We are a Christian theology discussion group. We will have our first meetup on Tuesday at 6:30PM October 24, 2023. Anyone from any perspective is free to come but the focus of the material and discussion is on historic orthodox Christianity: the triune God as revealed in Jesus as set forth in the Scriptures with the church and God’s mission to the world as foundational. Whatever we study will always be related to Scripture.
The plan is to have theological/biblical material which we will each read ahead of time and be prepared to discuss at the meeting. This could be a chapter from a book, an article, or some other sort of excerpt. Or, it could be a chapter or two from a book of the Bible. Or, we could pick a topic—such as the parousia—and each person would be responsible for bringing some information. I am open to various formats.
I am open to many different Christian thinkers and topics but would love to learn more about the following: Jesus, systematic theology, Anabaptism, apologetics, Quakerism, Pentecostalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Barth, Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, Newbigin, Walter Wink, MLK, Pannenberg, atonement theory, political theology, nonviolence and war, ecclesiology, the Trinity, intentional community, pneumatology/gifts of the Spirit, the Calvinist/Arminian spectrum, biblical exegesis, protology/eschatology, so-called biblical contradictions, the gospels, evangelism, and a million more. I would also love to consider an array of social issues from a theological/biblical perspective.
The plan is to go from 6:30PM to 8:30 PM for meetings once every 3 Tuesdays—or maybe every other week if people are up for it. (Maybe we will start a little earlier or start a little later). We will meet in my living room in North Portland in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood. Only in the case of inclement weather (or a pandemic) will we use Zoom. If you are serious about reading and discussing theology and are interested in joining us, please email me in order to get my street address, receive the written material we will discuss, and to make sure that we are a good fit for each other.
I host a talk show (theology, biblical studies, ethics, apologetics, etc.) which appears on YouTube and various audio podcast directories called THE CHARGE: with Dennis Metzler https://www.youtube.com/@THECHARGEwithDennisMetzler
I have been reading theology and biblical studies for over 40 years and have a Master of Divinity from Portland Seminary.
Contact me at thecharge.info@gmail.com