Podcasts from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Few subjects cause as much disharmony in the church as the issue of music and praise. But is it all purely a matter of taste? Are there theological considerations we need to apply? What about the non-musical elements of worship? Given the strong emphasis on preaching in our tradition, and the time spent by preachers in preparing this aspect of the service, how much time should we spend putting together the other elements? In a culture where the ‘worship leader’ has assumed a prominent role in many emerging churches, what biblical principles govern this role. How can we encourage creative artists and musicians in a way which neither relegates their contributions to the periphery of worship nor elevates their role beyond what is appropriate? This seminar looks at the biblical and practical issues surrounding the putting together of corporate worship services within the PCI tradition.

David ‘Monty’ Montgomery is a Presbyterian minister currently working as Director of Christian Unions, Ireland, coordinating the work of over 30 CUs in the university campuses of Ireland. Previously he served in Stormont, Knock and Greystones Presbyterian churches and with PCI’s Board of Mission in Ireland. He has a doctorate from Covenant Theological Seminary, and has been published on a range subjects. He is married to Gwen, supports Manchester City and relaxes with crime fiction and the Times crossword.

The rapid changes in our culture often leave Christians feeling confused and vulnerable. We need to raise up disciples of all ages who can think biblically about the issues of our time so that they can serve God faithfully and share the gospel confidently. We need to get beneath the surface of how people live and speak to understand how behaviour reflects ultimate beliefs that are either true or false. This seminar will explore the centrality of transformed thinking to whole-life discipleship. It will present a biblical worldview that challenges alternative ideas and provides a foundation for confident faith and persuasive evangelism. We will explore together both what this means for individual Christians and how, in practical terms, teaching in our churches can develop disciples who engage thoughtfully in the world.

Paul Coulter is a native of Lisburn. He left a career in medicine to work in cross-cultural pastoral ministry with the Belfast Chinese Christian Church. He subsequently directed youth and equipping ministries in Glenabbey Church before pursuing his PhD in Divinity. Currently he teaches Practical Theology and Missiology at Belfast Bible College, advises several Christians organisations, podcasts and writes online articles at www.paulcoulter.net, and preaches in churches across Northern Ireland. He is husband to Gar-Ling, father to two children, and fast becoming a ‘mamil’.

When God made human beings He made us with a very specific purpose in mind. He made us “in His image” to show the world what He is like. When Jesus developed the theme with His disciples He told them that they were “the light of the world.” For too long the image has been hidden away…the light has been kept under a bowl.

Christoph Ebbinghaus is a disciple who works as minister of Kirkpatrick Memorial (previously as accountant with PWC) and plays at running, cycling, hiking and the like. Of late he’s taken to chopping wood, lighting camp fires and loves nothing more than a good chat around a fire with friends. He’s husband to Claire and dad to Patrick, Sophie and Ruby.

We all share the desire to see the Christian faith passed on to the next generation. But how does disciple-making in the family context take place most effectively? How can parents strike a balance between supporting their child’s developing faith whilst juggling the pressures of everyday living? How can churches best support and equip parents in this vital task? What role do salaried staff play in facilitating disciple-making in the home? This seminar will explore these issues, enabling churches to consider how biblical principles and research findings may be practically applied in individual settings.

Sarah Holmes’ entire life has been shaped by family and children. From her earliest days assisting her mother run children’s church, to Sunday school roles, to kids’ club initiatives in church circles, and now concentrating on her PhD studies on family faith practices, Sarah’s life has been committed to family discipleship and passing on faith to the next generation.

Sarah lives in Wirral, near Liverpool with her husband Richard and three children Ruth, Anna and Joshua.

‘On being human’ is a series of six thought-provoking seminars that provide an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a human being in the 21st Century.

Part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Church in the Public Square series [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/publicsquare], ‘On being human’ draws on the expertise of academics and professionals working in a variety of disciplines in Ireland and the UK to explore the essence and uniqueness of human life.

Dr. Cynthia Bennett Brown has been lecturer in systematic theology at Belfast Bible College since 2011. Originally from the United States, she moved to Northern Ireland in 2005 where she attends Fisherwick Presbyterian Church. In the fifth of our ‘On being human’ series of seminars Dr. Brown considered the Christian metanarrative of who God is and who we are as created human persons. She suggested that, as pressing as issues of gender are in our contemporary context, they should be discussed within the theological framework of our God-given identity as persons in community.

You can read Dr. Colins’ blog here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/October-2016/On-being-Human%E2%80%A6-A-Theological-Framing-of-Gender.aspx] and the original ‘On being human’ news story here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/September-2016/Essence-of-humanity-at-heart-of-forthcoming-semina.aspx.]

‘On being human’ is a series of six thought-provoking seminars that provide an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a human being in the 21st Century.

Part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Church in the Public Square series [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/Utility/About-Us/Councils/General-Council/Church-in-the-Public-Square.aspx], ‘On being human’ draws on the expertise of academics and professionals working in a variety of disciplines in Ireland and the UK to explore the essence and uniqueness of human life.

