One day in a theology class at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, Dr. John H. Leith assigned us to write a paper on the Apostles' Creed. Then to be sure that we understood what he meant, he said, "I don't want to know what you think about the Apostles' Creed. You don't know enough yet to think about it. I want you to tell me what it says."

He was, of course, right.

"Master the Data!"

Standing behind Dr. Leith's assignment that day was his ongoing assumption that the first task of historical theology was to learn the content of the Bible and of the historical faith and theology of the church of Jesus Christ. Only after the material was read, studied, learned, absorbed, and inwardly digested could we who would minister possibly be able to begin to appreciate it, to think about it, and to apply it to the world today.

It was a slow process. There was a lot of material to cover. Sometimes our papers would come back with his admonition scrawled across the front: "Master the data with precision!" There was more to that than meets the eye now. "Data" then did not mean discrete bits of electronic information. And mastery had to do with more than memorization. He wanted us to learn the content, the movement, the sweep, the direction, the meaning, and the importance of the theology of the church, all so that we could be faithful and competent pastors of congregations.

We persevered, and we are grateful for the privilege of reading and learning theology.

Explication and Application

Later on, Dr. Leith gave us another wonderful gift. Knowing that even after graduation we still had a lot to learn and yet realizing that it was time for us to start thinking about theology in the churches we served, he set up the Fund for the Explication and Application of Reformed Theology. What a tremendous idea (and a marvelous name)!

The Fund provided for his former students (not that we ever ceased to be his students) to continue their study of historical theology so as to recover it, to explicate it in the idiom of our own day, and so then to apply it to improve our preaching, teaching, and pastoral care all in the service of the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and of the building up of the church of Jesus Christ.

Foundation for Reformed Theology

Of course, it is necessary for those who work in any of many fields of human endeavor to "master the data" in that field: lawyers must learn the law to be able to interpret and apply it; doctors must learn anatomy to be able to care for patients; writers must learn grammar to be able to communicate; artists must learn technique in order to create; and on and on. The ministry is not unique in this regard.

But the Fund uniquely helped Reformed and Presbyterian ministers to continue to grow in their ability to exercise genuine, authentic, faithful Reformed ministry. Later the Fund became the Foundation for Reformed Theology. The program has expanded beyond the southeast. The ministers included are no longer only his students but come from many seminaries across the country.

And still, in all our mission and work, in all our program of seminars, reading programs, lectures, translations, publications, research, and scholarships, we seek to heed Dr. Leith's early words: "Master the data with precision!"

Thank You

Thank you for your interest in, and support of, the Foundation for Reformed Theology. To learn about how to give to the Foundation, please click on this link:

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Grace and Peace,

Dr. James C. Goodloe IV,
Executive Director