From 8-10 January around 100 church leaders gathered for the 47th Carey Conference.
The main speaker, Dr Bob Letham, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Union School of Theology, delivered three lectures on the Trinity. He provided an overview of how the church developed the biblical texts to articulate the doctrine of the Trinity. He then explored ‘The Trinity, creation, and the world around us’, before finishing with an engaging session on ‘The Trinity and worship’. His lectures helpfully underscored the grave danger of minimising this doctrine today.
Worship today
Jonathan Worsley, Kew Baptist church, presented on worship. Employing biblical theology, Worsley reminded delegates that God has always cared how he is worshipped. He then laid out NT elements that should be present in corporate gatherings: preaching, reading, praying, singing, and seeing the Word (in the ordinances). Worsley also highlighted the dangers of a lack of reverence or joy in worship. Are our modern gatherings too superficial? Do our songs, hymns, and prayers express God’s majesty, or allow adequate expression for Christians who are suffering?
Synod of Dort
2019 marks the 400th year of the completion of the Synod of Dort. In recognition of this, Dr Robert Strivens, Bradford-upon-Avon Baptist Church, presented a thought-provoking paper on the Synod. Strivens began by providing an overview of the theological and political factors leading up to the Synod, then proceeded to explore the content of the Canons. He finished by giving three reasons why Christians should study church history and Dort in particular – first, because of the danger of forgetting the doctrines of grace; second, because they help contest hyper-Calvinism; and third, because they are deeply pastoral.
On Wednesday afternoon there was the chance to quiz the main speakers. This was a sparkling session in which a number of topics were discussed – from heady questions on supralapsarianism, to the appropriateness of the collection bag in the gathering of the local church. Discussion was lively and robust, but undertaken with a familial-like spirit. There were also challenging sermons on holiness (David Campbell, North Preston Evangelical Church), prayer (Henry Dixon, Poplar Baptist Church), and zeal (Jonathan Bayes, UK Director of Carey Outreach Ministries). Ann Benton led the woman’s ministry track, speaking from Proverbs 26 and 30. There were a number of encouraging times of prayer. Perhaps the highlight of the conference was the hymn singing, which was both heartfelt and loud!. The next Carey Conference will run from 7 – 9 January 2020.