Christopher McCrudden is Professor of Human Rights and Equality Law at Queen’s University Belfast and William W Cook Global Law Professor at the University of Michigan Law School. Until 2011, he was Professor of Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. His research deals with the foundational principles that underpin human rights practice.

A practicing Barrister at Blackstone Chambers in London, in this final seminar in our On being human series, Professor McCrudden considered whether we need an understanding of what it means to be 'human' in order to construct a coherent normative theory of human rights.

You can read Professor McCrudden’s blog here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/November-2016-(1)/On-being-Human%E2%80%A6-What-is-the-human-in-human-right.aspx] and the original ‘On being human’ news story here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/September-2016/Essence-of-humanity-at-heart-of-forthcoming-semina.aspx.]

‘On being human’ is a series of six thought-provoking seminars that provide an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a human being in the 21st Century.

Part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Church in the Public Square series [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/Utility/About-Us/Councils/General-Council/Church-in-the-Public-Square.aspx], ‘On being human’ draws on the expertise of academics and professionals working in a variety of disciplines in Ireland and the UK to explore the essence and uniqueness of human life.

Christopher McCrudden is Professor of Human Rights and Equality Law at Queen’s University Belfast and William W Cook Global Law Professor at the University of Michigan Law School. Until 2011, he was Professor of Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. His research deals with the foundational principles that underpin human rights practice.

A practicing Barrister at Blackstone Chambers in London, in this final seminar in our On being human series, Professor McCrudden considered whether we need an understanding of what it means to be 'human' in order to construct a coherent normative theory of human rights.

You can read Professor McCrudden’s blog here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/November-2016-(1)/On-being-Human%E2%80%A6-What-is-the-human-in-human-right.aspx] and the original ‘On being human’ news story here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/September-2016/Essence-of-humanity-at-heart-of-forthcoming-semina.aspx.]

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‘On being human’ is a series of six thought-provoking seminars that provide an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a human being in the 21st Century.

Part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Church in the Public Square series [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/publicsquare], ‘On being human’ draws on the expertise of academics and professionals working in a variety of disciplines in Ireland and the UK to explore the essence and uniqueness of human life.

Dr. Andrew Collins is a Christian counsellor who also works part-time as a consultant psychiatrist. As an elder at Killicomaine Evangelical Church in Portadown, he is involved in ministry on a regular basis. Dr. Collins also provides teaching and training on pastoral and mental health issues for churches and conferences. In the fifth of our ‘On being human’ seminar Dr. Colins considers gender dysphoria and transgenderism from a pastoral perspective.

You can read Dr. Colins’ blog here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/November-2016-(1)/On-being-Human%E2%80%A6-Understanding-gender-dysphoria.aspx] and the original ‘On being human’ news story here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/September-2016/Essence-of-humanity-at-heart-of-forthcoming-semina.aspx.]

‘On being human’ is a series of six thought-provoking seminars that provide an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a human being in the 21st Century.

Part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Church in the Public Square series [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/publicsquare], ‘On being human’ draws on the expertise of academics and professionals working in a variety of disciplines in Ireland and the UK to explore the essence and uniqueness of human life.

Dr. Andrew Collins is a Christian counsellor who also works part-time as a consultant psychiatrist. As an elder at Killicomaine Evangelical Church in Portadown, he is involved in ministry on a regular basis. Dr. Collins also provides teaching and training on pastoral and mental health issues for churches and conferences. In the fifth of our ‘On being human’ seminar Dr. Colins considers gender dysphoria and transgenderism from a pastoral perspective.

You can read Dr. Colins’ blog here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/November-2016-(1)/On-being-Human%E2%80%A6-Understanding-gender-dysphoria.aspx] and the original ‘On being human’ news story here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/September-2016/Essence-of-humanity-at-heart-of-forthcoming-semina.aspx.]

‘On being human’ is a series of six thought-provoking seminars that provide an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a human being in the 21st Century.

Part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Church in the Public Square series [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/publicsquare], ‘On being human’ draws on the expertise of academics and professionals working in a variety of disciplines in Ireland and the UK to explore the essence and uniqueness of human life.

David Livingstone is Professor of Geography and Intellectual History at Queen's University, Belfast where he works on the history of geographical ideas and the historical geographies of science and religion. He is a member of a number of national and international academic institutions including Royal Irish Academy and a Fellow of the British Academy. In the fourth of our On being human series of seminars, Professor Livingstone examines the history of the idea of Adam as the progenitor of the human race, how this has been challenged and how it has been intertwined with strategies to harmonise scripture and science.

You can read Professor Livingstone’s blog here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/October-2016/On-being-Human%E2%80%A6-Christianity-the-science-of-huma.aspx] and the original ‘On being human’ news story here. [http://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/September-2016/Essence-of-humanity-at-heart-of-forthcoming-semina.aspx.]