Ventures in Christian Discipleship

The question of whether divine foreknowledge can be reconciled with human freedom has occupied Christian thought since the fifth century. In the Protestant tradition, three distinct but seemingly unsatisfactory answers have been proposed. Luther and Calvin argued that God’s foreknowledge and sovereignty preclude human freedom, which directly contradicts our experience. Arminius and Wesley argued that human freedom demands a conception of time which ostensibly rules out God’s ex nihilo creation of the universe. In contemporary theology, open theists argue that human freedom precludes God’s foreknowledge of human free decisions, which ostensibly denies divine omniscience and makes God something less than a maximally great being. However, an important answer from the sixteenth century has been overlooked in Protestant circles until its rediscovery among contemporary philosophers of religion. This answer was offered by the Spanish philosophical theologian Luis de Molina, a Catholic reformer who barely escaped papal ex-communication but whose Catholicism caused Protestants to rule out his views in advance. This course explains Molina’s theory of middle knowledge, which likely grew out of the reflections of the Anabaptist theologian Balthasar Hubmaier. Dr. MacGregor, a leading middle knowledge expert, shows how middle knowledge furnishes a stunning reconciliation of divine omniscience and human freedom. Moreover, he shows how middle knowledge reconciles human freedom with God’s providence and predestination, offers an innovative solution to the problem of evil, and makes possible the early Brethren hope of universal salvation.

Kirk R. MacGregor (Ph.D., University of Iowa) is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion and Department Chair at McPherson College. He is the author of seven books, including Luis de Molina: The Life and Theology of the Founder of Middle Knowledge, A Molinist-Anabaptist Systematic Theology, and Contemporary Theology: An Introduction. He has written over thirty peer-reviewed journal articles, appearing in such forums as the International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Harvard Theological Review, Philosophia Christi, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Heythrop Journal, Church History and Religious Culture, Bibliotheca Sacra, Religious Studies and Theology, and the Westminster Theological Journal.

In the post-modern world, there is a misconception that human trafficking no longer exists. But, in fact, hundreds of people are trafficked locally and globally, where they are abused, threatened, and exploited for commercial purposes.

Among several types of trafficking, sex trafficking and cyber trafficking occur the most in the United States. As followers of Christ, we should not remain negligent and let young girls and women suffer at the hands of traffickers. Therefore, it is important to learn what human trafficking is, how and why it happens. The focus of the course will be to discuss biblical, theological, and practical approaches to help survivors of human trafficking.

Vivek A. Solanky is pastor of the Yellow Creek Church of the Brethren in Goshen, IN. Vivek is married to his wife Shefali for 12 years, and they are blessed with a 6 year old handsome son, Josiah. Both Vivek and Shafali are natives of India and are third generation member of the Church of the Brethren-India.Vivek completed an MA in Brethren Studies in 2012 and M. Div in 2021 from Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, IN.

Besides pastoral ministry, Vivek has a passion and a call to help people suffering in human trafficking. His goal is to raise awareness about human trafficking and encourage the Church of the Brethren to take initiative in this ministry.

An increasing number of congregations are being served by ministers in part-time capacities. This structure creates both opportunities and tensions around congregational roles and tasks. Incorporating recent research on resilience in leadership published by the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, Jen Jensen will invite congregational leaders to consider how to build resilience and care for one another to create healthy balance in congregational patterns.

Jen Jensen is currently serving as the Thriving in ministry Program Manager for the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry. Her role includes overseeing the Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church program. She is a member of the Monitor Church of the Brethren in McPherson, KS, but during the pandemic has been worshiping with Buckeye Church of the Brethren in Abilene, KS. She has provided pulpit supply throughout Western Plains District and at congregations of other denominations in the McPherson area. Jensen is a 2004 alumni of McPherson College, a graduate of the University of Nebraska, and completed a master of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary in May 2022.