Study Days
The JOC runs a continuous range of study days on different topics. These days provide theological teaching at the level of a third or fourth year seminary course. Because each study day is self-contained, they are easily accessed by busy ministers. The numbers at each day are kept low, normally no more than twelve, allowing a high level of interaction. There are presently three types of study day:
Doctrine Study Days
These are days spent in the close study of Christian doctrine, blending historical and systematic theology under the authority of Scripture. Doctrine Study Days cover topics that are always important, as well as currently pressing issues. Each study day makes sense on its own, but some are also designed to complement previous topics in order to build a bigger picture. Each day is repeated on different days in different weeks to allow the groups to remain small and to enable pastors with regular commitments on a particular day of the week to come on a different day. The Doctrine Study Days are taught by Dr Garry Williams, Director of the JOC. As well as running at LTS, they can be booked by groups to run in their area, in which case the organizer provides the venue and recruits up to 12 to attend.
Hebrew OT Book Study Days
These are days spent in the close study of an Old Testament book or passage in the original Hebrew. They aim to provide close exegesis of the text with a view to preaching and pastoral application. The days run once a term and are led by Dr David Green, Vice-Principal of LTS.
Reading Group
These are half-days spent discussing a theological book that members of the group have read since the last meeting. The group is led by Jeremy Walker, co-pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church in Crawley, West Sussex.