CH012-812 - The Westminster Confession in Historical and Australian Context

  • 2,976 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    AQF level
  • Category advanced unit
    C
  • church historyUnit Discipline

Prerequisites

12cps CH or TH

Exclusions

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code CH748-4. Unit exclusions: CH759

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

1. Demonstrate Advanced knowledge and understanding of, and the research underlying, the Westminster Confession in its historical and Australian contexts

B. Be able to

1. Examine recent scholarship in its bearing on the Westminster Confession in its historical and Australian contexts 

2. Demonstrate skill in utilising diverse scholarship in investigating the Westminster Confession in its historical and Australian contexts 

3. Present Research-Aware evidence-based perspectives on the Westminster Confession in its historical and Australian contexts

C. Be in a position to

1. Applying Advanced perspectives and skills from ‘The Westminster Confession in its historical and Australian contexts’ to ministry practice and Christian living as a reflective practitioner

Content

  • The Rise of Puritanism, its features and development
  • The church, political and social developments leading to British Civil War
  • Thirty Nine-Articles and Irish Articles
  • The establishment of the Westminster Assembly, its structure, course and documents
  • WCF 1 and Reformation scripture debates
  • WCF 2-3 and Arminianism
  • WCF 7-8 and covenant theology
  • WCF 10-20 and theology of grace
  • WCF 25-26, 30-31 and British church debates
  • WCF 21-22, 27-29 and the politics and theology of worship
  • The role and value of the Confession
  • WCF in the Scottish church
  • WCF and the Australian church

Set Readings

Bower, J.R. The Confession of Faith: a critical text and introduction Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformation Heritage, 2020

Coffey J. and P.C.H. Lin eds, The Cambridge Companion to Puritanism, CUP: Cambridge, 2008.

Duncan. J. L., ed, The Westminster Confession into the 21st Century 3 vols Fearn: Mentor; 2003, 2004, 2009

Fesko, J., The Theology of the Westminster Standards: Historical Context and Theological Insights Wheaton: Crossway, 2014.

Hood, Jared C. “Give me liberty: Liberty of opinion in the Presbyterian Church of Australia.” Reformed Theological Review, The 78, no. 1 (2019): 51-81

Letham, R. The Westminster Assembly: reading its theology in historical context Phillipsburg: P&R, 2009

Muller, R.A. and R. S. Ward, Scripture and worship: Biblical Interpretation and the Directory for Public Worship, Phillipsburg: P&R, 2007.

Paul, Robert S. The Assembly of the Lord: Politics and Religion in the Westminster Assembly and the ‘Grand Debate’. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1985.

Powell, Hunter, The Crisis of British Protestantism: Church Power in the Puritan Revolution, 1638–44, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2015

Swanton, R. “The Westminster Confession and the Declaratory Statements”, RTR 44 (1985): 13-19

Torrance, T. F. Scottish Theology. Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1996

Trueman, C. The Creedal Imperative, Crossway, 2012

Van Dixhoorn, C. B.  “New Taxonomies of the Westminster Assembly (1643–52): The Creedal Controversy as Case Study.” Reformation and Renaissance Review 6. 1 (2004): 82-106.

Van Dixhoorn, C. B. “Unity and disunity at the Westminster Assembly (1643-1649): a commemorative essay” Journal of Presbyterian History 79/2 (Summer 2001): 103-117

Van Dixhoorn, C. B. A day at the Westminster Assembly: justification and the minutes of a post-Reformation synod. London : The Congregational Memorial Hall Trust, 2005.

Van Dixhoorn, C. B. The minutes and papers of the Westminster Assembly 1643-1652  6 Volumes, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012

Van Dixhoorn, C. B.,  Confessing the Faith Confessing the faith: a reader's guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2014.

Ward, R. S., "Aspects of the Revival of Calvinism in Australia 1938-1978." RTR 68/3 (2009): 194-212.

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