Providence marked a milestone anniversary of the Reformation with a public lecture by noted Christian scholar, historian and author Dr. John G. Stackhouse, Jr.
Themed “Reformation: Then – And Now?”, the presentation drew an audience of more than 250 people on October 31—500 years after Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Schlosskirche. Initially planned for the lecture theatre, the event ended up taking place in the R.W. Affleck Chapel to accommodate Providence students, staff and faculty as well as interested members of the public who made the journey to the Otterburne campus.
The morning session described the complex phenomenon that was the Reformation and explored the question at the heart of it: “Does God truly love me?” In the afternoon Dr. Stackhouse provided a sketch of contemporary Canadian culture and challenged attendees with a deeply demanding model of church life that would, he argued, reform Canadian Christianity if followed.
Dr. Stackhouse also engaged with listeners eager to expand the conversation. Both sessions were followed by rigorous question-and-answer periods.
Providence has made the full lecture available on YouTube. Viewers are welcome to click the links below.