATE (M.DIV.’02)

6To Know and Be Known

How Christ’s Love Moves Us into Intimacy,

Humility, and RiskGREG PERRY

14Christ-centered MinistryDalbey Addresses Seminary’s

First Core Value

18Westward-Ho

As the U.S. Population Expands to the West,

Alumni See Need and Go– COVENANT TO THE WORLD –

24Human Cloning:

A Monster in the Making?LUKE BOBO

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Events 11

Alumni News 12

Intercessor 22

Campus News 28

Student Profile 30

Volume 20, No. 4

Winter 2005-06

Connecting and Re-connecting at Covenant SeminaryPastors and ministry leaders from across the nation gathered atCovenant Seminary this past Octoberfor the Seminary’s annual Connectconference. Topics addressed includedleading for change, youth ministry, and Gospel-centered worship. To hearmessages from the conference, log on to www.covenantseminary.edu and use the search word “Connect” in the Online Resources.

SHAWN SLATE (M.DIV.’02)Reformed University Fellowship

Campus Minister for the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

COVENANT MAGAZINE Winter 2005-06 2

But when the time hadfully come, God sent hisSon, born of a woman,born under law, to redeemthose under law, that wemight receive the fullrights of sons.

– GALATIANS 4:4-5

FINDING

YOUR STORYCHRISTMAS STORY

INTHE

aybe you can connect

with the story of the three

trees at this point. Perhaps

you have had dreams and

desires about your life, and

have found these desires,

like the trees, cut down.

Life is not exactly what

you thought it would be and you find yourself at times

disappointed, lacking joy and hope. Maybe you are angry

with God Himself – and Christmas becomes a great big

disappointment for you.

One Christmas not too long ago, a young boy I know

wanted a scooter. As his family gathered around the

Christmas tree opening up present after present, they finally

came to the last present. The son opened up this gift with

great vigor. The wrapping came off, the box was opened, and

the little boy’s hand went into that box and pulled out paja-

mas. They were footed and made of fleece with his favorite

cartoon character ironed on, but it was not a scooter.

Tears welled up in the boy’s eyes. He threw the box across

the room and knocked over the Christmas tree. Christmas

was a great big disappointment because it did not bring a

scooter. Oftentimes, that is what Christmas is about for us –

the scooter, not about receiving Christ. And for you and me,

we are not disappointed about pajamas, we are disappointed

about life. What does it really mean to be disappointed

about life? Isn’t it that we are disappointed with God’s

providence – and ultimately with God Himself? We think

God is not delivering and that He is not fair or loving.

I do not know what disappointment you face. Maybe you

thought you would be married by now. Maybe you thought

you would have children by now or live in a certain part of

the country or in a certain neighborhood. Your dream could

have been going to college and changing the world by land-

ing a certain job after graduation. But now you aren’t doing

www.covenantseminary.edu 3 Training Servants of the Triune God

Finding Your Story in the Christmas Story

Maybe you are familiar with the traditional folk tale of the three trees, each of

which had great aspirations for its life. One of the trees wanted to be made into a

beautiful treasure box. Another wanted to be used to build a regal sailing vessel.

The other wanted to grow big and tall and become the largest tree of them all. Three

trees, each with dreams, each with expectations, were met with unexpected and, at

times, unwelcome circumstances. In fact, they all were cut down and transformed

into things that did not seem to live up to their high aspirations. The first tree was

not made into a beautiful treasure chest; it was made into a feeding trough.

The second tree was not made into a regal sailing vessel; it was made into a little

fishing boat. The third tree, instead of stretching from heaven to earth, was cut

down and made into a piece of lumber.

M

what you thought. Maybe your family is not what you hoped

it would be and you are tired and frustrated, lacking joy

because you think God is not doing what you would like

Him to do. And that makes you mad. At times it makes

me mad. What is the cause of all this disappointment and

frustration? I think we are disappointed because we do not

believe the Christmas story. We do not believe the one true

story of God’s redemption. Instead, we believe false stories.

We all have stories that shape our lives. Some of us call

them “worldviews,” others call them “stories” or “values.”

But we all have stories that dictate the way we interact

with the world. Though the young child

mentioned above believed in Jesus and

the Christmas story, at the moment in

time when he unwrapped his presents,

Christmas was about a scooter. It was

about a scooter bringing joy into his life,

rather than God Himself.

What are some stories or values that

compete in our hearts with the Christmas

story? One is the story of possessions.

That was the story of the first tree in

the folk tale. It wanted to hold treasure.

Don’t we want it all? If we have it all,

then we will be happy, right? We buy

into the story of possessions, and often

this costs us a lot.

But the Christmas story greets us with

a revolutionary message about what is

valuable in this world. The apostle Peter

writes, “For you know that it was not

with perishable things such as silver or

gold that you were redeemed from the

empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,

but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without

blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:17-19). Through these verses,

we see that what we often consider valuable and able to

bring us happiness is really perishable. Yet, through

Christmas – Christ being born into this world – God

makes way for the greatest gift: His own Son as a ransom

for our lives.

We also believe the story of power. The second tree

wanted to be a great sailing vessel that would go across the

seas. We buy into the story of power, thinking that this

makes us significant. We think that if we are not in charge

or the most influential person, then we are just cogs in

the wheel, completely unimportant.

But God’s Word teaches us that, by Jesus coming into

this world in human flesh, “[Christ] made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant….” Think about how

Jesus did it. He came into this world not with pomp and

circumstance, but as a servant. He was born of the virgin

Mary, a young girl who was not wealthy or powerful. She

did not come from the corridors of power – she was just

faithful. Jesus’ birth was announced, not through the halls

of the palace, but to lowly shepherds. To people living

menial lives, doing menial jobs, God

comes and announces His Incarnation.

There is a message for us here: Jesus

brings significance to the most seemingly

insignificant parts of life. It is through

those small acts of faithfulness, carried

out by regular people, that the light of

Christ is brought into this world.

We also believe the story of

popularity, which is what the third tree

longed for. A song written to retell this

folk tale includes a line spoken by the

third tree, which says, “I will grow

straight and tall, I will rise above them

all/branches lifting as in prayer, when

they all will look to heaven as they see me

pointing there.” Don’t we often want to

be the one who is seen? We tend to want

praise and honor and to dazzle the people

around us. We want to be popular

because, if we are popular, then we are

significant. If we are not popular, we are

nobodies. If someone else is not popular, then he or she is

a nobody, too.

But once again the Christmas story brings us quite a

different message about the importance of receiving the

praise of others. Through the entirety of Jesus’ life, we

see the unpredictability and even danger of the effects of

popularity. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus spent the early years of

Jesus’ life in exile because an unjust ruler was threatened

by His popularity. As Jesus’ public ministry progressed, the

same crowd that sang His praises turned against Him. Jesus

saw the fickle nature of popularity, and He warns us that,

as His followers, we will experience the same trials.

We all have storiesthat shape our lives.Some of us call them“worldviews,” otherscall them “stories” or “values.” But weall have stories thatdictate the way we interact with the world.


(See Matthew 10.) But Jesus shows us what it means to love

our neighbors. Jesus entered into the lives of average people

with routine lives. And He entered into the lives of those

who rejected Him.

Jesus, the great reject, comes and embraces His despisers

– this is love. In 1 John 4:10-12 we read, “This is love: not

that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as

an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so

loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever

seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his

love is made complete in us.”

In essence, what is wrong with

the stories of possessions, power, and

popularity? The common element in all

of these stories is that something takes

the place that only God should have in

our lives. As Jesus is the main character

of the Christmas story, and the whole

story is arranged around Him, so also our

stories need to be arranged around Jesus.

He is the only one who can live up to

our hopes and dreams as we sing at

Christmastime: “the hopes and fears of

all the years are met in thee tonight.”1

When we try to arrange our story around

someone or something else, it will only

lead to destruction.

However, the Good News is that

God knew that we would believe untrue

stories. So He became man and entered

into our lives by sharing our disappoint-

ment and suffering because He loves us.

He comes to us and essentially says,

“You are loved because you are loved – not because

of your possessions, prestige, power, or anything else.”

By this He frees us from the false stories that so easily

enslave us and shows us the true story of Christ.

The three trees all had dreams which were initially

unfulfilled. If you know the rest of this folk tale, you know

that all of their dreams were made complete when they

became participants in the Christmas story – when they

participated in Christ. The first tree became the manger

where Jesus was laid at His birth. The second tree became

a boat that carried Jesus and His disciples. And the third

tree became a beam in the cross of Christ.

While the tale of the three trees is imaginary, it was

created to represent a real truth for you and me. All of our

dreams, all of our expectations are met in Christ and in

His story. If you are joined to Christ through faith, your story

is joined with and organized by this most central story, the

story of redemption, in which you and I participate by God’s

grace in Christ. If you are not part of this grand narrative of

the Incarnation this Christmas season, would you begin to

participate in His story for the rest of your life?

You see, the story is not about how great I am or how

great you are – the story is about how great He is. When

you hear the Christmas story this year,

look at your life and see how you are

participating in His story. See the

promises that are announced with

Christ’s birth in this world and see

those promises for your life today –

until He comes again. ■

...[Jesus] frees us from the falsestories that so easily enslave us by showing us the true story of Christ.

1 O Little Town of Bethlehem, Phillips Brooks, 1868.


GREG PERRYAssistant Professor of Biblical Studies


To KNOWAND BE KNOWN

How Christ’s Love Moves Us into Intimacy, Humility, and Risk

Did you hear what happened in Bethany?

They say he raised a man from the dead

after four days in the tomb. Could it be?

Could He be the Anointed One from God?” Even as they

celebrated their miraculous deliverance from slavery in

Egypt, the people wondered if Jesus of Nazareth was the

Promised One, the One who would throw off their Roman

rulers and tax burden. Could Jesus be the Messiah, who

would again bring God’s people into an inheritance of their

own? Already, many had given Him a royal welcome into

the city with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna!”

