Western Reformed Seminary hosts an annual guest lecture series sponsored by the Triune Family Trust in memory of Dr. Ronald Taber. Noted guest lecturers address topics of timely interest from the Reformed theological perspective. Many of the past lectures are available below.
About Dr. Ronald W. Taber
Dr. Ron Taber was born in Seattle, Washington, on March 10, 1942. He was raised in Cashmere, WA, the oldest of six children. The family worked their 20 acre cherry orchard and Ron raised Angus cattle. He loved farming, but the study of history stole his heart, and at the age of 26 he received his PhD from Washington State University in American Studies. During his younger years, Ron taught at Purdue University and Ithaca College, worked in Governor Dan Evans’ administration, and began a construction company where he built apartments, churches, schools, and office buildings in Washington. He retired at the age of 38 and returned to raising Angus cattle in Olympia. He moved to a farm in the warm, sunny, state of Florida, gave up Angus cattle and raised St. Croix sheep.
Ron’s family attended the Assembly of God church, but during his college days Ron left the faith and considered himself an atheist. When Ron was 48 years old the Lord brought him back. All the years of denial were washed away in a moment. He attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, and was mentored by Dr. Ronald Nash. Ron lived his life for God and was a bold Christian, not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After seminary, Ron returned to Washington State politics, worked for the Christian Coalition, and ran unsuccessfully for State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and then for Congress. His theme for the SPI campaign was “Let My People Go.” Ron was diagnosed with bladder cancer in October of 2000, at the age of 58. He struggled with this disease for four years. Ron was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and during his last hours, sang gospel songs with his wife, mother and sister. He fell into a peaceful sleep and was with the Lord on Sept 6, 2004. His life was a testimony to the power and mercy of God.
Lecture # 1: Intro and Doctrine (Chapters 1 & 2)
Lecture # 2: God and Man and the Church (Chapters 3 & 7)
Lecture # 3: The Bible and Christ (Chapters 4 & 5)
Lecture # 4: Salvation (Chapter 6)
Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn, Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary, PA
“The Westminster Assembly and the Church”
Dr. Carl Trueman, professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College
“Strange New World”
A consideration of the rise of the modern sexual revolution and its pressure against religious freedom.
Historic Premillennialism: The Unified Message of the Bible
Lecture 1: The Identity of the Church and Its Relation to Biblical Israel; President Tito Lyro
Lecture 2: Covenantal Promise, the New Covenant in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and the Millennial Kingdom; Professor Chris Lensch
Lecture 3: The Post-Tribulational Return of Christ; Professor John Battle, Th.D.
Lecture 4: The Doctrine of the Resurrection: Board President, Pastor Steven Brinegar
The Canons of Dort – 400 years
Lecture 1 - April 10, 2019 - Dr. Kevin Backus - Introduction to the Canons of Dort; First Head of Doctrine — of Divine Predestination
Lecture 2 - April 10, 2019 - Dr. Len Pine - The First Head of Doctrine: Divine Election and Reprobation
Lecture 3 - April 11, 2019 - Rev. John Dyck - The Second Head of Doctrine: The Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby
Lecture 4 - April 11, 2019 - Rev. Christopher Lensch - The Third Head of Doctrine: The Corruption of Man
Lecture 5 - April 12, 2019 - Dr. John Battle - The Fourth Head of Doctrine: The Conversion of Man, and the Manner Thereof
Lecture 6 - April 11, 2019 - Rev. Tito Lyro - The Fifth Head of Doctrine: The Perseverance of the Saints
God's Word: The Sufficient and Practical Remedy To Man's Problems
Session 1 - April 11, 2018 - Dr. Kevin Backus - The Sufficiency of the Word
Session 2 - April 11, 2018 - Dr. Kevin Backus - The Supremacy of the Word
Session 3 - April 12, 2018 - Dr. George Scipione - Anniversaries, Earthquakes and the Biblical Counseling Movement
Session 4 - April 12, 2018 - Dr. George Scipione - Paul's Model and Method for Counseling
Q&A Session - April 12, 2018
Session 5 - April 13, 2018 - Dr. George Scipione - Counseling a Person Labeled with a Psychological Diagnosis
Session 6 - April 13, 2018 - Dr. Kevin Backus - ADHD: Who Says? How Do They Know?
