Calvin's Institutes for All

What could bring over 60 Dordt faculty across more than 30 departments together to willingly engage in over 1,000 pages of extracurricular reading from the 16th century? The answer is theologian John Calvin.

Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, faculty and staff met semimonthly with small groups as they worked their way through John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. Dr. Justin Bailey, theology professor, spearheaded this opportunity and served as a small group leader along with other members of the Theology Department. Bailey divided the reading into 16 different sections and offered participants options to read the entirety of the Institutes or a scaled back reading guide.

In November, Dr. Yudha Thianto, professor of history of Christianity and Reformed theology at Calvin Theological Seminary, spoke to participants on Calvin’s theology and work as a pastor. In April, Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, addressed participants as a way to culminate their time spent in the Institutes.

The Institutes is among the most important systematic theology teachings of the Protestant movement. It covers biblical teachings on creation, law, and the Gospel, discusses theological principles such as election, the Holy Spirit, and the sacraments, and gives application to everyday life through sections on prayer, the church, and the Christian life.

In the fall of 2024, the Theology Department decided to read through Calvin’s Institutes together. “It’s the sort of thing theology people like to do," Bailey says. “And we thought, why don’t we open it up and see if any others would like to read with us?”

A grant was obtained through Dordt’s Kielstra Center for Research and Grants to cover the cost of reading materials, and an invitation was sent to all faculty across all departments at Dordt. “I hoped we would end up with 20 participants," Bailey recalls.

Instead, over 60 faculty members were eager to take on this daunting task. Barry Brown, director of missions engagement and a business professor, was among those excited by the invitation. “This was a great opportunity to learn more about Calvin, the Institutes, and Reformed thought. I likely would not have taken on this length and breadth of reading without a group encouraging me on.”

Now, with nearly 14 meetings and 1,300 pages completed, faculty members have begun to reflect on this experience. One clear benefit has been the opportunity to delve deeply into Reformed theology. “It is important for staff and faculty to know the theology and underpinnings of Reformed thought, and this exercise is part of helping all faculty to see the value of reformed thought and how it reinforces the values that Dordt holds," Brown says.

Adding to this sentiment, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Leah Zuidema ('96) says, “It’s such a rich example of the theological depth and commitments across our faculty and staff.”

In addition to the theological explorations, the groups have also fostered community among Dordt faculty. “It is beneficial to get to know others at Dordt and see various insights and opinions they bring to the discussion," says Brown.