It was an exhilarating time, and accordingly, John positions

this story at the turning point of his Gospel.

Six times before in John’s Gospel we have heard Jesus

say, “My hour has not yet come.” At the wedding in Cana,

near the beginning of His ministry Jesus had responded to

His mother’s agenda by saying, “My hour has not yet come”

(John 2:4b). The momentum builds throughout His public

ministry until, in answer to questions from Jewish leaders,

Jesus says, “a time is coming and has now come when the

dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who

hear will live.” (John 5:25). Indeed, these words were on the

minds of many who had arrived in Jerusalem from Bethany:

Lazarus had heard Jesus and come to life!

In John 12 and 13, “the hour” is no longer coming. Jesus

says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

. . . Now, my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?

‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very

reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

(John 12:23, 27,28). Of what sort of glory does Jesus speak?

Isn’t it the glory of the King? If so, then why is He so

troubled on this night of celebration? Yes, Jesus brought

Lazarus back to life, but reactions include a plot to kill

Him. Yes, He was anointed with oil, but by a woman with

unbound hair who poured her perfume on His feet, not

His head. Yes, He entered the city in triumph, but riding

a donkey colt, not a chariot. Who is this King and what

kind of strange glory is He to receive?

Knowing Jesus Is Personal

Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this

world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were

in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already

prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus

knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and

that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he

got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped

a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a

basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with

the towel that was wrapped around him.

– JOHN 13:1a-5


To Know and Be Known

Have you ever visited a city when it was filled beyond capacity for an event like the

Olympics? There are no hotel rooms, parking is tight, traffic is slow, and the license

plates you see are mostly from out of state. Try to imagine such a crowd in first-

century Jerusalem. People were packed in to celebrate Passover. The city had not

doubled or tripled, it had ballooned to over twelve times its normal size. But the

Passover feast we read about in John 13 was unlike any other. There was an elec-

tric current running throughout the pilgrim crowd. People were asking questions.

“

Do we really want to know this Jesus? Do we want to

understand this strange glory of His? Or, do we just want to

know about Jesus? Everyone who was anyone in Jerusalem

wanted to know about Jesus. But, if we only want to know

about Jesus, we can keep our own agendas for Him. We can

try to manage Him much like those who had plans for Him

during this Passover. Yet, amidst the clamor for information,

Jesus slips away from the crowds to have dinner with

His disciples.

Jesus’ dinners were not like those of the Pharisees.

The Pharisees’ dinners resembled the Greco-Roman

symposia, with their rhetorical matches and honor

bestowed on the greatest debater. But at

His meal, the host, Jesus, takes off His

outer robe to dress like a slave and do the

work of a slave. Not even a Hebrew slave

was to wash people’s feet, yet Jesus pours

water into the basin to undertake the

necessary task.

We do not have any traditional

parables in John’s Gospel; instead we

have living parables. The living parable

of John 13 is like a cardiac crash cart:

it is designed to shock the system.

In Luke’s account of this same dinner

we read that a “dispute broke out among

them [the disciples] as to which one of

them was considered to be the greatest”

(Luke 22:24). Even as doctors and nurses

only jolt a patient with electricity when

his heart is dysfunctional, Jesus jolts the

disciples by making Himself their servant.

Does the Lord’s Supper jolt us like this?

Clearly, Jesus was anticipating the cross at His meal.

Do we look back on it in order to know Jesus like this,

the Jesus who does this?

Yet, even as a servant, Jesus is the Head of the Table,

not us. He sets the terms of the relationship, not us. If we

are to know Jesus, He must first know us. If we are to get

involved with Jesus, He must first get involved with us.

That is what is happening here at this meal during this

strange revelation of His glory. Jesus acts like a slave to get

near His disciples in a way that involves personal knowledge,

intimacy, and exposure. He “shows the full extent of His

love” (John 13:1b) for them and for us. Jesus moves into

those parts of our lives that we would just as soon keep

covered or at a safe distance.

My son Stephen has a dog named Max. Max is a

beautiful yellow Labrador and Stephen professes to love him.

Yet, one day last summer, when it came time to wash Max,

Stephen, with new clothes on, stood at a distance and

started to spray Max down with the hose. Every dad knows

the next move. I pulled off my tie, opened my collar, kicked

off socks and shoes, came beside Stephen, and said, “You too,

Son! Take off your shirt and shoes, and get ready to get wet.

If you love Max, we’re going to have to get personal.”

Knowing Jesus means that He knows you. Getting

involved with Jesus means He is already

involved with you. By the time Stephen

and I were finished washing Max, we

smelled like dogs and had wet clumps

of Lab hair all over us. That is what

happens when Jesus gets involved with

us. “He who knew no sin, became sin for

us, so that in him we might be made the

righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Knowing Jesus is personal.

Knowing Jesus Is Humbling

He came to Simon Peter, who said to

him, “Lord, are you going to wash my

feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize

now what I am doing, but later you will

understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall

never wash my feet.” Jesus answered,

“Unless I wash you, you have no part

with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter

replied, “not just my feet but my hands

and my head as well!” Jesus answered,

“A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet;

his whole body is clean...”

– JOHN 13:6-10a

Knowing Jesus is not only personal, it is also very

humbling. But Simon Peter is not buying that. He cannot

imagine allowing His Lord to wash his feet. “It will never

happen!” he says. Simon was a no-nonsense kind of guy, a

self-made man; he could wash his own feet. But, Jesus plainly

tells him, “You don’t realize what I am doing for you, but

later you will understand.” After Peter’s denial, after the

cross and the resurrection, after Peter’s restoration, then he

would see that self-sufficiency has no place in knowing Jesus.

Even as doctors andnurses only jolt apatient with electricitywhen his heart is dysfunctional, Jesusjolts the disciples by making Himselftheir servant.


Knowledge comes through connection, not isolation;

through relationship, not self-sufficient autonomy. Jesus says,

“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” (John 13:8).

John’s language of “part” or “portion” is the language of

inheritance. Jesus is saying to Peter – and to us – unless

I wash you, you cannot share in my kingdom.

Peter takes Jesus’ rebuke, but his exuberant desire to

correct his error only reveals his inability to understand this

living parable. One Biblical scholar guides us through the

difficulties of this text by suggesting that Jesus is applying

the metaphor of cleansing in three ways: as the bath that is

needed for 1) conversion, 2) sanctification, and 3) example.

Peter seems to be confusing the second

application for the first.1 But Jesus

reminds him that he has already been

bathed (John 13:10a). What he needs

now is the regular foot washing of

sanctification. Like Peter, those of us who

have been bathed by Jesus need to humble

ourselves daily in repentance and confes-

sion by having our feet washed again.

German pastor and theologian

Dietrich Bonhoeffer diagnosed the

situation of many of our churches all

too well when he wrote, “The final

breakthrough to fellowship does not

occur, because, though they have fellow-

ship with one another as believers and

as devout people, they do not have

fellowship as the undevout, as sinners.

The pious fellowship permits no one to

be a sinner. So, everybody must conceal

his sin from himself and the fellowship.

We dare not be sinners! Many Christians are unthinkably

horrified when a real sinner shows up. So we remain alone

with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy.… It is the grace of

the Gospel that is so hard for the pious to understand.” 2

Jesus’ living parable requires humility in all three of its

applications – to be converted, to repent in an ongoing

manner, and to serve. Knowing Jesus is humbling.

Knowing Jesus Is Risky

“...you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he

knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said

not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their

feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you

understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You

call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what

I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your

feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you

an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell

you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a

messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you

know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

– JOHN 13:10b-17

For years, I missed the element of

risk we embrace in knowing Jesus. Yet

these verses clearly teach such risk. Jesus

said, “You are clean, though not every

one of you.” Jesus knew who was going

to betray him, and that was why He said

not every one was clean. When He had

finished washing their feet, Judas was still

in the room! Jesus, with full knowledge

of Judas’ plans, washed his feet, too.

Only two disciples are mentioned here,

one a denier, the other a betrayer. Jesus

knows them both.

We do not know people’s hearts

like Jesus did and does. We would like

to be able to look on the outside and

discern who will take advantage of us

and who will be appreciative. The fact

of the matter is that we do not even

know our own hearts like Jesus does.

The final point of Jesus’ living parable

is that He serves the denier and the betrayer, the takers and

the thankful, and He calls His followers to do the same.

Knowing Jesus is risky.

Once again, we are jolted by the enormous difference

between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him intimately

enough to accompany Him on His way. Jesus showed the full

extent of His love to Peter the denier. Later, he would ask

him three times, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter answered,

“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

(John 21:15-19). Those who are known by Jesus know Jesus.

Those who know Jesus follow his steps. It is a risky business.

Peter himself would write to Christians enduring “all kinds

Once again, we arejolted by the enormousdifference betweenknowing about Jesusand knowing Himintimately enough to accompany Him on His way.

1 D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New TestamentCommentary Series (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1991), 465.

2 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, trans. J. W. Duberstein (London:SCM Press, 1954), 100.



of trials” (1 Peter 1:6), saying, “To this you were called,

because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,

that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Jesus’ living parable in John 13 is so essential to a

true knowledge of Him that it is captured not only in the

narrative of the upper room, it is also preserved for us in one

of the earliest Christian hymns, as recorded in Philippians 2.

Consider this parallel:

Knowing Jesus means getting involved with Him and

His world because He is involved with us in our world.

Knowing Jesus means staying close to Him as we follow

where He is going because He has already come near to us.

Knowing Jesus means we cannot play it safe.

The need for risky involvement in God’s world becomes

all the more real to many of us as we face the aftermath of

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. My brother, a Baptist pastor

in New Orleans, was left with no income after the storm hit.

This is not a time for me or any other person involved in

his life to play it safe. Many others are in the same situation,

so we must follow Jesus into risky involvement. We cannot

stay at a distance if we are to be servants of our Master.