Q&A Session - April 13, 2018
Wise Financial Principles: Lessons from Solomon, Paul, and the Puritans
Lecture 1 - April 27, 2017
Lecture 2 - April 28, 2017
Lecture 3 - April 29, 2017
Eric Lasch holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Buffalo (Magna Cum Laude), and a Master of Christian Ministry degree (Biblical Counseling Emphasis) from Western Reformed Seminary.
Mr. Lasch is a Certified Public Accountant and has worked many years as Senior Tax Manager with a major accounting firm in Amherst, NY. A ruling elder at the Bible Presbyterian Church in Grand Island, NY, he has served as Treasurer of his congregation as well as President and Treasurer of Presbyterian Missionary Union. He volunteers at Journey’s End Refugee Services in Buffalo, and as a member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, he is a veteran counselor.
They Being Dead Yet Speak: Puritan Pastoral Ministry For The 21ST Century
Dr. Jason Hutchinson is the pastor of Grace Bible Presbyterian Church in Sharonville, Ohio. Jason holds a Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism, Missions, and Church Growth Degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. A Masters of Divinity in Evangelism, Missions, and Church Growth and also a Bachelor of Arts in Education, from Morehead State University. Morehead, Kentucky.
Biblical Principles for Modern Medical Ethics: Beginning & End of Life Issues
- #1: “Medicine and End of Life Issues” by Dr. Stone
- #2: “A Pro-Life Perspective: Historical, Medical, Biblical” by Dr. Jackson
Dr. Allister Stone M.D. is a graduate of WRS and current Director of Emergency Services at St. Joseph’s Hospital
Dr. Michael Jackson M.D. is a local family medical doctor and CareNet board adviser.
A People Pretending Religion: The Life and Times of Solomon Stoddard
- #1: Sunday at St. Botolph’s: The Birth and Migration of Congregationalism
- #2: The Half-Way Covenant: American Puritans in Crisis
- #3: A Light to the Churches: Stoddard’s Legacy
Glenn Fisher is a third year Ph.D. student in the history program at the University of Maine where he is a recipient of the Correll Fellowship. He graduated with honors from Clearwater Christian College and received his M.A. in American History from Fitchburg State University. Currently, he and his family reside in Eddington, Maine, where Mr. Fisher is a ruling elder in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He also serves as headmaster of Penobscot Christian School in Bangor, Maine, the only classical high school in the state.
Reformation in the English-Speaking World: Why Every Generation Must Have Reformation
- #1: “Reformation in England: Wycliffe to Cranmer”
- #2: “Reformation in Scotland: Hamilton to Knox”
- #3: “Reformational Psalms and Hymns in English: The Central Role of Singing in the Reformation”
Douglas Bond is the author of twenty books, head of the English department at Covenant High School in Tacoma, is an in-demand conference speaker, as well as a well-travelled tour leader covering European literary history and church history. Douglas and his wife, Cheryl, have six children and are beginning to enjoy grandchildren.
Old Princeton Seminary (1812-1929): Its Influence through Two Centuries
- #1: “The Biblical Legacy of Old Princeton”
- #2: “The Pastoral Heart of Old Princeton”
- #3: “The Missionary Outreach of Old Princeton”
David B. Calhoun is professor emeritus of church history at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dr. Calhoun has taught at Covenant College, Columbia Bible College (now Columbia International University), and Jamaica Bible College (where he was also principal). He has served with Ministries in Action in the West Indies and in Europe, and as dean of the Iona Centres for Theological Study. He was a board member (and for some years president) of Presbyterian Mission International, a mission board that assists American-trained nationals to return to their homelands for ministry.
