St-Quentin: New Church For New Town

February 2008

Dear Friends,

     The cover story on the latest Nuance, the official publication of the Evangelical Reformed Church in France, should be of great interest for supporters of the Seminary in Aix. The story’s title says it well: St-Quentin-en- Yvelines: Église nouvelle pour ville nouvelle!

     St-Quentin is a growing suburb of Paris. Although some inhabitants are commuters, most live and work right there. The town has excellent schools and cultural activities. Twenty years ago a group of dedicated church planters, including our friend Len Stewart, studied the demographic trends and concluded that the real population growth was in these hamlets, neighboring the large cities. They took note of the Renault car company’s plan to locate their technology center there, alongside many other new French enterprises.

     Sure enough, between January, 1990, the date of their first worship service, and today, there has been significant growth in the town and in the church. Much of the early development in the church can be credited to the work of Gérard Bos, the dynamic pioneer who tirelessly preached the gospel and gathered leaders around him. Where did he train? Aix-en-Provence. As did his successors, Yannick Imbert, an interim, and Marc Toureille, the current pastor.

    The success of this church has not been achieved without bumps along the way. But today, they are a thriving community. Their strengths include, preaching, pastoral care, outreach to the surrounding population, foreign missions, and evangelism. Please pray that the Seminary in Aix continue to produce strong leaders capable of planting and developing new churches in 2008 and beyond.

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President

Can Preaching Make A Difference?

November 2007

Dear Friends,

     Can preaching make a difference? Most of us would agree in principle, noting how we have been moved or challenged by individual sermons. But faithful preaching can actually shape history.

     Consider this wonderful example. Alexandre Vinet (1797-1947) was one of the architects of our modern concept of religious freedom. Although this Swiss theologian spent most of his life in a classroom or behind a writing desk, he was able to lead much of Francophone Europe to understand freedom of conscience. He wrote three powerful essays on the subject: On the Liberty of Worship (1826); On Conscience (1829); and On the Manifestation of Religious Conviction (1842). He also inspired a movement which led to the Free Church in 1845. He was deeply concerned for the rights of minorities to have religious freedom, without outside constraints.

     The source of his convictions? One of the most important was Protestant sermons from the 17th century! He wrote a 700 page study of these men, including Pierre Du Moulin, Jean Daillé, Moïse Amyraut and Pierre Du Bosc. Mostly forgotten today, in their time they were powerful voices. And they were minority voices, since these Huguenots were facing such opposition. Their sermons often denounced the abuse of power, and the pretentious claims of both kings and bishops. In a sermon on Eternal Election in Jesus Christ, Du Bosc argues that the great sovereign reign of God both legitimates and relativizes earthly powers.

     The dynamics of religion and authority are back on the table today. So many voices from the media and the lectern comment on religion and violence, church and state, etc. How about from sermons? The Seminary at Aix, particularly through the Boice Chair, is turning out excellent preachers of the Word. They are trained to comment upon all of life from a Scriptural vantage point. History may be affected. Can you help us make that happen?

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President

Were Any Of Your Ancestors Huguenots?

September 2007

Dear Friends,

     Were any of your ancestors French Huguenots? Mine were, coming from the little town of Uzes in the South West of France. They came because of persecution. The Edit de Fontainebleau (1685) was a sobering document. It stated that while Henri IV (“our ancester of glorious memory”) by the Edict of Nantes (1598) had wanted to prevent troubles because of the R.P.R. (Religion Prétendue Réformée), now that tactic is “useless,” as most of them had converted to the true (Roman Catholic) religion. So Fontainebleau made it illegal to practice the Reformed faith, to teach it, to hold worship services, and to have Protestant schools. Further, it forbade leaving the country, giving anyone who did four months to come back, or to face the galley ships and prison.

     As it happened, while indeed the numbers had declined, there remained some 850,000 Huguenots up until 1685. Upon the revocation, at least 200,000 of them fled to other countries. Many more would follow. They enriched the countries to which they came, and impoverished France forever.

     Won’t you consider joining us for an investigation of these events, and their significance, on the weekend of October 13-14, 2007? We will visit the historic town of New Paltz, New York, and hear lectures by Douglas Giebel, art historian from Roberts Wesleyan College. Why New Paltz? Because it was one of the major places of refuge for the Huguenots who fled to American shores. Founded in 1678, New Pfaltz was established by French Protestants who had temporarily fled to Mannheim, Germany at the revocation (the “f” was soon dropped, making it New Paltz). They established a Reformed church, a school, and various industries, soon growing into a flourishing population of believers who could experience religious freedom in America. Bitter-sweet!

