Seven students have gathered in Janesville, Wis., at the SDB Center for the final week of the “Summer” Institute in Sabbath Theology. The students began participating online in February and will submit their Sabbath Theology paper at the end of this class session in Wisconsin.

Students are (seated, left to right): Tim Bancroft, Little Genesee, N.Y.; Clint Brown, Ashaway, R.I.; and Kevin Palmiter, Little Genesee, N.Y.  Standing: COM Dean Gordon Lawton; David Stall, Ashaway, R.I.; Ray Peterson from Racine, Wis. (member at Pataskala, Ohio); Carl Greene, Hebron, Pa.; and Johnmark Camenga, Lost Creek, W.Va.

The Sabbath—from creation through the Scriptures—is being studied. This includes looking at its origin and practices in the Old Testament, as well as the example of Jesus and the early Church. 

It is a good time of learning about this important topic as well as deepening friendships and building new ones. Those taking the class at the seminary/graduate level will receive a letter grade. Others will be graded Pass/Fail.

This is one of three such classes that teach SDB distinctives. Last year was SDB Polity and next year is SDB History.

Books read included:

The Sabbath: Symbol of Creation and Re-Creation by Herbert E. Saunders (American Sabbath Tract Society, 1970) 

Perspectives On the Sabbath, Four Views edited by John Donato (B&H Academic, 2011)

Spiritual Sabbathism by A.H. Lewis (American Sabbath Tract Society, 1910)

True to the Sabbath, True to Our God: Practical Sabbath Keeping by Larry Graffius (American Sabbath Tract and Communication Council, 1998)

Divine Rest for Human Restlessness by Samuele Bacchiocchi (Biblical Perspectives, 1988)