As the woefully untrained and ill – equipped editor of the Theology 101 column, who grew up in The Presbyterian Church in Canada, I had a weak grasp on elements of my faith. Placing myself in the hands of the Theology 101 committee—Rev. Dr. John Vissers, then the principal of Presbyterian College, Montreal; Rev. Dr. Joseph McLelland, professor emeritus at McGill University, Montreal; Rev. Dr. Pamela McCarroll, professor of pastoral theology at Knox College, Toronto; and Rev. Dr. Richard Topping, now the principal of the Vancouver School of Theology—was an excellent front – row seat for a dynamic conversation.
In an introductory essay in the December 2008 issue when we first announced the column, Vissers wrote: “In its most basic sense, however, theology simply means thinking (logos) about God (theos). But within that simple statement lie at least 1,000 questions. Whose God? What or where is God? Can we know God? What has God been up to? Can God really be studied?”
For five years and over nearly 60 articles, the column—overseen by the committee providing direction and peer review for every article written by dozens of Canadian Presbyterians—has attempted to address some of those 1,000 questions.
We have talked about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, sin, tragedy, death, nature, art and much more; there was a series on the Five Solas; a series on God in our lives; and, for the past two years, a series on Living Faith, the PCC’s statement of faith. Along the way we have affirmed and disturbed—as it should be. Theology is a conversation; and like the best of conversations it builds on precedence, explores nuance, adds fresh examples and ideas. The best conversation is an open – ended dialogue that continues through time.
At the end of five years I have as many, but different, questions about my faith as I did in the beginning. I know that God loves me, Jesus saves me, the Spirit binds me to all of creation; but how I react to and intersect with my world is an ongoing process. While this column ends, my process continues; and I feel I have a better grasp of some of the basic concepts, ideas and thinkers that inform the Presbyterian tradition.