Be it suffering from storms or human injustices, Jesus’

followers must get involved. It will be risky. It will be costly.

But it is the only way to follow Jesus – because that is where

He will be. ■

John 13:3a: “Jesus

knew the Father had

put all things under

his power...”

John 13:4b:

“…[Jesus] wrapped

a towel around

his waist.”

John 13:5a: “…[Jesus]

began to wash his

disciples’ feet, drying

them with the towel

that was wrapped

around him.”

John 13:12a: “[Jesus]

put on his clothes and

returned to his place.”

John 13:13: Jesus said,

“You call me ‘Teacher’

and ‘Lord,’ and rightly

so, for that is what

I am.”

Philippians 2:6:

“Who being in very

nature God, [Jesus] did

not consider equality

with God something

to be grasped...”

Philippians 2:7:

“[Jesus] made himself

nothing, taking the very

nature of a servant…”

Philippians 2:8b:

“…he humbled himself

and became obedient to

death – even death on

a cross!”

Philippians 2:9-11:

“…God exalted him to

the highest place and

gave him the name that

is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus

every knee should

bow…and every tongue

confess that Jesus Christ

is Lord…”

This message was originally given

as a sermon during Chapel

at Covenant Seminary.

To access more messages

like this online (as MP3 audio files

and PDF text messages) log on to

www.covenantseminary.edu.

PLEASE JOIN US

These events are open to the public.

To learn more log on to www.covenantseminary.edu

or call 1.800.903.4044.

EVENTSGatherings, Conferences

Spring 2006 Francis Schaeffer Lectures & Student MissionFellowship Conference

Seek the Peace of theCity: Ministry in anUrban ContextDATES AND TIMES: Friday, February 24,

7 - 9 p.m. & Saturday, February 25, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

PLENARY SPEAKER: Mark Gornick, Director, City

Seminary of New York and author of To Live In

Peace: Biblical Faith and the Changing Inner City

OTHER SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Joseph Muutuki,

Pastor of New City Fellowship of Nairobi, Kenya,

and Scott Roley author of God’s Neighborhood

and Pastor of Missions and Outreach for Christ

Community Church, Franklin, Tenn.

LOCATION: Covenant Seminary Chapel

CONFERENCE FEE: $15.00*

This spring, Covenant Seminary’s Francis A. Schaeffer Institute is teamingup with the Seminary’s Student MissionFellowship to host teachers and practi-tioners with a depth of wisdom and experience in ministering in an urbancontext. The lecture series will seek toanswer the following questions: Whatdoes the Gospel look like – in both wordand deed – in an urban ministry context?What exactly is an “urban ministry context”? What are similarities and differences between ministering in urbancontexts abroad and in the United States?And how do we seek the peace of the cityin practical ways?

Save the Date!

Yimi SummerConferenceDATES: June 12 to 17, 2006

This summer, Covenant Seminary’s Youth in Ministry Institute (Yimi) will bring together high school students fromacross the nation to help them grow in their view of God, themselves, others,and the entire world. The Yimi summerconferences also give high school studentsa chance to think about vocationalChristian ministry as they begin the transition into life as adults. [email protected] to be added to the conference mailing list.

*Free for alumni, current students,

and staff. Students who wish to

earn academic credit for attending

should contact the Covenant

Seminary Registrar’s office

(tuition fees apply).

Winter 2005-06

Lifetime of MinistryCoursesRegister online for any of these two- to

five-day ministry enrichment courses. As part

of the Lifetime of Ministry program, these classes

can be audited* for a minimal fee ($25 to $50).

Deadline for registration is three business days

prior to the course start date. Register online at

www.covenantseminary.edu.

Disciplines of Grace INSTRUCTOR: Scotty Smith, Pastor of Christ

Community Church, Franklin, Tenn.

DATES: January 3 to 6, 2006

Peacemaking in PracticeINSTRUCTORS: Judy Dabler, Executive Director of

the Center for Biblical Counseling and Education,

and Paul Vazquez, Director of Conciliation Services

for the Center for Biblical Counseling and

Education, St. Louis, Mo.

DATES: January 6 and 7, 2006

Film and Theology INSTRUCTOR: Denis Haack, Co-Founder

and Director of Ransom Fellowship


Church-Based Community MinistryINSTRUCTOR: Amy Sherman, Author of Restorers

of Hope, Reaching the Poor in Your Community

With Church-Based Ministries that Work

DATES: January 13 and 14, 2006

Evangelism PracticumINSTRUCTOR: Mark Roessler, Pastor of

Catalina Foothills Church, Tucson, Ariz.


*non-transcript audit


Hurricane Update

Covenant Seminary alumni seem to have been spared some of the worst damage caused byHurricanes Katrina and Rita.Allen (M.Div.’00) and LynetteVargo reported from Meridian,Miss., that their home receivedsome damage, but was still inhabitable. Allen is theAssistant Pastor of NorthpointePresbyterian Church in Meridian.For detailed information aboutPCA churches affected by thehurricane, log on to www.pcahis-tory.org/churches/katrina.

After 33 years of service as Pastorof Cornerstone PresbyterianChurch in Youngstown, Ohio,William Wolfgang (M.Div.’70),has recently retired. Please jointhis congregation in giving thanksfor his faithful service. Williamand his wife Judith continue tolive in Youngstown. They havetwo daughters and one grandson.

Douglas Lee (M.Div.’73) began serving as the U.S. ArmyReserve’s Chaplain BrigadierGeneral on Oct. 1, 2005. This is the highest appointment anArmy Reserve Chaplain canreceive and only one ArmyReserve Chaplain BrigadierGeneral serves at any given time.Douglas is a member of theSiouxlands Presbytery.

Christopher Bennett (M.Div.’78)joined the pastoral staff ofCrossroads Presbyterian Churchin Woodbridge, Va., this past Julyafter having completed 26 yearsof active duty as a Navy chaplain.Chris is serving the Crossroadscongregation as Assistant Pastorfor Assimilation and MinistryCoordination. He and his wifeFrances have one grown daughter.

Chris serves Crossroads withSenior Pastor Don Sampson(M.Div.’01)

Nancy Pearcey’s (M.A.’81)recent book, Total Truth(Crossway), was awarded the2005 Evangelical ChristianPublishers Association GoldMedallion Award for best book in the category of “Christianityand Society.”

Marcus Serven (Th.M.’92)began serving as Pastor ofCovenant Family Church in Troy, Mo., this past summer. He previously served ProvidenceReformed Church in Paso Robles,Calif. The Serven family madequite a transition in coming toMissouri, since their family of 11 are all native Californians.

This past December, Al DeHart(M.Div.’95) accepted a call toserve as Pastor of Relationshipand Fellowship at River of LifeCommunity Church in Ocala,Fla. After participating in a missions trip to Namibia, Africa,in 2002, Al has spent the last twosummers leading mission teams toNamibia to teach abstinence inthe public schools. He and hiswife Kim have two children:MacKenzie (10) and Carson (8).

Jim (M.Div.’96) and Sara Wardare preparing to move to Peru in order to serve with Mark(M.Div.’99) and Lori Berry andothers in Lima on the New Cityteam (Mission to the World).Jim’s responsibilities will be in theareas of leadership development,evangelism, worship, and churchplanting. Sara will help lead economic development efforts.Jim formerly served as AssistantPastor of Youth and Families forSprington Lake Presbyterian

Church in the Philadelphia, Pa.,area. Jim and Sara have threechildren: Caroline (8), Chloe (6),and Elijah (3). Learn more on:www.mtwsa.net/limanewcity.

Jeff Rickett (M.Div.’97) beganserving as Church Planting Pastor for New Town Church in Columbia, Md., this pastFebruary. Jeff formerly served asAssociate Pastor for BroadneckPresbyterian Church in Arnold,Md. Learn more at www.new-townchurch.net.

Mark Horne (M.Div.’98) hasreturned to St. Louis, Mo., toserve as Assistant Pastor andwriter at Providence ReformedPresbyterian Church, where JeffMeyers (M.Div.’88) is SeniorPastor. Mark previously served as Pastor of First ReformedPresbyterian Church in Minco,Okla. Mark and his wife Jenniferhave two sons and two daughters.

This past summer, DavidMcIntosh (M.Div.’00), becameOrganizing Pastor of HartsvillePresbyterian Mission inHartsville, S.C. The church planthas begun meeting weekly onSunday evenings. David formerlyserved as Assistant Pastor ofWoodruff Road PresbyterianChurch in Simpsonville, S.C.

Grant Beachy (M.Div.’04) was ordained and installed asAssistant Pastor of RedeemerPresbyterian Church in TravelersRest, S.C., on May 15, 2005.

Tom Franklin (M.Div.’05) wasordained on September 4, 2005,in Evangel Presbytery as aCampus Minister for ReformedUniversity Fellowship atBirmingham Southern Collegeand the University of Alabama at

Birmingham. The service was held at Oak MountainPresbyterian Church. BobFlayhart (D.Min.’02) deliveredthe sermon.

Births

Mike (M.Div.’97) and KimCurtis’ third son, DanielMatthew, was born on April 1,2005. In June, Mike moved from being a U.S. Army Chaplainto being a U.S. Air ForceChaplain. He is now assigned to Tinker Air Force Base inOklahoma. The Curtis familylives on the south side ofOklahoma City.

Tom (M.Div.’97) and Tara Gibbscelebrated the birth of CarolineHart on July 7, 2005. Carolinejoins siblings Anna Catherine(7), Thomas (5), and Lucy (3).Tom is Pastor of RedeemerPresbyterian Church, SanAntonio, Tex.

Gabriel Vasconcelos was born toChristiano (M.Div.’00) and Anade Sousa on August 11, 2005.The de Sousas live in Cambridge,England, where Christiano is pursuing a Ph.D.

