ATSS: Reinder Bruinsma: “The Church Is Great—but Far from Perfect”
30 July 2025 |
In his recent book, De kerk is Fantastisch, Belgian Roman Catholic theologian Rik Torfs analyzes what he sees as “fantastic” in his church, and what he considers ugly; what he admires and what he abhors.
In this class, I will follow his model. My church, too, is also far from perfect. Some things I love about my church and others I strongly dislike. Yet it is spiritual home where I want to stay.
There are two things that my church must be:
- It must be welcoming, not just for those in the middle, but for the those on the margins—including the cultural Adventists.
- It must be a sanctuary, a place where people feel safe
Teacher:
Reinder Bruinsma lives in the Netherlands with his wife, Aafje. He has served the Adventist Church in various assignments in parish ministry, publishing, education, and church administration on three continents. He still maintains a busy schedule of preaching, teaching, and writing. He writes at http://reinderbruinsma.com/.
Moderator:
How to join:
Join Zoom:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88647657527
Passcode: CHURCH
ATSS starting time depends on where you are. If you’re on the west coast of the United States, it’ll be 10:30 AM. On the east coast, 1:30 PM. Times in Europe, Africa, and elsewhere will vary with local time changes. Please double-check the correct time where you live.
The class is intended to last about 2 hours, though the conversation often continues to 4 PM (Eastern time).
About our class:
- The AT Sabbath Seminar is intended to be a courteous forum.
- Stick to the topic in both comments and chat discussion.
- Make your comments and questions short—don’t dominate.
- Keep your microphones muted unless you are called upon to make your comment or ask your question.
- Indicate your interest in speaking by raising your electronic hand.
- Please use your name when you sign in, so we know who we’re addressing.
We look forward to getting acquainted with you!
YouTube channel:
You can see all of our previous ATSS recordings here.
Coming up:
- Lisa Diller
- Stephen Ferguson
- Kevin Burton
- Gil Valentine
