Teaching Church History 101 in a Congregation
David J. Wood
First Baptist Church of Gardiner
Gardiner, Maine

Introduction

My congregation voted to undertake a two-phased renovation of its entire building. This was a turning point in the history of this church and its self understanding. For years I have wanted to teach a course on Church History in the context of a local congregation. I have done it piecemeal here and there, but never in a single course extended over a program year. Finding myself in a congregation that has never studied church history, dealing with so many people who have not ever encountered the study of history beyond high school, and feeling strongly the need to set a new level of engagement with theology and the Christian life in the church, I decided this would be the time and place to teach such a course.

• Read the complete introduction and syllabus for this course
• View a slideshow on 'Why Study the Past?' and First Baptist's renovation