Mike (M.Div.’00) and LindaFarley joyfully announce theadoption of Rachel Marie Farley(born July 14, 2003) and LydiaFaith Farley (born June 29, 2004)on August 3, 2005. The girls arebiological sisters and were eachplaced with the Farleys by theMissouri foster care system whenthey were two days old. Bigbrother Caleb is four years old.The girls were baptized on August14, 2005, by Andrew VanderMaas (M.Div.’99), pastor ofCrossroads PresbyterianFellowship. Mike serves as the


ALUMNInew

s

If you have information for Alumni News, please mail it to Covenant Magazineor e-mail Alumni News: [email protected]


Music Director for Crossroads, a new PCA congregation in St. Louis, Mo. Mike is currently a Ph.D. candidate and AdjunctInstructor of Historical Theology at Saint Louis University.

Wes (M.Div.’02) and Amy(M.A.C.’00) Zell celebrated thebirth of Elias Owen on September30, 2004. The Zells live inCharlottesville, Va,. where Wes is Director of UndergraduateMinistries for the Center forChristian Study and Amy isCoordinator of Women’s Ministriesand Counselor-in-Residence for the Center.

Joel and Jennifer (Maurizio) Lohr(M.A.C.’03) welcomed their firstchild, Josephine Marie, into theworld on May 5, 2005. Jennifer isworking as a counselor at a localhigh school and junior high inStonington, Ill. Joel is Pastor of Old Stonington Baptist Church.

Slayton James was born to Tucker(M.Div.’03) and Stacy York on July 25, 2005. He joins bothers J.T. and Titus and sister Marriaye.Tucker serves as Associate Pastor forWestminster Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, Pa.

Jeff (M.Div.’04) and Veronique Kim welcome Victor Andrew, born on June 9, 2005. The Kimshave accepted a call to serve inFrance with United World Mission.They will assist French pastors inmobilizing and developing the local church to engage the culturefor Christ.

Correction from Fall 2005

In the Fall 2005 edition of Covenantmagazine, Peter Bekins (M.Div.’05)was incorrectly listed as PhilipBekins. The Covenant Seminarycommunity would like, once again,to congratulate Peter on receivingthe Exegetical Prize for the class of 2005.

DATES: July 1 to 11, 2006

HOSTED BY: Dr. and Mrs. Bryan Chapell

Experience the glory and majesty of God’screation as you travel the great state ofAlaska and grow in understanding of God’s splendor through Bible teaching by Dr. Bryan Chapell.

In addition to elegant dining, quality entertainment, and a European spa, dailyteaching and evening fellowship will makethis a truly memorable vacation.

This Alaskan get-away includes a seven-night cruise on the Celebrity Summit and acustomized three-night journey into DenaliNational Park which will include an outdoor,evening worship service on Sunday.

Enjoy the spectacular Alaskan scenery including: glaciers, fjords, white-capped peaks,and natural wildlife. Grow in grace throughthe power of God’s Word as it is preached surrounded by the glory and majesty of God’s workmanship.

Inside cabin pricing begins at $1,500.00* (airfare available through Celebrity Cruises).

*This rate includes a $500.00 discount for early booking and is offered until January 31, 2006.

AND

ALASKAN GLORYMAJESTY TOUR

To learn more log on to www.covenantseminary.edu or call 1.800.903.4044.

At the same time, this statement is amplified by six core

values. Like the sails and rudder of a ship, the mission

statement and core values help the Seminary stay the

course in an ever-changing world.

The following interview with Dr. Mark Dalbey, Dean

of Students and Assistant Professor of Practical Theology,

begins a series of articles in which you can get to know more

about not only the Seminary’s core values but also today’s

faculty and administrators who hold to such values.

Core Value No. 1:

Christ-centered ministry: We believe that a seminary

education is successful only if – at its end – the student

knows Jesus Christ more intimately than at its beginning.

Why is Christ-centered ministry first among

the six core values? Is that intentional?

Yes, Christ-centered ministry was intentionally listed

as the Seminary’s first core value because this Christ-

centeredness forms the foundation of the other five values.

Additionally, this reflects the priorities we learn from

Scripture. In Luke 24:25-27, 44-49, we learn that Christ

centered all of Scripture on Himself. In Colossians 1:15-20,

we see that Christ is Lord of Creation and Head of His

Church. In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul writes that he was

determined to preach

nothing except Jesus

Christ and Him

crucified. In Hebrews

2:12 and Revelation 5,

we see that Christ-

centered worship means

that Christ is present in

all aspects of our worship

and will be the focus of

heavenly worship forever.

In developing Christian ministry training, it could

seem redundant to list Christ-centered ministry as a core

value. Why is this so important for Covenant Seminary to

emphasize? Why is this important for the Church today?

So much of ministry today has a tendency to be focused

on a human person whom God has used as a leader in the

Church. The focus can be on a teaching or ministry method-

ology that is supposed to lead to successful leadership and is

often marked by numbers and media attention. This can eas-

ily replace the Christ-centered priority of life and ministry.

It is important to see that Christ-centered ministry is not

simply about the content of teaching – it is also about the

A

Q

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A simple but deeply meaningful mission statement guides the work of

Covenant Seminary. It says: The purpose of Covenant Theological Seminary

is to train servants of the triune God to walk with God, to interpret and commu-

nicate God’s Word, and to lead God’s people. This statement gives the

Seminary a clear focus for its daily work.

CHRIST-CENTEREDMINISTRY

Dalbey Addresses Seminary’s First Core Value: Christ-centered Ministry

Covenant Seminary’s Core Values Are:

Christ-centered Ministry

Biblical Authority

Grace Foundation

Relational Emphasis

Pastoral Training

Church Leadership

Kingdom Perspective

person of Christ intimately connected and related to the

people in ministry. “Christ-centered” is simply another way

of saying “in union with Christ.” Once the Church loses this

vital union-with-Christ focus, all the other “good” things

done in the name of Christ or with the correct doctrine of

Christ are not sufficient for true Christ-centered ministry.

The explanation of Christ-centered ministry

includes the intent that students would know Jesus more

intimately. What kind of knowledge is this? How does

the Seminary encourage acquiring such knowledge?

Deep understanding of Biblical truth is inseparably

connected to deep intimacy of relationship. In John 15:15,

Jesus tells His disciples that all that the Father gave Him,

He made known to them. In describing His relationship with

His disciples, Jesus does not call it a master-servant nor even

teacher-student relationship, but rather friend-friend. This

represents intimacy.

The Bible never separates love and the knowledge of

truth; it always links them together. Having all knowledge

without love is nothing according to 1 Corinthians 13.

Therefore, we seek to carry out all of seminary life – both

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Dalbey Addresses Seminary’s First Core Value: Christ-centered Ministry

Mark Dalbey (center) with current students Andy and Jorja White.

In describing His relationship with His disciples, Jesusdoes not call it amaster-servant noreven teacher-studentrelationship, but rather friend-friend.

Christ-centered Ministry

inside and outside of the classroom – in a way that maintains

this full Christ-centered understanding of life and ministry.

How does the Seminary encourage Christ-centered

ministry as opposed to another type of ministry?

We have a deep passion, like the apostle Paul, “to see

Christ formed in you [our students].” This includes humble,

prayerful engaging of students not only in the classroom,

but also in chapel services, covenant groups, over lunch, at

picnics, and while walking, sitting, or standing with students.

It is our desire to develop all of our teaching, conversations,

and activities with Christ at the center.

What is the biggest hindrance to Christ-centered

ministry in the pastorate or Christian life?

I think the biggest hindrance is allowing our lives to

be shaped by the demands and expectations of ministry per-

formance. Good things that are focused on doing can all too

often be disconnected from our identity and being in Christ.

In my life, in the Seminary’s life, and in church life – we

must reconnect more intimately and personally with Christ

Himself in order to live out true Christ-centered ministry.

How are you encouraged in seeing students grow

in Christ-centered ministry?

Over the six-plus years that I have been Dean of

Students for Covenant Seminary, I have seen our students

increasingly desiring deeper intimacy with Christ and one

another. My first-year Covenant Group1 of twelve new

students is filled with people who have had significant

ministry experience – many having lived and served overseas

– and they are coming here for more training in Christ-

centered ministry. They want to deepen their understanding

and grasp of Scripture in a way that transforms their lives so

they are more like Christ. They see their future ministries as

the fruit of this connection to truth and love, which is seen

in the ministry of Christ Himself.

How are you encouraged in seeing alumni grow

in Christ-centered ministry?

I observe our graduates seeking to practice Christ-

centered ministry in multiple contexts, such as established

churches, church plants, overseas mission, youth ministry,

and campus ministry. The common message I hear from

them is a recognition of their ongoing need for deep

connection with Jesus – to have Him as their dearest friend,

in truth and love. They know that they must look to this

Vine for their lives and for fruitful ministries. ■

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Q

A

Q

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1 Covenant Groups are small groups of students and faculty that meetweekly over the course of a year, giving an opportunity to share personal needs, struggles, and praise with the purpose of encouragingand praying for each other.


[Students] want to deepen their understanding and grasp of Scripture in a way that transforms their lives so they are more like Christ.They see their future ministries as the fruit of this connection to truth and love, which is seen in the ministry of Christ Himself.

Master of Arts in Counseling students meet in practicum group.

COVENANT SEMINARYCelebrates 50 Years

Next summer, Covenant Seminary will celebrate 50 years of training pastors and ministry leaders to serve the Church.

The experiences of alumni, staff, and supporters of the Seminary will be part of that celebration.

Currently, a 50th Anniversary Scrapbook is being composed in commemoration of the past and future of Covenant Seminary.

Whether you are a graduate, current or former staff person, or supporter, we hope your stories will be part of this collection!

Please take a moment to gather your Covenant Seminary memories.Then pass them on. Your submission could take the form of:

a photo related to Covenant Seminary history

a memorable seminary moment

thoughts on how Covenant Seminary prepared you for ministry

memorabilia (old publications or other meaningful items)

even a recipe which helped your family get by during lean seminary years

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2006.

