George Fox Evangelical Seminary

One of the highlights of my Fall thus far was the recent invitation to speak to a group of leaders at George Fox Evangelical Seminary. I had never been to George Fox, have heard about it for years, and have a few friends connected to it … so it was an exciting opportunity. And all the details for such an event worked out fabulously, thanks to many people and I know Jean Miller had lots to do with it.

I want to go on record here to express my gratitude to Chuck Conniry, VP and Dean, and to Terry Dawson, who I think must have put a bug in Chuck’s ear about the event. Thanks much for this opportunity.

It was an ideal audience for me: theological and willing to participate in some give-and-take. Some seminary students, some pastors, and some professors — just the audience for the topic I’m so concerned about these days.

Straight to the topic: many of you know I’ve been working on “gospel” and what the first form of evangelism and “gospeling” looked like. I’ve lectured on this from Stellenbosch to Dublin to Ashland OH and now all the way out to Portland. So, I was excited to put this material once again into a more complete form. The material is now in process of editing for publication, and I hope to have an announcement about it sometime later this year.

The sessions were packed and there were great questions and it was energizing for me. After the three lectures, we had a luncheon Q&A and then I spent some time with friend, Karen Spears Zacharias, who interviewed me for a book she’s writing on what Americans believe about eschatology. Then we had a Faculty dinner, and I was so pleased to meet so many of the Faculty — and I won’t mention names for fear I’d forget just one. Anyway, we had a good conversation, and one of their concerns is one of mine: whither evangelicalism and how the term itself has fallen on hard times for many of us. The great evangelical coalition is sadly over. Many of us care where we are headed, and I suspect voices from George Fox will be part of the future.

As some of you know, George Fox is perched in the beauty of the Pac NW, and flying in (and out) over Mount Hood was a special experience for me. It is also situated to be a leading seminary for evangelicalism in a way that avoids the extremes. I had several great conversations with Larry Shelton, who has a really good book on atonement (Cross And Covenant), which frames the whole in terms of covenant relationship over against the overemphasis on legal transfers.