COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FEATURE

The Subcommittee on Ministerial Training of the Committee on Christian Education plans to hold the next OPC Timothy Conference on April 19–22, 2023, hosted by Calvary OPC in Glenside, Pennsylvania. Conference participants will be introduced to a seminary environment and attend classes at Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS), also located in Glenside.

Confirmed conference speakers include WTS professor John Currie, OP ministers Joel Fick and Danny Olinger, and former Timothy Conference participants and now OP pastors Zachary Siggins and Aijalon Church.

Mr. Siggins, pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian in Ambler, Pennsylvania, will speak on the office of a minister with special attention paid to its accompanying responsibilities and privileges. Mr. Fick, pastor of Redemption OPC in Gainesville, Florida, will address the issue of the call to ministry, particularly what it means to be called and how one might know if he is called. Mr. Currie, professor of practical theology, will speak on why it is important to receive seminary training in preparation for gospel ministry and what that training involves. Mr. Olinger, general secretary of the Committee on Christian Education, will put forth the process of becoming an Orthodox Presbyterian minister from coming under care of a presbytery to being ordained and installed in a local congregation. Mr. Church, pastor of Covenant OPC in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, will address what the young men should be doing in preparation for a life of ministry even now. 

The conference will include visiting historic Presbyterian sites in the Philadelphia area, as well as time for fellowship, giving the young men an opportunity to get to know one another.

Applying for the Timothy Conference

Those eligible for the conference are young men between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years old who are members of the OPC and have been identified by their local session as having potential gifts for ordained gospel ministry. If there is a young man who has demonstrated godliness and giftedness towards ministry, please consider approaching him about his willingness to attend. All expenses are paid. 

Applications for sessions to submit candidates can be found on OPC.org under “Christian Education.” Completed applications should be sent to Danny Olinger (danny.olinger@opc.org). The application deadline is January 27, 2023. Please consider helping us to follow the Apostle’s instruction from 2 Timothy 2:2, “What you have heard from me . . . entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

The author is general secretary of Christian Education.