Submissions can be sent via U.S. mail or e-mail (please e-mail in advance if you will be sending a digital image).

All photos and other special items will be returned to you as soon as possible.

Every contributor will receive a complimentary edition of the 50th Anniversary Scrapbook.

PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Covenant Theological SeminaryAttn: Jackie Fogas12330 Conway RoadSt. Louis, MO 63141

(ph) 314.392.4061 (fax) 314.434.4819(toll-free) 1.800.903.4044

[email protected]

They are your memories! Just send them our way to help celebrate

God’s faithfulness.

A Call for Your Memories

That’s why, when Mark Kuiper (M.Div.’96) began to

seriously consider church planting, Mission to North

America2 (MNA) asked him to consider a church plant

in the West. This was no small request. At the time, Mark

was on staff at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville,

Va., serving as the Youth Pastor. He had many contacts in

the Virginia area who were eager to see him plant a church

nearby. But, as MNA presented the idea of moving West,

the desire grew in Mark’s heart to reach out to people in

this geographic region and offer them a church home.

While Mark supported his fellow church planters in the

Southeast, deeply knowing the need for their missions, his

road led across the Mississippi River, past the Rockies, and

into Pasadena, Calif. As one stage of life concluded for Mark

and his family in the Southeast, another was born.

Bill Boyd (M.Div.’95) was also no stranger to the need

for churches to be planted in the West. He was the Reformed

University Fellowship Campus Minister for the University

of Texas at Austin for eight years, serving students from all

over Texas and the Western states. After several people

approached him about leading a church plant in West Austin,

Bill sensed it was time to serve the community he and his

family had grown to love in a new way.

It is nearly impossible to lump into one category cities as

far apart geographically as Austin and Pasadena. However,

these men have experienced some common cultural themes

in their ministries in the West. They also share the same hope

for those they serve. The following is a snapshot of their lives

and ministries.

Mark Kuiper – Christ Church of PasadenaA NEW DREAM IN CALIFORNIA

Many people move to California to pursue a dream.

Whether that dream is a career, money, fame, or just a desire

to be part of the Californian mystique, Mark Kuiper says

there is no shortage of U-Hauls crossing the state line.

But on the other side of that dream is a less attractive

reality. “I think there is an unbelievable burden on people

here to look successful,” Mark says.

“A country music song says something along the lines of,

‘I am not smart enough to live on the East Coast and not

pretty enough to live on the West Coast,’” Mark says with

a smile. But he knows the reality of the song and sees the

resulting burdens that people bear.

So what does a church planter who was born in Australia

and has lived all over the U.S. have to say in a culture

that seems set on a dream that leaves many burned-out

and frustrated?

A September 2005 MSN.com article reported that “The [United States’]

population as a whole is shifting westward….”1 The article summarized a

report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing

that the states with the most significant increases in birth rates between

2001 and 2002 were all in the West.

As the U.S. Population Expands to the West, Alumni See Need and Go

WESTWARD-HO

1 http://lifestyle.msn.com/ArticlePage.aspx?cp-documentid=27719; accessed Sept 28, 2005.

2 Mission to North America is the church planting agency of thePresbyterian Church in America


In a real way, it is the same message that he shared

with high school students and their parents when he was a

youth pastor in Charlottesville, Va. Mark tells them about

Jesus, who said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”

(Matt. 11:30).

“When people can hear that the Father looks down on

them and says, ‘Because of Jesus, you are my son or daughter,

and I am well pleased’ – it is such a relief,” Mark says.

This is the message that Mark and the people of Christ

Church of Pasadena have celebrated for the past four years

as they continue to welcome more and more people from

their community into their congregation.

“Unfortunately, at times, churches can just add to the

list of what people think they need to do to make God

happy with them,” Mark says. But he adds that sharing

about God’s grace in Christ has a “phenomenal” impact

on those who have heard.

Mark regularly remembers the truth he received in

Dr. Philip Douglass’s class during his time at Covenant

Seminary. “Dr. Douglass taught us from Scripture that our

worth is not wrapped up in our performance,” Mark says.

As a pastor, Mark knows he needs the same grace that he

tells his congregation about. Church planting is difficult.

At times, Mark has felt he has little to offer, but he sees

the growth of Christ Church as a gift from God.

“I remember meeting the man who leads our church

worship now and thinking, ‘He is so gifted. Why would he

want to be part of our church plant? I have nothing to

offer him.’” But this man – and many others – have become

committed to Christ Church. They love their church home

and gladly welcome new people in.

“The messages of the culture can be pretty dark some-

times,” Mark says. “People who are following Jesus can feel

like they are paddling upstream with all their might, just to

stay in place. But that really makes worship on Sunday all

the sweeter.”

Not only are Chirst Church’s members meeting on

Sunday for worship, but they also meet in small groups


Christ Church youth group on a mission trip in Mexico.

Christ Church ofPasadena

Mark Kuiper Dan Radmacher, Worship Leader

around the metro area for Bible study and prayer throughout

the week. This is extremely important in a place such as

Pasadena, where many people struggle to have a sense of

community even in their own backyards. People work long

hours due to the high cost of living and are extremely spread

out over a large geographical area.

By God’s grace, Mark is embracing this urban sprawl as

an opportunity. In fact, along with VisionLA, the local PCA

church planting network, Mark has a dream. He hopes that

more churches will be birthed out of some of these home

groups so that many congregations will reach into their

neighborhoods in coming years (see www.vision-la.org).

Mark knows that he cannot promise those who follow

Christ that they will get everything they think they need.

But he gladly shares the hope that, one day, their deepest

dreams will come true in a new city where they will hear

from the Father, “well done good and faithful servant.”

Bill Boyd – All Saints AustinA NEW SONG IN A MUSIC CITY

When Bill Boyd and a core group from Redeemer

Presbyterian Church in Austin, Tex., began to consider

planting a church on the western side of their city, they

had a principle they felt was worthy of following. It was

“less is more.” They arrived at that conclusion out of

necessity and deep conviction.

The necessity came because their public worship services

started much sooner than they had expected. There was

not enough time to organize multiple programs on Sunday

morning. So they began meeting for worship, keeping their

congregational life fairly simple. Their focus was the essen-

tials of the Church, which they found in Scripture. It was

that basic. “Our focus began with the gathering of God’s

people for worship, an emphasis on fellowship, and engaging

with our community,” Bill says.


All SaintsAustin

All Saints Church celebratescoming together as a churchbody with a meal together. All Saints was particularized(no longer a mission/churchplant) in May 2005.

Bill (right) and Martha (left) Boyd with All Saints member (center).

As they have grown as a church body, they have

continued to cherish less being more. “We are about

simplicity not for the sake of simplicity, but for the

sake of clarity,” Bill says. “We want people to know

that the Gospel frees them from the frenetic pace

of the world around them. In Christ we

are being redeemed from the bondage of

things that lead people to fret away years

of their lives.”

Interestingly enough, Bill serves a

community comprised of many former

Californians. Next to Silicon Valley in

California, Austin is the largest hub of

high-tech industry in the United States.

It is also the No. 2-rated city in the

United States in which to start a business.

All of this makes Austin unique in Texas.

“Austin really has as much in common

culturally with California as with the

rest of Texas,” Bill says.

As a native of Mississippi, Bill did

not grow up in a context like that of Texas

or California. But, the eight years he spent

as the Reformed University Fellowship

(RUF) Campus Minister for the University

of Texas at Austin has firmly connected

him to families all over the West and given

him a heart to continue to serve there.

Even with Bill’s RUF background,

All Saints is not a monolithic congregation

made up of only young people. Rather,

it is made up of people with diverse back-

grounds and interests. But this diversity

makes their body richer.

All Saints also has the opportunity to

celebrate the vibrant arts community in

Austin as these artists contribute to the

church’s congregational life. In addition to being the capital

of Texas, Austin’s claim to fame is being the Live Music

Capital of the World. “Living in Austin means that you get

all the benefits and challenges of a creative and sometime

narcissistic culture,” Bill says. But he regularly communicates

that the means of reaching out to their culture does not

involve either attacking the culture or fading into retreat.

“One thing we have emphasized since the beginning

of All Saints Church is that our goal is not to critique the

culture but to dialogue with people,” Bill says. “We need

to address the issues people are wrestling with and seek to

serve them.”

Serving in this highly secularized culture

can be difficult. But Bill sees cultural engage-

ment happening. “The main thing those out-

side of the church are looking for is the kind

of picture reflected in the lives of people who

are part of the church,” Bill says. “People

sense where there is self-righteousness and

where there is a freedom to engage.”

Recently, All Saints hosted Jerram

Barrs, Professor of Christian Studies and

Contemporary Culture and Francis A.

Schaeffer Institute Resident Scholar, as a

guest speaker to help equip church members

in understanding more about their culture

in order to serve their neighbors.

These days, All Saints gathers weekly at

the end of their worship service around the

three-point line in the gymnasium where

they meet. They stand in a circle to receive

the Lord’s Supper. It is there that the basics

of what it means to be a Christian, to live

as a church, and to embrace all who come

their way, are tangibly felt.

“We come from a lot of different back-

grounds in this congregation, and Jesus

breaks down the dividing wall,” Bill says.

“It is encouraging to see people emphasize

what they have in common in Christ instead

of their differences. We need each other.”

Bill also hopes to see more churches

planted in the Austin area. There is a large

Latino population to serve in their city, and more people

are relocating there from all over the country. Along with

the Southwest Church Planting Network, All Saints is

ready to receive them and help them sing a new song in

a music city. ■

As the U.S. Population Expands in West, Alumni See Need and Go


One out of four

Covenant Seminary graduates

plants a church within

eight years of graduation.

In addition to Mark Kuiper

and Bill Boyd, the following

is a sampling of other alumni

who are planting churches

around the U.S.

