Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 60:238 (Apr 1903)
Article: The Outlines Of A Preachable Theology
Author: A. A. Berle

BSac 60:238 (April 1903) p. 277

The Outlines Of A Preachable Theology

Rev. A. A. Berle

[The following statement was read by Dr. Berle before the council which installed him as pastor of the Union Park Congregational Church, Chicago, February 12, 1903. The fact that the council was one of the largest that has ever been called together in the West, and had as members of it pastors from a number of the leading Western cities as well as prominent educators and others who without a single question or dissenting voice approved the statement, together with the profound spiritual impression made upon the council and audience, makes the statement specially interesting at this time, as indicating in a fairly representative way the trend of thought in the Congregational churches in the Middle West, and also the Bast, since Dr. Berle came from a twelve-years’ pastorate in Boston to Union Park Church in Chicago.—Ed.]

In presenting this statement of my conception of my task as a Christian preacher and teacher, I do not understand that I am to make any such presentation of the same as shall pretend to exhaust my thought on this subject, or even indicate it, upon many of the interesting and striking questions which of necessity arise in connection with such a calling. I am not here to-day to construct a model for my profession, or to indicate the ideal fulfillment of the Christian minister’s work. I am here to show in outline how that task lies in my own mind and heart as these have been wrought upon through the past years of my ministerial life and work. And in offering such a statement, with the beliefs that underlie the same, it must also be kept in mind that I do not offer to-day any finalities of theological interpretation, nor pledge myself that the views which are living and dominant in my thought today shall not be superseded by other views to-morrow or

BSac 60:238 (April 1903) p. 278

the day following. We are commonly supposed to be in the hand of an all-wise and supreme Ruler and Lord, who advises us that, as our days, so shall our strength be; and what thus applies to the commoner incidents of human existence I hold to be no less effective in the realm of religious and theological thought. I may say, however, that I have no present expectation that the outline which I am now to present will not, for a long period, at least be the working basis of my services in this church; for they have been wrought, not merely out of an extended academic discipline, but much more out of a wide and exceedingly varied Christian experience, forged, as it were, in the fires of severe and costly efforts for Christ and his Kingdom in the world. I do not hold that this council is to examine de novo into my fitness for the Christian ministry; for, if these years past have not settled th...