     Even if you cannot come, thank you for your faithful support for the cause of the Huguenot faith in France and around the world.

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President

Diminishing Public Christian Voice

February 2007

Dear Friends,

     Something striking occurred in Marseille just this last December. The streets and subways were flooded with a unique poster. It read, l’Aïd, fête du partage (meaning “Aïd, a feast for sharing”). Eid al-Fitr is the first day on which the new moon is sighted at the end of Ramadan. Muslims celebrate the end of their yearly fast with special prayers, and with fine food and drink.

     What is so remarkable about such a poster? First, it was financed by the General Council, the departmental government for the Bouches-du-Rhône, which covers Marseille. Second, only a few Christians reacted. To their credit, they worried, not that this was outside the rights of the large Muslim population in that city, but that nothing equivalent was done by Christians to announce the true meaning of Christmas. A letter went out to the Archbishop signaling this fact, but it received a lukewarm response noting only the “distance between our society and the feast of Christmas,” and promising to think about it with other Christian leaders.

     If you know modern history, there is nothing really extraordinary about the increasingly vocal Muslim community and the diminishing Christian public voice in France today. Except that it shouldn’t be that way! Christians all over the West have accommodated to the pressure over recent years to privatize their faith, while other religions have gone deliberately public. How can we make sure the Christian voice is heard in an appropriate way? Sometimes when Christian do speak out, it is rather embarrassing. The Seminary at Aix-en-Provence studies this and prepares its students to go out and make a difference. Please help its cause by your prayers and your support. And thanks very much!

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President

Collaboration In Matters Of Religion

November 2006

Dear Friends,

     Did you know that collaboration between the French and the Anglo- Saxons in matters of religion goes back quite a ways? One of the most notable episodes was the Réveil in the early 19th century. Among the human factors helping to trigger this remarkable revival of religion was the visit of an enigmatic Scottish Baptist minister to the city of Geneva in 1816 and thereafter. There he taught Bible studies and orthodox theology to students who would carry the message throughout the French-speaking world.

     At the same time, Haldane found that orthodox religion was much more prominent and more influential than he had first estimated. Leaders such as Louis Gaussen, César Malan, Merle d’Aubigné, and Adolphe Monod possessed strong talents in crafting a message that would bring new life into a Protestantism that had been left decimated after a century of persecutions. Truly, then, this was a partnership, long before the idea became fashionable. (A wonderful new book by Kenneth Stewart, Restoring the Reformation, from Paternoster, tells the whole story in great detail.)

     As an American organization we try to help out with French evangelical causes such as the Seminary in Aix-en-Provence. And we are able to send financial gifts as well as human resources on a regular basis. Whenever I go to Aix, in order to teach my courses, I try to bring our friends the latest in good scholarship from across the Atlantic. And I always tell the community there that they are not alone, and that we are ready to help. At the same time, they help me understand the Christian faith in fresh ways. Their professors are publishing and lecturing on many topics from the point of view of European Christian faith.

     As we approach the end of the year, would you consider enhancing this great partnership by making a special gift toward the Boice Chair, through the Huguenot Fellowship? An endowed faculty position is one of the best ways to ensure the continued training of leaders for the work of God’s Kingdom. Perhaps we will see another awakening!

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President

Of Hope, Victory, Celebration

September 2006

Dear Friends,

     Paul Cézanne painted the mountain, Sainte Victoire, over 60 times during his career. Why was he drawn to this strange, granite protrusion just outside of Aix-en-Provence? Cézanne was conscious of human mortality. And he believed art needed to show a way to hope. And so, he painted this mountain, not the way an impressionist might, but as the new Moses, receiving the “law” requiring that nature’s true spirit be uncovered, and thus projecting hope. Indeed, this mountain was the site in 102 B.C. of the victory of Marius, the Christian, over the pagan Teutonic troupes. Cézanne’s works were constructions of meaning on a canvas, rather than an imitation of scenery. He showed the way for the future.

