Dr. Nelson D. Kloosterman
Professor of Ethics and New Testament
A.B., Calvin College, 1972
B.D., Calvin Theological Seminary, 1975
Th.D., Theological University of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated), 1991
What are the principles of sound exegesis? What are the themes found in the New Testament history of revelation? What is the proper procedure for dealing with appeals or submitting overtures? How does the Bible speak to specific problems in modern society? What is Christian piety?.
These are some of the questions answered in courses taught by Professor Nelson D. Kloosterman. The course work ranges from the interpretation of Scripture, to viewing contemporary issues, to living as believers in a hostile world.
Dr. Kloosterman was ordained in 1975 and obtained pastoral experience while serving Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Marion, South Dakota, and Immanuel Christian Reformed Church of Sheldon, Iowa.
He has shared his pastoral insight with Mid-America students since 1984, teaching a wide variety of courses. In addition to his responsibilities in the areas of ethics and New Testament exegesis, he teaches students the foundations of sermon preparation and church government. These areas provide opportunity for Dr. Kloosterman to demonstrate the application of theory to the church's life.
Dr. Kloosterman is actively involved with the life of the church. He offers weekend seminars on Christian marriage and family, Christian medical ethics, and Christian cultural worldview. He has produced video materials for training elders and deacons, and has written a column on Christian ethics for Christian Renewal. He has translated The Ten Commandments and Principles of Christian Ethics by Dutch theologian J. Douma as well as Preaching and the History of Salvation by C. Trimp. Dr. Kloosterman has written a number of Bible studies and serves as co-editor of the Mid-America Journal of Theology. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity.
Courses Taught
NT 133 New Testament Canon, Environment & Interpretation
NH 213 New Testament History
NT 233 New Testament Exegesis: Gospels & Acts
NT 333 New Testament Exegesis: Epistles
ED 333 Denominational History and Government
ES 213 Christian Ethics
ES 323 Christian Spirituality
PS 114 Preaching and Public Worship
PP 311 Catechism Sermon
PP 331 Occasional Sermon
Rev. Alan Strange
Associate Professor of Church History
Theological Librarian
Registrar
B.A., Centenary College, 1984
M.A., College of William and Mary, 1986
M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary, 1989
How did the church rise to prominence in medieval society? How did the various forms of Protestantism emerge from the Reformation? How did the Enlightenment affect Christianity? How did philosophical thought impact the development of Christian apologetics? How does Christianity apply to modern philosophy?
These are some of the questions answered in courses taught by Professor Alan D. Strange. The course work ranges from the early church and its eventual development into medieval ascendancy, to the Reformation and its subsequent streams of Presbyterianism, to the effects of the Enlightenment, to the application of presuppositional apologetics.
Professor Strange served Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Glassboro, New Jersey, for over nine years before coming to Mid-America. He is an associate pastor at New Covenant Community Church (OPC) in New Lenox, Illinois, frequently preaching there or speaking in other church and conference settings. He is active in the Presbytery of the Midwest and serves the OPC on various committees. He also serves on the Committee on Christian Education and the Board of Trustees of Great Commission Publications.
Professor has done extensive youth and college student work over the course of his ministry and has published historical works for use in Christian education and home schooling. He has published several articles on colonial American intellectual history and the history of American Presbyterianism, and has been a frequent contributor to the OPC denominational magazine New Horizons and to the Mid-America Journal of Theology.
As Theological Librarian for Mid-America, Professor Strange emphasizes collection development.
Courses Taught
AS 112 Introduction to Apologetics
AS 213 Applied Apologetics
CH 113 Ancient Church History
CH 232 Medieval Church History
CH 313 Reformation Church History
CH 334 Modern and American Church History
ED 333 Denominational History and Government
Rev. Mark D. Vander Hart
Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies
Ministerial Apprenticeship Program Director
B.A., Dordt College, 1975
M.Div., Calvin Theological Seminary, 1980
Th.M., Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2001
What is "Scripture criticism" and why is it an inappropriate method for interpretation? What is the significance of the covenants in the Old Testament? How does the Hebrew text apply to a sermon on an Old Testament text?
