On Sat., Oct. 28, 2017, Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary celebrated 500 years of the Reformation by holding a symposium on the relevance and significance of the Reformation tradition to the Wesleyan-Holiness Christians of today. Over a hundred people participated in this event, among them were APNTS faculty and students, LAMP students, and other guests.

The program started with Dr. Darin Land, APNTS Professor of New Testament, who gave the participants a creative welcome as he performed a short monologue as Martin Luther. It was then followed by a presentation on the historical background of the Reformation by APNTS Academic Dean and Professor of the History of Christianity, Dr. Floyd Cunningham. Also, as a tribute to Luther’s initiative to make congregation singing a part of the Christian liturgy, the APNTS choir lead by Prof. Rebecca Davis serenaded the participants with the song On Faith Alone which is one of the five Solas (Sola Fide) of Reformation. The choir also led in singing A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott). a hymn written by Martin Luther sometime between 1527-1529. 

Dr. Jason Hallig, an APNTS Alumnus and the author of We Are Catholic, delivered the keynote address entitled “Sola Scriptura–Reformation’s Ecclesial Legacy: Hermeneutical Freedom and Interpretive Diversity toward a Reformed Catholicity of the Church.” He encouraged the participants to appreciate one of the most significant legacies of the Reformation—that is hermeneutical freedom—by carefully, correctly, and diligently studying the Word of God. Dr. Dick O. Eugenio, APNTS Assistant Professor of Theology and Program Director of Master of Ministry, gave the response to Dr. Hallig’s keynote speech and encouraged the participants to follow Luther’s example of fidelity to the Scripture by upholding the Word above our own traditions and understanding.

In the afternoon, a panel composed by APNTS professors Dr. Mitchel Modine (Professor of the Old Testament), Dr. Phillip Davis (Assistant Professor of Theology), Professor Rebecca Davis (Instructor of Church Music) and Prof. Jocel Longcop, (Instructor of English), lead an informative and enriching discussion on the on-going significance of the Reformation. Activities during the one-day event include the interactive game quiz on facts about the Reformation and a film-showing of the 2003 movie Luther.

Celebrating 500 Years of Reformation was organized and sponsored by the APNTS Research Committee.