     In June the Huguenot Fellowship sponsored a wonderful trip to Aix, under the sure leadership of the Barackmans. The occasion was the 100th anniversary of Cézanne’s death. We celebrated the artist in a number of ways. We visited the newly renovated museum, which had 117 of the master’s paintings on exhibit: truly a feast. A high point was a concert, at Saint Jean de Malte, the large Gothic church attached to the museum. Entitled, “L’Amérique rend homage à Paul Cézanne,” it was a double-header. The first part was gospel music with Ruth Naomi Floyd accompanied by myself. The second was an organ recital by our friend Vincent Treadway, to dedicate their new Kern organ. Included in the program were two pieces I had written for the occasion. The audience rose to its feet with enthusiasm. Encores were required. What an evening!

     The other high point was graduation at the Reformed Seminary. We saw five students proudly receive their diplomas. Some were already in ministry, others about to commence. It was a powerful reminder of why we exist. Our Fellowship’s mission is to provide resources for the Seminary, so that the Kingdom of God may extend in the French-speaking world. Now, there is the true way for the future: preaching Christ’s “holy victory” to the nations.

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President

A Truly Global Outreach

May 2006

Dear Friends,

     The Reformed Seminary in Aix is a French-speaking Seminary, located in France. However, it has a truly global outreach. Here are some of the ways.

     - Strategic partnerships. The Seminary officially collaborates with Emmaüs, a Swiss Bible Institute of the highest caliber. Other such partnerships include the Bible school near Paris called Nogent. Aix partners in less formal ways with F.A.T.E.B., an evangelical seminary in Bangui, Central African Republic. This academy has a strategic location, as the country borders with Sudan, the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and (the volatile) Chad.

     - Professors’ connections. Most of the professors at Aix travel regularly to various locations inside and outside of France. Paul Wells has recently been to Korea, the United States, Romania and Quebec, among other places. Pierre Berthoud, also a world traveler, was just in South Africa for the World Reformed Fellowship. Michel Johner delivers lectures on Christian ethics in a variety of settings. Our teachers also publish widely.

     - Students’ connections. To begin with, the student body is remarkably international. Also, once a year, in February, every M.Div student is sent out for internships in various settings and in various places. The wonderful seminary choir also tours regularly, bringing the gospel to great numbers through music. One of the graduates and his wife, both Kabyle converts from Islam, currently work among thousands of Christians in Algeria (estimates place the number of Christians there between 60,000 and 80,000, and at some services there are 500 in attendance).

     And the stories can be multiplied. In our global village, despite the dangers, opportunities for ministry are far greater than the supply of servants to minister. A nice problem to have, but a problem nevertheless. Any help to support this planetary outreach through Aix would be gratefully received.

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President

The Religious Future of The Continent

February 2006

Dear Friends,

     European intellectuals are thinking more than ever about the religious future of the Continent. Some of the predictions are tired truisms. For example, Giorgio Vattimo, the Italian post-modern Roman Catholic, together with the American Pragmatist Richard Rorty, argue for a “liberation from dogma,” in their recent book, The Future of Religion. If the church is to survive, they say, it will only be as a post-religious, but compassionate community. More subtle is Claude Geffré’s approach, in With Or Without God?, where he dialogues with the philosopher Régis Debray. He strongly argues that you cannot have meaningful compassion without first worshiping God. You need a higher framework. The theologian Marcel Gauchet agrees, as he reflects on strategy, predicting that the older default parish model will fade away, but a newer “religion of identity” will come to replace it.

     Is this not a great opportunity for spreading the message the Seminary at Aix has believed since its inception? The heart of the gospel is that we can have a new identity in Jesus Christ through the cross. No geographical or ethnic qualifications are needed. Simply, lifting up the empty hands of faith. Our primary communion with God will of course lead to outreach. People who know the forgiveness and love of Calvary will turn to their neighbors and minister forgiveness and love to the surrounding community.

     At the beginning of 2006, we want to concentrate on preparing heralds of this gospel for modern Europe, and for the French-speaking world. Only an educated clergy will be able to bring the good news in a credible way to the over-developed West. So the need for Seminary training is greater than ever. The European intellectuals are telling us what we’ve known all along. To be effective, the church must preach the new birth in Christ. But “how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14)

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President

P.S.     We are over the $200,000 mark for the Boice Chair. 550,000 to go!

P.P.S.   Let us know if you no longer wish to be on this mailing list.

P.P.P.S. We’re giving out signed copies of Paul Wells’ Cross Words, to donors who contribute $300 or more! It’s a masterpiece on the atonement.