Among other works, Dr. Calhoun is the author of a two-volume history of Princeton Theological Seminary published by Banner of Truth Trust.
Caring for God’s Creation: A Biblical Response to Modern Environmentalism
- #1: "Biblical Principles for Earth Stewardship"
- #2: "A Critique of the Worldview, Theology, and Ethics of the Environmental Movement"
- #3: "A Theological, Scientific, and Economic Approach to Climate Policy"
- #4: "Biblical Justice vs. Social Justice: A Critique of Egalitarianism"
E. Calvin Beisner
Christian Education: A Reformed Imperative
- #1 "The Need for a Reformed World and Life View"
- #2 "Distinctive Characteristics of Christian Education"
- #3 "Christian Education and Culture"
- #4 "Doing Christian Education in a non-Christian Setting"
Mr. Portela is a highly-sought speaker in Brazil where he is the president of the Brazilian branch of the Association of Christian Schools International and is chairman of the Education Commission of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil.
Capitalism: Biblical and Practical
#1: Christianity, Capitalism, and the Rise of the United States Dr. Burt Folsom
#2: New Deal or Raw Deal? Dr. Burt Folsom
#3: Will Obama's Big Government Worldview Prevail? Dr. Burt Folsom
#4: Those Enterprising Calvinists—Calvin, Presbyterians, and Capitalism Dr. John Battle
What Reformed Christians Need To Know About Jews and Judaism
- #1 "Understanding Judaism"
- #2 "Old Testament Messianic Promises and Israel"
- #3 "The Rabbis and the Talmud"
- #4 "The Modern Struggle and History of the Nation of Israel"
- #5 "Common Objections Jewish People Have to Christianity"
Dr. Gary G. Cohen
Apologetic Methodologies Past and Present
- #1: "Traditional Apologetics Before the 20th Century (emphasis on Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal)"
- #2: "Traditional Apologetics in the 20th Century (Geisler, Craig, Moreland, Habermas)"
- #3: "Various Reformed Apologetic Methodologies (Sproul, Schaeffer, Plantinga)"
- #4: "Various Reformed Apologetic Methodologies—Part 2 (Gordon Clark, Van Til)"
- #5: "Other Apologetic Approaches: Scientific, Cultural, & Cumulative Case Apologetics (Schaeffer, Lewis, David Clark, Ross, Morris, Collins)"
Dr. Phil Fernandes is the president of the Institute of Biblical Defense, which he founded in 1990 to teach Christians how to defend the Christian Faith. He is also the pastor of Trinity Bible Fellowship in Silverdale, Washington, and teaches philosophy, world religions, theology, and apologetics for CrossPoint Academy and the Imago Dei Institute (formerly Cascade Bible College).
Dr.Phil Fernandes has earned the following degrees: a Ph.D. in philosophy of religion from Greenwich University, a Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Theology from Columbia Evangelical Seminary.
The Bible and the Law
- #1: "What Government Does the Bible Prescribe?"
- #2: "What Law Does the Bible Prescribe? – Parts 1&2"
- #3: "An Indictment of the United States Supreme Court"
- #4: "Biblical Law: The Nexus of the Two Testaments"
- #5: "The Bible and the Law Today "
Dr. George Joseph Gatis, Esq.
JUSTIFICATION
- #1: "The Importance of Revelation"
- #2: "The Importance of Justification"
- #3: "The Theology of N. T. Wright"
- #4: "The Theology of Richard Gaffin and Norman Shepherd"
- #5: "The Auburn Avenue Theology"
Dr. John W. Robbins was a resident of Unicoi County, Tennessee. Born and reared in Pennsylvania, he received his A. B. from Grove City College (Pennsylvania) in 1969, cum laude, with Highest Honors in Political Science. He pursued graduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University (Maryland), earning his Masters in Political Theory (1970), and his Doctorate in Philosophy and Political Theory (1973).