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CTF 2025 - How Did the 2024 Conference Go?

Jim Butler · 2024-12-20 · 205 words · 2 min

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Summary

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The 2024 confession study conference on 1689 LBCF Chapter 1 successfully edified attendees across confessional traditions by opening the truth of Scripture in a spirit of unity rather than controversy.

A brief post-conference reflection on the April 2024 Reformed Baptist conference on Chapter 1 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. Attendees and a Free Reformed pastor both expressed that the exposition of the confession aligned closely with sound catechetical teaching, underscoring the doctrinal solidarity that exists across confessional traditions. The gathering is described as an occasion for edification, fellowship, and the opening of Scripture in a spirit of unity rather than controversy.

Key quotes

It was nice to have a non-fighting sort of a context where we can just see the truth of Scripture opened up and the edification of the saints share food together and all the things that God commends in Scripture for us.
As men, we typically gravitate to those things that we can fight about.
That's exactly the kind of stuff I say in my catechism class, which is a resounding win as far as I'm concerned, because we do have so much solidarity.

Applications

  1. Pursue contexts of fellowship and Scripture study that emphasise doctrinal solidarity rather than controversy.
  2. Recognise and give thanks for the genuine unity that exists across confessional Reformed traditions.

Questions this sermon answers

How was the 2024 Reformed Baptist confession conference received?

All formal feedback and on-the-ground responses were positive; attendees reported being genuinely helped by the exposition of the confession.

What did the Free Reformed pastor say about the conference content?

Jack Schuman noted that the material expounded in Dr. Renahan's keynote matched precisely what he himself teaches in his catechism class, reflecting strong doctrinal solidarity between the traditions.

What was the purpose of the conference beyond doctrine?

The gathering was intended to provide a non-contentious context for opening Scripture together, mutual edification, and shared fellowship — things Scripture itself commends.

So

2024 Conference Recap

in terms of last year, April 2024, we spoke on Chapter 1. In your experience, what was the feedback? How did the event go? It seemed to go well.

Certainly, the feedback that was actually formalized and submitted to our team, almost said committee, our team, I only heard positive things. People that I spoke to during the conference at the time on the ground,

Attendee Feedback and Reception

everybody seemed to be very encouraged. I think everybody was very much helped by the content matter. The explanation of the confession,

Cross-Tradition Response

one of the free reform pastors, Jack Schuman, he said after Dr. Renahan's keynote speech on Friday night, he said, that's exactly the kind of stuff I say in my catechism class, which is a resounding win as far as I'm concerned, because

Confessional Solidarity and Fellowship

we do have so much solidarity And there are so many things that do bind us together. But as men, we typically gravitate to those things that we can fight about. So it was nice to have a non-fighting sort of a context where we can just see the truth of Scripture opened up and the edification of the saints share food together and all the things that God commends in Scripture for us.

Study notes

Confessions & catechisms

  • 1689 LBCF 1

Theological terms

  • Catechism
  • Confession×2
  • Edification

People cited

  • Jack Schuman
  • John Renahan