Your prayers for their

ministries are appreciated.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

Mike McLaughlin (M.Div.’02)

SEATTLE, WASH.

Andre Lewis (M.Div.’04)

COLUMBUS, OHIO

Greg Blosser (M.Div.’02)

KALAMAZOO, MICH.

Marc Swan (M.Div.’01)

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA, ILL.

Dave Thomas (M.Div.’03)

WEST LEBANON, N.H.

Chris Accardy (M.Div.’00)

PORTLAND, MAINE

Per Almquist (M.Div.’99)

LA PLATA, MD.

Jamie MacGregor (M.Div.’98)

HARTSVILLE, S.C.

David McIntosh (M.Div.’00)

POOLER, GA.

John Fender (M.Div.’02)

the

INT

ERC

ESSO

R As Covenant Seminary exists to train servants of the triune God to walk with God, to interpret and communicate God’s Word,and to lead God’s people, we recognize the importance of prayerto guide and continue the mission.

While much of our training takes place in one geographic area as students relocate for study, the mission continues in the lifetime of ministry that the Lord grants as people move on from Covenant Seminary. Therefore, prayer for the Seminary and its mission reflects this local, national, and global scope.

We are grateful for your prayers for Covenant Seminary. We hope that this prayer calendar, which can be prayedthrough during the winter months, will help focus yourthoughts and prayers for the Seminary, its students, and alumni. As the color key indicates, the dark squares share campus concerns, the medium squares national concerns, and the white squares international concerns.

Begin to pray this week that the moments of your life maythemselves become prayers.Whether they are in the joy of a birthday party, in theweariness that comes fromlabor, in the majesty of thesetting sun or in the pain thatcomes with tears. Pray that each in its turn will cause youto lift your voice to him.

–from Disciplines for the Inner Life by Bob Benson, Sr. and Michael W. Benson

(Thomas Nelson, Inc.), 1989, p. 65.

WINTERPraise God for the pastorsand ministry leaders whocame to campus for theConnect Conference.Thank the Lord for theirservice to congregationsaround the country. Praythat the conference timewould continue to be ablessing to them andtheir congregations.

Pray for the Youth inMinistry Institute’s guestspeaker, Walt Mueller, as he leads a seminar on Nov. 12, 2005,designed to help parentsand anyone involvedwith youth understandtoday’s youth culture.

“Great are the works of the LORD; they arepondered by all whodelight in them”(Ps.111:2).

Please pray for CovenantSeminary’s Center forMinistry Leadership as its staff ministers to pastors and seeks a deeper understanding ofthe pastoral experience.Pray that these effortswould facilitate pastorsbeing rooted in grace fora lifetime of ministry.

Pray for Peter Dishman(M.Div.’05) as he beginsa Reformed UniversityFellowship ministry to serve NationalAutonomous Universityof Mexico, the world’slargest university.Specifically, pray for fruit to come from theministry’s Wednesdayafternoon Bible study.

Pray for CovenantSeminary alumni andothers who are serving as military chaplains inIraq, including JeffreyDillard (M.Div.’92) and Thomas MacGregor(M.Div.’83). Pray forpeace and for theprogress of the Gospel in this country.

As Veterans’ Day is recognized during themonth of November, give thanks for the menand women who havesacrificed to serve in theUnited States military.Pray for currentCovenant Seminary stu-dents who are preparingto be military chaplains,including JonathanEntrekin (M.Div.’06).

“…the twenty-four elders fell downbefore him who sitson the throne, andworshiped him wholives for ever andever. They lay downtheir crowns beforethe throne…” (Rev. 4:10).

Pray for students as theFall semester draws to a close and they take abrief break from studies.Pray that the Lord woulduse the things studentshave learned in theirstudies to plant His truthfirmly in their hearts.

Pray for the writing projects of the CovenantSeminary faculty. Praythat these projects wouldbecome a blessing tomany far beyond theSeminary campus. Prayfor Dr. Philip Douglass,Associate Professor ofPractical Theology, as heworks to complete a bookon church personalities.

The International Day of Prayer for thePersecuted Church isNovember 13, 2005. Pray for Christians livingin lands where they arerisking their lives or wellbeing to live outtheir faith. Pray forCovenant Seminaryalumni serving in suchlocations.

“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in herheart” (Luke 2:19).

Give thanks for AlexMartinez (M.A.T.S.’07),who has begun leadingan international men’sgroup at CovenantSeminary. Pray for thiscross-cultural fellowshipto prepare these men toserve as leaders of theworldwide church.

Pray for a suitable location in the St. Louiscommunity to hold regular meetings of FridayNights@the Institute(Francis SchaefferInstitute). Pray that thisministry will continue to help seminarians gaindiscernment and serve assalt and light in society.

Pray for your localchurch. Pray for effective conflict resolution where needed.Pray that CovenantSeminary’s January course on “Peacemakingin Practice” will supportpeacemaking in congre-gations and other ministries.

Pray for Dr. Hans Bayeras he prepares and travelsto teach on Christian discipleship in Germanyin January. (See page 28for more information.)

“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him”(Matt. 2:2).

Pray for those countrieswhich do not even know of Christmas. Ask God to send Hispeople to carry His lightinto their darkness.

Pray for students who are beginning their seminary studies duringthe second semester ofthe 2005-06 school year.Pray for their transitionto life in St. Louis andinto the Seminary com-munity. Pray that theywould quickly find a supportive network offriendships and a church.

Pray for individuals and families around thenation and world whoare seeking to discernwhether God is callingthem to CovenantSeminary. Ask God to raise up faithful messengers to a dark and needy world.

Ask God to clearly guideDecember graduates asthey transition to newcallings through which to bring glory to the Lordaround the world.

Pray for CovenantSeminary alumni who are planting churches.Pray for protection and growth in depth and breadth of these new congregations.

M.Div. Master of Divinity; M.A. Master of Arts; M.A.C. Master of Arts in Counseling; G.C. Graduate Certificate; Th.M. Master of Theology; D.Min. Doctor of Ministry

Sat/Sun Praise Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday


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Campus National International

✁

Thank the Lord forLuciano (M.Div.’02) andLuciene (M.A.T.S.’01)Pires, who serve collegestudents and aid in theological education in Goiania, Brazil. Give thanks for the “next generation” ofBrazilian students atCovenant Seminary,including GustavoFormenti (M.Div.’08).

2005-06Remember all those whohave been affected byHurricanes Katrina andRita. Pray for the reliefefforts to be productivein meeting the manyneeds of individuals andfamilies who are residentsin the storm-torn areas.

In the original story, Frankenstein is the scientist who

creates a human-like creature. The creature wants to

be treated as a member of the human race. He is lonely

because he is not accepted by other human beings, and

makes demands on his creator to create a mate for him

after “his likeness.” Ironically, Frankenstein, the scientist,

is initially “unable to overcome [his] repugnance”1 to grant

the creature’s wish. When the creature’s attempts to be

regarded as a human fail, he becomes enraged and wreaks

havoc. He curses his creator and wishes he was never

created. The creature loathes his deformity and his very

existence. The creature becomes a monster!

Today, we must ask if a cloned human being would face

the same dilemma. What are the intended and unintended

consequences of human cloning if such a practice is

allowed to go uncensored? Would cloned persons be met

with indifference or disdain? Would they curse their creators?

Undoubtedly, cloned persons would come with disabilities.

Is our society ready to care for them? Or would they become

another marginalized class?

Human Cloning: A Real Possibility

In 1996, Englishman Ian Wilmut and his colleagues were

successful in cloning a sheep which they affectionately

named Dolly. However, nearly 30 years earlier, Wilmut’s

cloning exploits were preceded by an American geneticist

named Joshua Lederberg. Lederberg, a Nobel Laureate,

successfully cloned tadpoles. It was obvious from Lederberg’s

writings in The American Naturalist and The Washington Post

that he had motives which ultimately involved human

cloning. Lederberg favored using human cloning to fuel a

eugenics2 movement. According to Leon Kass, “[Lederberg]

suggested that cloning could help us overcome the unpre-

dictable variety that still rules human reproduction, and

allow us to benefit from perpetuating superior genetic

endowments.”3 Lederberg saw human cloning as a way to

rid society of undesirables while perpetuating a superior race

of people. We must recognize that Lederberg’s work, and

more recently that of Wilmut, makes human cloning an

imminent possibility.

What Is Human Cloning?

Simply put, human cloning is the process of “Xeroxing” an

individual. Theoretically, clonists promise that the clone will

be genetically identical to another human being who serves

as the somatic cell donor. The clone will have the same fin-

gerprint, same temperament, same dispositions, etc., as this

cell donor. However, this idea of duplicating another indi-

vidual is still theoretical because it has not been proven. In

order to understand hindrances to the possibility of human

cloning, one must be acquainted with the cloning process.


As a child, I loved science-fiction movies. Perhaps my favorite picture was

Hollywood’s rendition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. However, Shelley’s

story and Hollywood’s portrayal of Frankenstein are quite different.

HUMAN CLONING:A Monster in the Making?

What are the intended andunintended consequences ofhuman cloning...?

What Is the Process for Cloning a Human Being?

The process for cloning a human is conceptually quite

simple, involving five steps:

1) First, one needs an egg. Willing females are injected

with a hormone to “superovulate”, thus producing a

large quantity of eggs (20 to 30). A woman typically

produces 15 to 20 eggs per cycle. From this ample

supply, eggs are harvested surgically.

2) Operating from a Petri dish, a clinician carefully

punctures an ovum, or unfertilized egg, and removes

its nucleus. The nucleus contains the hereditary mate-

rial, or genetic blueprint, that makes an individual

uniquely different from another individual. For

instance, the nucleus contains the coding for eye and

hair color, height, and any medical predispositions.

