Professor: Dr. Fritz Harms (USA)
Time: January 20 – 24, 2020

Place: Riga, Akas str. 13, 18:00-21:00.
(In English, with simultaneous translation in Latvian)

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).

ABOUT PROFESSOR

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).

ABOUT THE CLASSES:

Auditors welcome. Participation fee is 14 EUR (includes materials and coffee breaks).

Signing up for the course and additional information:

Janis Perkons, phone +371 26356030, janis@brts.edu.lv

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS:

For pastoral students:

• Attendance of all class sessions, unless there is a valid reason for absence.
• Readings: (~300 pages)

1) Westminster Standards (Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Longer and Shorter Catechism)

2) Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort)

3) John Murray, Collected Writings, Volume 1, Chapter 1,

Or

4) J.V. Fesko, The Theology of the Westminster Standards (2014), 397 pp

• Sermon: pastoral students write a 5-7 page topical-exegetical-experiential sermon or a 5-7 page research paper on a related topic in the Reformed Confessions. For example, a student could compare and contrast the Westminster Confession of Faith with the Canons of Dort and/or Belgic Confession on the topic of Justification or examine the role and understanding of ‘Good Works’ in relation to Justification and Sanctification.
• Examination: This examination will be Open Book. Please feel free to use notes and the Confessional documents we study in this class.

For Christian Leader program students:

• Attendance of all class sessions, unless there is a valid reason for absence.
• Readings: (Read approximately 50 pages in these confessions)

1) Westminster Standards (Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Longer and Shorter Catechism). Total of circa 80 pages

2) Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort). Total of circa 85 pages.

• Project (optional): Write a 5-7 page research paper on a related topic in the Reformed Confessions. For example, a student could compare and contrast the Westminster Confession of Faith with the Canons of Dort and/or Belgic Confession on the topic of Justification or examine the role and understanding of ‘Good Works’ in relation to Justification and Sanctification.
• Examination: This examination will be Open Book. Please feel free to use notes and the Confessional documents we study in this class.