INSTRUCTOR: Rev. Dr. Fritz Harms
TIME: May 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 2025 (Saturday 9:00 – 11:15; workdays 18:00 – 20:15) (Riga time)
PLACE: In-Class Lectures (with simultaneous translation channel in Russian on Zoom)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This class constitutes a survey of the theology, piety, and worship of the Reformed Confessions, with particular attention to the Westminster Standards (Westminster Confession, Westminster Longer &Shorter Catechisms) and the Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort). In other words, this class will combine two traditions within Reformed faith and confession: The Westminster Standards (WS), which is English origin and the Three Forms of Unity (TFU) which are Dutch (Netherlands) in origin.

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Fritz Harms is a minister in the United Reformed Churches in North America and graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary-west (1989) and from the Theological University of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, (PhD-2009). Dr. Harms is an avid enthusiast of professional soccer (European).

COURSE CONTENTS

• Reformed Confessions: Historical Background
• The Doctrine of Holy Scripture (WCF, I, 1-10)
• God & Decree & Creation (WCF, II, 1-3; III, 1-8; IV, 1-2)
• Christ the Mediator (WCF, VIII, 1-8)
• Free Will of Man (WCF, IX)
• Effectual Calling (WCF, X)
• The doctrine of Justification (WCF XI, 1-6)
• Sanctification (WCF, XIII, 1-3)
• Good Works (WCF, XVI, 1-7)
• Perseverance of the Saints (WCF, XVII, 1-3)
• Assurance of Salvation (WCF, XVIII, 1-4)
• Christian Freedom & the Freedom of Conscience (WCF, XX, 1-4)
• Christian Worship (WCF, XXI, 1-8)
• The Church (WCF, XXV, 1-6)
• Communion of Saints (WCF, XXVI, 1-3)
• Sacraments (WCF, 1-5)
• Church Censures (WCF, XXX, 1-4)
• The After Life (WCF, XXXII, 1-3)
• The Last Judgment (WCF, XXXIII, 1-3)

Course Requirements for students

1. Attendance at all class sessions (10%).
2. Required reading (30%): 
   • Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort)
   • J.V. Fesko, The Theology of the Westminster Standards (2014)
     OR
   • Robert Shaw, Exposition of The Westminster Confession Of Faith
   • Deadline: May 10, 2025 (by the beginning of the course)
   • Westminster Standards (Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Longer and Shorter Catechism)
   • Deadline: May 16, 2025 (by the end of the course)
3. Writing Assignments:
   • Final Exam (25%). Deadline: May 25, 2025
   • Sermon (35%). Deadline: June 1, 2025 at noon.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Andrejs Prieditis (aprieditis@brts.edu.lv)