Penance and the Purpose of Law: A New Microcourse Resource
Greystone Theological Institute is pleased to announce a new microcourse resource now available on Greystone Connect. In Penance and the Purpose of Law, Dr. Atria A. Larson explores the roots of Reformed discipline in a place where Reformed people rarely think to look, or even cringe to consider: medieval penitential discipline.
It has often been remarked in Reformed circles that the third mark of the true church is the ‘right administration of discipline’. Experienced pastors and elders know that debates over discipline can tear a church apart as much as debates over preaching, sacraments, or other matters. Discipline has been a topic as perennial in the church as questions of doctrine and liturgical practices because the church constitutes, as Augustine noted, a hospital for sick sinners. This microcourse investigates the roots of Reformed discipline in a place where Reformed people rarely think to look, or even cringe to consider: medieval penitential discipline.
What we will see are fundamental principles in the Christian tradition about repentance or penance and the purpose of law that influenced early Reformed thinkers, stood in the background of Reformed casuistry, and can guide careful consideration of how to approach—and with what rationale and what end goal—erring church members who have sinned egregiously against God and neighbor and deeply need to be brought back into communion with both.
Course Lectures:
Introduction:
1. Reformed Standards on Repentance/Penance and Ecclesiastical Discipline
2. The Purpose of Law
3. God's Patience and Penance: A Medieval Perspective
Penance as Pastoral Counsel:
4. Gregory the Great’s Regula Pastoralis on Priestly Qualifications and People Skills
5. Burchard of Worms’ Corrector siue Medicus and the Spiritual and Social Medicine of Penance
Penance as Pre-Judicial Rigor:
6. Ivo of Chartres' Prologue and the Pondering of the Penitent and Impenitent
7. Gratian's Decretum and De penitentia on Determining True Penance and When to Turn to Judicial Rigor
Penance as Private or Public:
8. General Historical Development
9. Tegino of Prum's Two Books on Synodal Causes and Ecclesiastical Disciplines and the Role of the Ecclesiastical Public
Penance as Casuistry:
10. Penitentials and the Weighing of Circumstances
11. Sample Reformed Casuist
The Greystone Membership
Greystone is persuaded that robust theological fellowship should not be limited to formal degree program contexts, and that rigorous theological formation should be accessible to all. For these reasons, we have crafted a Membership for the modest amount of $18 a month (the price of a paperback). Greystone Members enjoy:
Unlimited access to hundreds of lecture hours across multiple disciplines including ThM/PhD courses, micro-course modules, special lectures, postgraduate seminar series, and symposia and lecture events held by our Lydia Center for Women and Families and MAP.
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Greystone Texts & Studies, a Members-only series of electronic and print publications of otherwise inaccessible historic and contemporary resources for Reformed theology, worship, and edification;
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Exclusive discounted rates for select live events to interact with the lecturer and the Greystone community of students and faculty, and to partake in the Greystone Way of prayer, feasting, and fellowship;
The opportunity to help fund free ministerial training and general edification resources in regions of the world lacking quality Reformed theological education options.
Become a Greystone Member for your daily personal growth in Scripture and theology; use it with friends or colleagues in your church, community, or organization as a way to focus attention together on a certain topic or theme; utilize the Membership in your church body or with fellow clergy or ministerial trainees; use it at your institution as a robust continuing-education resource for students and/or faculty, or to supplement courses or programs; or customize an apprenticeship program for ministerial preparation or theological research training. The Greystone Membership is the innovative solution for your robust continuing education, rich theological edification, and opportunity for partnership in support of global Reformed faith and life.