Welcome to Week One of the course!

Thank you for emailing something about yourself and your expectations to the group. It looks like all our computers and email are working OK!

I hope that you have all received copies of the course guide and readings and have looked through those.

Week One:

This week we are looking at "What do we mean by Presbyterianism"

The webpage is http://www.schoolofministry.ac.nz/reformed/characteristics.htm

We also have the chapter Lukas Vischer, "The Reformed Tradition in its multiple facets." in J J Bauswein and L Vischer eds., The Reformed Family Worldwide, Eerdmans, 1999, 1-33.

Part one: Earlier in the week, but say by Friday night.

Please read the information on the web page, and at least skim read Lukas Vischer. (I suggest going back and reading it more carefully later)

Using that information and your own knowledge of the church, send an email to the group outlining ideas you have on the following:

1) What are the most important things that are much the same for Presbyterians and other Christian traditions?

2) What are some of the key differences about Presbyterians compared with some other Christian traditions?

3) What do you see as things which characterise the Presbyterian Church - the things which say to ourselves and others "this is the sort of church we are."

A paragraph on each is all that is needed. This is not a "research essay" - all it requires is that you look at the material, think about the questions, perhaps talk about them to someone you know, and write a short statement.

Part Two - later in the week, say by Saturday night if possible.

Respond to what some others in the class have said. What was something you liked, what was something you have questions about?

This means that this week you will:

Be thinking about what we mean by Presbyterianism.
Get a feel for the Course Book and one of its readings Read what is on the website.
Look up other resources with short definitions which might help you.
Be sending two emails to the rest of the class by replying to this or another email.

If you are uncertain about anything please get in touch with me personally on john@roxborogh.com

Next week we will be looking at Celtic History and spirituality.

John,

John Roxborogh
Tutor