These are some of the questions discussed in courses taught by Professor Mark D. Vander Hart. The course work ranges from learning to translate Hebrew texts, to discussing various methods of Scripture interpretation, to investigating the environment of the Old Testament, to applying theory to the preparation of sermons on Old Testament passages.
Professor Vander Hart pastored the Christian Reformed Church of La Glace-Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, from 1980 to 1983. He continues to take an active interest in the life of the local church as well as the international church. He frequently preaches in local congregations and leads Bible studies for several church societies. He has written a Bible study on Genesis 1-11. Professor Vander Hart has also ministered to the international Reformed community, teaching within Southeast Asian populations in the United States as well as teaching in Cyprus, Ukraine, Myanmar, and Latvia. He is involved with Reformed Faith and Life (Armenian and French) and with the Christ for Myanmar Mission Committee.
Rev. Vander Hart has contributed articles for the Mid-America Journal of Theology, The Outlook, Christian Renewal, and Biblical Horizons. He is a member of the Society for Biblical Literature and the Evangelical Theological Society.
Courses Taught
OT 113 Basic Hebrew
OT 122 Advanced Hebrew
OT 132 Old Testament Canon & Interpretation
OT 134 Old Testament History: Pre-Monarchy Period
OT 232 Old Testament History: Monarchy Period
OT 313 Old Testament History: Post-Exilic Period
PP 211 Old Testament Sermon
Dr. Cornelis P. Venema
President
Professor of Doctrinal Studies
B.A., Dordt College, 1975
B.D., Calvin Theological Seminary, 1978
Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary, 1985
How does God reveal Himself? What are the natures of Christ? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification? What are the scriptural principles for the organization of the church? What does the Bible teach about the millennium and the last judgment?
These are some of the questions discussed in the systematic theology courses taught by Dr. Cornelis P. Venema. The course work ranges from the foundations of theology, to extensive studies of the three persons of the Trinity, to discussion of church government, to exploration of Scriptural teaching regarding personal and general eschatology.
While studying at Princeton Theological Seminary from 1979-1981, Dr. Venema was a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Theology. He served as pastor of the First Christian Reformed Church of Ontario, California, for six years before coming to Mid-America.
Dr. Venema serves as President of the Seminary in addition to his systematic theology teaching responsibilities. He serves as an elder in his church and preaches on a regular basis. Dr. Venema also speaks and teaches in a variety of church and conference settings.
His special interest lies in Reformation theology, particularly the work of the Reformers John Calvin and Heinrich Bullinger. Dr. Venema's most recent book, Heinrich Bullinger and the Doctrine of Predestination: Author of "The Other Reformed Tradition"?, reflects this interest. He is the author of several other books including But for the Grace of God: An Exposition of the Canons of Dort; What We Believe: An Exposition of the Apostles' Creed; and The Promise of the Future. Dr. Venema is a co-editor and frequent contributor to The Outlook and the Mid-America Journal of Theology.
Courses Taught
DD 112 Theological Foundations
DS 134 Theology and Anthropology
DS 213 Christology
DS 233 Pneumatology
DS 313 Ecclesiology
DS 332 Eschatology
ED 333 Denominational History and Polity
PS 121 Sermon Types
Adjunct Faculty
Rev. Charles K. Telfer
Instructor of Greek
B.A., University of Illinois, 1986
M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 1990
Emeritus Faculty
Dr. Joseph H. Hall
A.B., Calvin College, 1960
A.M.L.S., University of Michigan, 1964
M.Div., Covenant Theological Seminary, 1970
Th.D., Concordia Seminary, 1974
Special Lecturers
In addition to the courses of instruction offered by the faculty, Mid-America brings to the campus special lecturers to speak on theological topics of current interest and challenge. The Seminary community attends academic lectures by these visiting distinguished scholars, and the public is invited to hear popular lectures delivered by them in area churches.