3) Inserted in the place of the removed nucleus is genetic

material of the person to be cloned or duplicated; that

is, the human somatic cells. This genetic material might

be a skin, hair, or muscle cell, since all cells contain

the same genetic footprint. This third step is known as

somatic cell nuclear transfer. Because the somatic cell

comes equipped with a full set of chromosomes, the

modified egg behaves as though it is fertilized. At this

stage, we arrive at a clonal zygote.

4) This clonal zygote is subjected to an electrical shock

stimulus, which creates cell division. Cell division

creates one clonal embryo. At this juncture, two

options are presented: the cloned embryo can be used

as a source of embryonic stem cells, or the cloned

embryo can be used to produce what is hoped to be

a genetic twin of the somatic cell donor.

5) Assuming a cloned baby is desired, the fifth step

involves implantation of the cloned embryo in a

woman’s uterus, where it follows the normal human

development process – becoming a blastocyst, a fetus,

and then, finally, a baby.

Is Human Cloning Possible?

Whether or not it is possible to make an exact copy of a

human being is still unknown. Although the clone is

intended to be of only one person, the genetic materials

from two people are actually involved (the somatic cell

donor and the egg donor). The egg donor’s genetic material

inevitably will influence the

identity of the cloned person.

Additionally, the cloned person’s

environment – both the environment of the uterus and his

or her social environment – will also play a role in the

cloned person’s identity. So the true identity of the cloned

human will be an eclectic mix of the somatic cell donor’s

DNA, his or her environments, and the DNA of the woman

who donated the egg.

Why the Interest in Human Cloning?

There are at least three reasons for the growing interest

in human cloning. The primary interest is strictly for

scientific research. This explains why scientists are lobbying

for access to nearly 400,000 frozen embryos now in storage –

an unintended consequence of in vitro fertilization.

Some scientists claim that stem cells harvested from an

embryo offer the most promise for curing diseases such as

Parkinson’s, cancer, diabetes, and others. Some scientists

desire to clone a human embryo for the sole purpose of

harvesting the stem cells and then coaxing these cells to

become replacement healthy organs or cells for defective

ones in sick humans.

However, the research actually shows that adult stem

cells offer the best promise for becoming virtually every kind

of human cell. Thus, there is the potential to address the

above diseases without the need for cloning or embryonic

stem cells. Using adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem

cells means that we prevent the harvesting of stem cells from

a little person and then discarding him or her.

Second, many seek the services of clonists to “recover a

terrible loss or simply have a baby.”4 For instance, one father

who lives in Western Europe is seeking the services of clone

specialists to recover a son lost to disease. This client was

proactive in keeping tissue samples from his son’s body.

Another bereft father remarks, “My wife is 38 years old.

We had three children. Unfortunately, the two youngest

children were killed in a house fire last year. They were



LUKE BOBO (M.DIV.’03)Assistant Dean for Training Ministries;Director, Francis A. Schaeffer Institute; and Executive Board Member, St. LouisCenter for Bioethics and Culture


3 and 5 years old. We approached [a clonist] about the

possibility of cloning our lost children.” 5 Additionally,

cloning is touted as an alternative for infertile couples

who desperately want to have a baby.

The third reason for a growing interest in cloning is

our innate obsession with imposing our wants and desires

on our children. We see this in a milder form when parents

persuade their children to pursue sports, play musical

instruments, or attend certain colleges in order to fulfill

the parent’s frustrated dreams about his or her life. Human

cloning will give parents the ultimate opportunity to work

their wants and desires on the very identity of their children.

Kass has labeled this “parental despotism.”6 Rather than

leaving the future of our offspring in the hands of a loving

and purposeful God, human cloning will afford parents or

clone proponents the power to control the future of their

offspring. Human cloning will give parents the ability to be

like God. Remember that this was the very temptation Satan

offered Adam and Eve in the garden.

What Is a Christian Response?

1) Do not suppress wisdom. Kass describes that innate

gut feeling or “emotional expression of deep wisdom”7

that judges something or someone as offensive or

repugnant. Kass has called this response “the wisdom

of repugnance.” He argues that we must not suppress

this inner voice of wisdom lest we spiral down to our

peril. Rather, we must heed the call of wisdom. The

thought of someone tampering with God’s procreation

process should repulse us. We should recoil at the very

prospect of the unlimited possibilities that human

cloning will create. Consider, for example: father-son

twins and mother-daughter twins. Consider how a

cloned child is robbed of his or her individuality.

However, I am afraid that, as a society, we will become

apathetic to such actions. Brian Alexander writes,

“When some new [medical] technique comes out,

people always panic. Then everybody loves it.

[Human] cloning will be the same.”8 Those who

profess a belief in God, who hold to a Christian

worldview, cannot become apathetic and allow the

advance of the human cloning agenda without protest.

For God, who intervened in this world, has called

His people to push back the effects of the fall.

2) Resist the consumerist tendency to commodify.

Human cloning will offer made-to-order children,

not begotten children. Our offspring will become

commodities for our own manipulation and fancy.

Human cloning will depersonalize the procreation

process. In our consumer-oriented society, a parent

can have a child his or her way. Do we have enough

knowledge or prudence to make such decisions?

Gilbert Meilaender writes, “We are the people who

will be using the advances in genetics and whose

wisdom and virtue must be trusted. What kind of people

are we?.... We have entered a new era of eugenics.

That science which attempts to improve the inherited

characteristics of the species and which had gone so

suddenly out of fashion after World War II and the

Nazi doctors now climbs steadily back toward

respectability.” 9 Additionally, Christians must carefully

consider the means and the ends of this branch of

scientific research – namely, the manufacture or

commodification of human embryos for the purpose of

using them as “raw material” or “spare parts” in hopes

of curing diseases. Do the ends justify the means?

3) Get educated. God has called His people to respect-

fully and winsomely engage the world. As such,

we are called to educate ourselves about culture.

We must understand the language of the biotechnical

community. Pastors and Christian educators are also

called to equip the flock not only by interpreting the

biotechnology culture, but also by enlightening the

flock on the worldview and behavior of this subcul-

ture. Consider these questions that a Sunday School

class might discuss

a) What are the benefits of cloning a human being?

b) What are the intended and unintended

consequences of cloning a human being?

c) How can we promise that cloned human beings


How can we promise that clonedhuman beings will be identical to their somatic cell donors?...Can we outdo God?

will be identical to their somatic cell donors?

Identical twins, made through the natural repro-

ductive process, are identical in appearance –

but other elements of their lives can be quite

different. Can we outdo God?

d) A cloned baby will undoubtedly have known

and unknown deformities – how will parents

deal with this?

e) A cloned baby is not a genetic twin of the

somatic cell donor. He or she will inherit genetic

material from both the donor egg and the somat-

ic cell donor. So whose child will he or she be?

4) Be engaged world citizens. God calls His people

to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

As salty Christians, our role is to push back the effects

of the fall. As light-filled Christians, our role is to give

guidance to those in darkness. Salty and light-filled

Christians are called to bring the truth to bear in all

areas of life. Yes, we have a citizenship in heaven, but

God calls us to be salt and light in this world – in the

board room, laboratory, government, and in the use of

medicine and science. As Christians who believe in a

sovereign God, our call is not to retreat or “wave the

white flag.” Rather, God calls us to take every thought

captive to the Word, to arrest evil with the truth of

the Gospel.

What’s at Stake?

I grew up loving the Lone Ranger television episodes.

I recall on numerous occasions that the Lone Ranger told

Tonto, “Let’s head them off at the pass.” God is the God of

infinite chances to “head evil off at the pass.” God is giving

His people another chance to “head biotechnology off at the

pass.” Scripture tells us that God opens and closes the womb.

God’s Word clearly reveals Him as the one who is sovereign

over the affairs of mankind – including procreation.

God’s Word also instructs us to care for orphans, widows,

foreigners, and others who cannot defend themselves –

such as unborn people.

Today, we can look back at the unintended consequences

of in vitro fertilization – namely, what to do with these

400,000 little persons frozen as a result of this technology?

Is in vitro fertilization a biotechnology we should have

“headed off at the pass”? I believe so. I believe that, at the

very least, Christians should have dialogued about these

“unintended consequences.” Likewise, we must be ready to

address both the intended and unintended consequences

of human cloning. We cannot afford to repeat history.

Consider this bone-chilling prediction from C.S. Lewis

about what will happen if we remain silent and passive

about human cloning. He wrote “In reality…if any one

age really attains, by eugenics and scientific education, the

power to make its descendents what it pleases, all men who

live after are the patients of that power.”10 Will we as God’s

people be His representatives? Will we serve to preserve

the humanity of future generations? Will we suppress our

fright over such an endeavor as human cloning? Even Mary

Shelley (the mother of Frankenstein) said this about the

monster she dreamed up: “…for supremely frightful would be

the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous

Creator of the world.” 11 ■

1 Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, (New York, NY: Bantam Classics, 1984), 138.2 Eugenics is the study of improving genetic qualities through

selective breeding.3 Ibid, 17.4 Brian Alexander, “(You)2,” Wired Magazine Online, February 2001,

http://wired-vig.wired.com/wired/archive/9.02/projectx.html; accessedon October 4, 2005.

5 Ibid.6 Leon Kass, “Do What Americans Want: Stop Human Cloning Before

it Starts?” St. Louis Post Dispatch, December 3, 2001, B7.7 Leon Kass, “The Wisdom of Repugnance,” The New Republic,

June 2, 1997, 20.8 Brian Alexander, “(You)2.”9 Gilbert Meilaender, “Designing Our Descendents,” First Things,

no. 109 (January 2001): 26.10 C.S. Lewis, Abolition of Man, (San Francisco, CA: Harper, 1944), 57.11 “The Birth of Frankenstein,” National Library of Medicine website,

February 13, 2002, www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/frankenstein/frank_birth.html;accessed on October 4, 2005.

