“It instilled a real and abiding change in the way I understand my life as a disciple of Jesus Christ,” said Clint Hail, a Community Development Coordinator out of Dallas who attended Theopolis’ course on Mission to the City. “The course renovated the way I understand the challenges facing, not only the urban church, but also, city leaders and citizens.”
Christopher Kou of Schaumburg, Illinois said the course was “eye-opening,” and “gives an excellent starting point for me to consider how my local church can minister in the greater Chicago area.”
Clint and Christopher were among a number of other students who gathered at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham for the 2015 Trinity Term Intensive on August 10-14.
Theopolis fellow Richard Bledsoe delivered most of the week’s lectures. He discussed his role as the unofficial “bishop” of Boulder, CO and how he has been able to minister to city officials and other pastors over the last several decades. He also discussed the theme of the city through the Bible, economics, the work of Jane Jacobs, and the work of Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy. Scholar-in-Residence James Jordan lectured on the biblical theology of the city, and A.K. Shauku gave two fascinating lectures on race relations in the city.
“I’ve listened to Rich Bledsoe speak on these topics for twenty years, but hearing it all in a week was a treat,” Peter Leithart said. “He brings a unique breadth to urban missions, and his eccentric mind is always uncovering new ways to think about old problems. A.K. Shauku joined us for the whole week and his contributions to the class were outstanding. I have yet to find a topic that A.K. cannot discuss with great erudition and insight.”
Each day’s lectures and discussions were punctuated with worship. With Matins beginning the day, Sext before lunch, and Vespers to close the day, all of the learning was surrounded by the singing of psalms and hymns, hearing the bible read and taught, and prayers. Students ate breakfast and lunch together, and during lunch a student read a selection from the church fathers. Certificate students engaged in a lively seminar discussion each afternoon.
Adam McIntosh, pastoral Assistant at Cornerstone Reformed Church in Carbondale, IL, said that “Rich Bledsoe’s work as an adviser to city officials is an inspiring model for pastors everywhere to emulate. Knowing that all the earth will one day be inhabited by a heavenly city — the New Jerusalem — churches must work toward that transformation even now. One way of doing this is to build relationships with city officials and to offer them prayer.”
Hail added, “Through Bledsoe’s experience and vision as an advisor to urban officials; through Dr. Jordan’s study of the biblical theology of urbanization; and through Mr. Shauku’s incredible insights into racial tensions within cities. . . . I’m now equipped to, in faith, focus and measure my own response to the needs of the local and global church. . . . I’m much more sensitive to life of my city. I see things now, in a way that I didn’t prior to the class: Contours made of social structures, economic activity, governance, and street life have become visible to me that I simply was blind to before.”
The liturgies throughout the week encouraged all of the students. Dave Shaw, pastoral assistant at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL stated that “our thrice daily prayer service fostered great fellowship between all participants and kept our focus on the joy of serving the Lord.”
Theopolis’s Easter Term intensive course on “Exodus” will take place next February, and Rich Bledsoe’s Metropolitan Manifesto comes out August 25th from Theopolis Books.