Current Series
Theocademy currently has two series in production.
Series 1: Foundations of Presbyterian Discipleship
Those who request membership in a Presbyterian congregation are asked to affirm the following questions:
a. Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?
b. Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in his grace and love?
c. Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his Word and showing his love?
d. Will you be a faithful member of this congregation, share in its worship and ministry through your prayers and gifts, your study and service, and so fulfill your calling to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
In order to confidently and sincerely affirm their intention to keep these vows, potential new members must have a working knowledge of how Presbyterians and the Reformed movement understand some basic concepts and ideas. To that end:
• An “Introduction to Reformed Theology and its History” will offer foundational understandings of sin, evil, and their renunciation in response to Christ’s grace and love. (questions a, b & c)
• An “Introduction to the Old and New Testaments” will offer foundational understandings of the Word of God (Jesus Christ), as witnessed to by the word of God (Scripture). (question c)
• An “Introduction to the Mission of the Church” will offer foundational understandings of discipleship as it is lived out in a congregational setting, including reflection on spiritual practice, stewardship, continued education, and missional participation. (question d)
Series 2: Preparation for Ordered Ministry
Those who are elected to service through Ordered Ministry are asked to affirm the following questions:
a. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
b. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you?
c. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?
d. Will you fulfill your ministry in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions?
e. Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline?
f. Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit? Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?
g. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?
h. Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?
i. (For ruling elder) Will you be a faithful ruling elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in councils of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? (For deacon) Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?
In order to confidently and sincerely affirm their intention to keep these vows, those serving in ordered ministry must have a foundational understanding of how Presbyterians view our corporate life. To that end, courses of study in:
• “Basic Ecclesiology” will inform the ordered minister’s understanding of the nature and relationship of the Church, universal and particular. (questions a, b, & g)
• “Presbyterian Polity and Governance” will inform the ordered minister’s understanding of the covenantal particularities of the PC(USA), and the processes used to effectively facilitate it. (questions e & i)
• “Presbyterian Confessions” will inform the ordered minister’s understanding of the nature of the confessional theology of the PC(USA). (questions c & d)
• “Personal and Interpersonal Awareness” will inform the ordered minister’s understanding of the gifts and skills God has given them and how to live in a community with other unique children of God. (questions f & h)
• “Reformed Worship” will inform the ordered minister’s understanding of a congregation’s primary corporate spiritual practice. (question i)
• “Gifts and Qualifications for Ordered Ministry” will inform the ordered minister’s understanding of the particular functions they have been called to fulfill for the sake of the church.