In addition to the sources quoted in this article, other helpful material available on cloning and bioethics include:Bioethics: A Primer for Christians, 2nd ed., by Gilbert Meilaender (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004).National Geographic, July 2005. Does God Need Our Help? Cloning, Assisted Suicide, and OtherChallenges in Bioethics by John F. Kilner and C. Ben Mitchell (CarolStream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, May 2003).The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity website: www.cbhd.org The St. Louis Center for Bioethics and Culture website: www.stlcbc.com.



Together, Covenant Theological Seminary and The St. Louis Center for

Bioethics and Culture are helping medical professionals and ministry

leaders become better equipped to face current issues in bioethics.

Call 1.800.264.8064 to learn about the Seminary’s bioethics courses as

well as the Graduate Certificate in Bioethics (30 credit units). All courses

are scheduled in a block format to accommodate out-of-state students.

By His Grace, For His GloryCapital Campaign in Early Stages

The Fall 2005 CovenantSeminary Board of TrusteesMeeting included a gathering to kick off the By His Grace, For His Glory Capital Campaign.This three-year initiative isdesigned to help meet CovenantSeminary’s ongoing needs forclassroom space and administra-tive offices, as well as underwritenew faculty Chairs. More infor-mation about this campaign willbe provided in upcoming editions of Covenant magazine. Pleasecontact James McCormick,Campaign Director, for moreinformation (1.800.903.4044).

Meet Me at Covenant Seminary

In addition to offering regularcourses, each semester numerousguest speakers contribute to theministry training and resourcingenvironment at CovenantSeminary. As a sampling of these opportunities for collabora-tion, the following is a list ofindividuals who served as guestlecturers in chapel, ministrylunches, or other forums, duringthe months of September andOctober: L. Roy Taylor, StatedClerk of the Presbyterian Churchin America; Danny Kwon,Youth Director, Yuong SangPresbyterian Church, Horsham,Pa.; Fred Harrell, Pastor, CityChurch of San Francisco; JoeNovenson, Pastor of LookoutMountain Presbyterian Church,Lookout Mountain, Tenn.; EmilyFreeman, recent M.A.E.M. graduate; Sara Mersfelder,congregational life staff person,City Presbyterian Church,Denver, Colo.; Jenny Woodruff,Director of Women’s Ministries,Evangelical Presbyterian Church

of Annapolis, Md.; JockMcGregor, Director, L’AbriFellowship, Rochester, Minn.;William Plott, AssistantPastor/Young Business LeadersDirector, North CincinnatiCommunity Church; RobertSmith, Associate Professor ofDivinity, Beeson Divinity School;David Garner, Mission to theWorld missionary to Bulgaria;Michael Frazier, U.S. ArmyChaplain; William Romanowski,Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, CalvinCollege; Jim Bland, Mission toNorth America Coordinator. To find out more about CovenantSeminary guest speakers, log onto: www.covenantseminary.edu/calendar.

Community Space Gets Face-lift

One year ago, Covenant magazinereported that the large classroomspace in the Founders wing ofEdwards Hall had been convertedto serve as a much-needed com-munity center. As a continuationof this project, minor renovationswere made to this space over thesummer months. The renova-tions, which included a new coatof paint and café-style furniture,create an atmosphere where students can study, eat, meet, and gain wireless Internet access.A small coffee shop is now located next to the lounge.

Preparations Underway to Celebrate 50 Years

Covenant Seminary is preparingto celebrate the past 50 years oftraining servants of the triuneGod! There is much for which togive thanks. A special celebrationwill accompany graduation forthe class of 2006 (May 19, 2006).Additionally, preparations are

being made to celebrate at the2006 General Assembly of thePresbyterian Church in Americain Atlanta, Ga., (June 20 to 22,2006). Watch your mail thisSpring for more information and see page 13 to learn about the 50th AnniversaryScrapbook project.

CAMPUSnew

s

For a campus calendar, log on to www.covenantseminary.edu.

Faculty Itinerary

Robert Peterson, Professor of Systematic Theology, inCollinsville, Ill., preaching weeklyfor Sunday worship at HopePresbyterian Church; in ValleyForge, Pa., November 15-17, presenting a paper for theEvangelical Theological Society meeting.

Jerram Barrs, Professor of Christian Studies andContemporary Culture, in San Antonio, Texas, November11-13, teaching for RedeemerPresbyterian Church; in Memphis,Tenn., Nov. 27, preaching forIndependent PresbyterianChurch; in Fresno, Calif., January10, teaching on C.S. Lewis forSierra View Presbyterian Church.

Hans Bayer, Associate Professorof New Testament, in St. Louis,Mo., Dec. 1, preaching forCovenant Presbyterian Church;in Starnberger See, Germany,Jan. 22-24, teaching on disciple-ship for Wort des Lebens LayLeaders Seminar.

David Calhoun, Professor ofChurch History, in Dyersburg,Tenn., Nov. 5-6, teaching forReformation Conference at First Presbyterian Church.

Philip D. Douglass, AssociateProfessor of Practical Theology, in India, Jan. 9-18, teaching onchurch planting.

Richard Winter, Professor ofPractical Theology, in LosAngeles, Calif., Nov. 9-11, givingchapel messages on perfectionismat Azusa Pacific University; inMinneapolis, Minn., Nov. 18,teaching on perfectionism for the MacLaurin Institute; inMinneapolis, Minn., Nov. 18,teaching on body image at theUniversity of Minnesota; inRochester, Minn., Nov. 19, lecturing for L’Abri Fellowship; in Northfield, Minn., Nov. 21,teaching on perfectionism for St. Olaf College; in Rochester,Minn., Nov. 21, teaching on perfectionism for Mayo Clinic.

Sean Lucas, Assistant Professorof Church History, in St. Louis,Mo., preaching weekly forSunday worship at CovenantPresbyterian Church.

Jay A. Sklar, Assistant Professorof Old Testament, in Valley Forge,Pa., Nov. 15-17, presenting apaper for the EvangelicalTheological Society annual meeting; in Philadelphia, Pa.,Nov. 19-22, presenting a paper for the Society of BiblicalLiterature Annual Meeting.


Renovated community center

Covenant magazine is published byCovenant Theological Seminary, theNational Seminary of the PresbyterianChurch in America.

The purpose of Covenant Seminary is totrain servants of the triune God to walkwith God, to interpret and communicateGod’s Word, and to lead God’s people.

Volume 20, Number 4. ©2005

Executive EditorDavid Wicker

Managing Editor and WriterEileen O’Gorman

Copy EditorsJackie FogasRick MattBetty Porter

CirculationPaul Rawlins

PhotographyMary Jane GroomsLacour-Niesen Visuals, Inc.Kelly ParkRobert Middendorf

Design and Production501creative, inc.

Covenant Theological Seminary12330 Conway RoadSt. Louis, Missouri 63141

Tel: 314.434.4044Fax: 314.434.4819E-mail: [email protected]

Visit Covenant Seminary on the Internet atwww.covenantseminary.edu

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripturereferences are taken from the Holy Bible,New International Version®, NIV®, ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International BibleSociety. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) arefrom The Holy Bible, English StandardVersion, ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, adivision of Good News publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

PR05110-02

LET THE

CHURCHRemember

Theological liberalism begins with a desertion

of the testimony – the faith once and for all

delivered. But conservative theology can be

equally misguided when, in its attempt to

uphold the testimony, it deserts the reality

of our testimonies – the faith as it has been

personally applied to us. The power to offer

grace to sinners in the world comes from the

presence of this living memory – the memory

that God has offered grace upon grace to us.

– Dr. Zack Eswine,Assistant Professor of Homiletics

Briefly Stated

COVENANT MAGAZINE Winter 2005-06 www.covenantseminary.edu Training Servants of the Triune God

Before Britton (M.Div.’07)

and Elizabeth Wood came

to Covenant Seminary,

they heard about the value

the Seminary places on

community. But the Woods

were unaware of how a

community experience

would not only materialize

for them, but also become

a support network they

strongly needed.

During Britton’s first

semester as a Master of

Divinity student, they

discovered that they were

expecting twin baby girls. When the twins were born in January

2005, the Woods’ desire to be part of a strong community became

a necessity.

During those early months and continuing today, the Woods

are receiving what they call the “intangibles” of pastoral ministry

training. “There is a lot a person needs to be prepared for ministry

that cannot be found in a book,” Britton says. “I sensed that I could

gain some of those intangibles at Covenant Seminary, and that is

what I have found.”

Specifically, the intangibles Britton and Elizabeth talk about are

community and the accessibility of faculty. The Woods also explain

that this network of people does not stop with those who are on

the Seminary campus regularly. “People in local churches are

aware of the Seminary, they care about the students and want to

serve them,” Britton says. Additionally, the Woods experience the

intangibles of seminary training in relationships with professors.

“I have felt very free to talk to my professors and approach them

with my questions,” Britton says.

The Woods spent the

years preceding seminary

studies as Reformed

University Fellowship

interns for the University

of Tennessee, Knoxville,

serving with John Stone

(M.Div.’92). During this

time, they developed a love

for serving college students

and gained experiences that

have made seminary courses

much richer for Britton.

“Suddenly I am able to apply

doctrine and find meaning

in some of our experiences.

Pieces are coming together,” Britton says. “I can see how what I am

studying works itself out in the church.”

As Britton and Elizabeth consider the road ahead, they desire to

serve in college ministry following graduation. They are convinced

that the early adult years are formative in people’s lives. “During

the college years, many students question the values and ideas they

were raised with,” Elizabeth says. “This is a natural process because

people need to make the beliefs they hold their own.” The Woods

want to be there to walk through that time with students and offer

them the same grace in Christ they have received.

The Woods left the university campus nearly two years ago

with a desire to grow as servants in Christ’s Church. Shortly,

it is likely that they will return to the same type of ministry,

now equipped in new ways to serve and be served by those whom

the Lord puts in their community. ■

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Unexpected Blessings During Seminary Years

Human Cloning: A Monster in the Making

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