Richard Hays was installed as Dean of Duke Divinity School last week.
His convocation address is excellent. In the middle, he quotes the venerable John Stewart, who took the occasion of the Chelsea Clinton wedding to poke some fun at Methodists. Hays hears the truth behind the satire and calls his own people, and the Divinity School, to a better way:
…often our churches have in fact acquiesced to a lowest common denominator religion that offers faith without discipleship, inclusivity without transformation and blessing without mission.
If you’re more of a podcast person, here’s the link on iTunesU: Richard Hays,”I Have Set Before You Life and Death”. Alternatively, here is the YouTube video of his sermon:
Enjoy.
Daniel, all I can say to R. Hays is Wow and Amen. My Methodist-Holiness roots feel revived by this call to total commitment. I would say we Presbyterians have become afraid of this message as it might appear to be a call to works salvation. Not at all, I would say. It is the only response to the grace that has come in Christ.
In my former church, many had a generally negative view of the Divinity school. Since I see that you’ve lived in the area, I was wondering if you could suggest some good resources or good churches for a seeker such as myself. Thanks.