From: Darrell128 Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 23:20:40 EDT Subject: NR 98034: Mid-America Reformed Seminary Graduates Largest Class in Fifteen-Year History of School NR #1998-034: Mid-America Reformed Seminary Graduates Largest Class in Fifteen-Year History of School Mid-America Reformed Seminary has graduated the largest class in its history. At its May 22 commencement at Calvin Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois, the eleven-member class became the thirteenth to graduate since the seminary was founded fifteen years ago. The eleven new graduates, eight in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and three in the Bachelor of Theological Studies (B.T.S.) programs, will now join 45 earlier graduates of the seminary, increasing the total number of MARS graduates by 25%. Mid- America, founded in the northwest Iowa town of Orange City as a conservative alternative to Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, the official seminary of the Christian Reformed Church, moved to Chicago suburb of Dyer, Indiana, in more recent years and broadened its focus. Mid-America's board includes not only Christian Reformed members but also members of the United Reformed Churches in North America, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, independent Reformed churches, and Reformed Church in the United States. NR #1998-034: For Immediate Release: Mid-America Reformed Seminary Graduates Largest Class in Fifteen-Year History of School by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service SOUTH HOLLAND, ILL. (May 25, 1998) - Mid-America Reformed Seminary has graduated the largest class in its history. At its May 22 commencement at Calvin Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois, the eleven-member class became the thirteenth to graduate since the seminary was founded fifteen years ago. The eleven new graduates, eight in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and three in the Bachelor of Theological Studies (B.T.S.) programs, will now join 45 earlier graduates of the seminary, increasing the total number of MARS graduates by 25%. Mid-America is unusual in that it will enroll students, often older men preparing to enter the ministry as a second career, who are able to meet its academic requirements but don't have the four-year undergraduate degree required by most seminaries for admission. "The bachelor of theological studies is being presented to students who came to the seminary without a bachelor's degree," said Dr. Cornel Venema, professor of doctrinal studies at the seminary. "However, they were expected to meet all the requirements and course of studies of all the other students." The seminary also announced four awards to graduates corresponding to the four divisions of the seminary faculty. Todd Joling received awards in both biblical studies and doctrinal studies; Keith Davis and Patrick Edouard shared an award in ministerial studies. Keith Hossink received an award in the field of ecclesiology. In his commencement address, one of the seminary's founders, retired Christian Reformed minister Rev. John Piersma, warned graduates that too many men seek to enter the pastoral ministry for wrong motives. "Perhaps eighty percent of the difficulties in our churches are to be charged to the pastors," said Piersma, quoting a statement by a professor at a Dutch seminary where one of the Mid-America faculty did his doctoral work. "There are ungodly ministers; in our day they are not difficult to find," said Piersma. "Mid-America was reared and established that you might be ministers of a different kind." Piersma also warned that while new seminaries might be established and remain theologically solid, the church situation into which the graduates would enter was much more difficult to reform and that the problems caused by American culture went far beyond any single denomination. "The thing I could count on when I was ordained, that the institution known as the Christian Reformed Church would uphold me, support me, care for me, that is all gone today," said Piersma. "I doubt that any denomination today can provide the support that was given fifty years ago." One of the initial faculty members, retired professor Dr. P.Y. DeJong, said he shared Piersma's gratitude that the seminary had been able to reach its current size. "That's something we have to be humble and grateful to God for the blessings," said DeJong. "We started on a shoestring and never expected this." Mid-America, founded in the northwest Iowa town of Orange City as a conservative alternative to Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, the official seminary of the Christian Reformed Church, moved to Chicago suburb of Dyer, Indiana, in more recent years and broadened its focus. Bylaw changes recently approved by the seminary's membership association and governing board formally complete that change by specifying that the seminary's purpose is "to prepare men for the ministry of the Word and sacraments in churches that are disposed to call and ordain men trained in the Reformed faith" as expressed not only in the Dutch Reformed doctrinal standards, the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort, but also the Westminster Standards of Presbyterianism. The bylaw revisions also require faculty members to subscribe to both the Dutch Reformed and Presbyterian doctrinal standards. Mid-America's board includes not only Christian Reformed members but also members of the United Reformed Churches in North America, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, independent Reformed churches, and Reformed Church in the United States. Cross-References to Related Articles: [No previous articles on file] Contact List: Dr. P.Y. De Jong 2681 S. Rt. 394, Room 628, Crete, IL 60417 O: (708) 946-9042 Mid-America Reformed Seminary 229 Seminary Dr., Dyer, IN 46311 O: (219) 864-2400 * FAX: (219) 864-2410 Rev. John Piersma 2608 - 186th St., Apt. 301, Lansing, IL 60438 O: (708) 895-9472 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-34.txt .