Westminster Seminary UK has marked its relocation to Oxford in a particularly appropriate way: with four days immersed in the Westminster Standards.
Founded in 2013, the Presbyterian seminary exists to train pastors who are “committed to holding fast to the faithful Word of God and compelled to proclaim Christ everywhere”. And from its beginnings in Newcastle, it has grown in size, influence and reach, its alumni serving churches across the UK and Europe. Recently it relocated to Union House in St Michael’s Street, Oxford, a historic building adjacent to North Gate Hall, home to Oxford Presbyterian Church.
The Westminster Standards are a collection of 17th-century confessional documents that summarise Reformed Christian theology and church practice, including the Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Larger Catechism, and Westminster Shorter Catechism. Prominent Scottish-American Reformed theologian John Murray (1898–1975) once said: “Sanctified theological learning has never been brought to bear with greater effect upon the formulation of the Christian Faith. While it would be dishonouring to the Holy Spirit to accord to these documents a place in any way equal to the Word of God either in principle or in practical effect, yet it would also be dishonouring to the Holy Spirit, who has promised to be with His church to the end, to undervalue or neglect what is the product of His illumination and direction in the hearts and minds of His faithful servants. Other men laboured and we have entered into their labours.”
