Here We Stand: The Five Solas of the Reformation

Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology 2023

Find out more about the history of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology.

Here We Stand...

“If then we admit of a doctrine, it must not be borrowed from the authority or wisdom of men, but we must know that it came from God” —John Calvin

Since the inception of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology in 1974, the spirit of Martin Luther’s stirring claim at the Council of Worms has animated the ministry. Asked to recant the doctrines of the fledgling Reformation, Luther refused to abandon the sole authority of Scripture, declaring, “Here I stand. I can do no other.” The 2023 gathering of the PCRT will mark our fiftieth conference— half a century of joining the great Reformers by standing on God’s holy, authoritative Word. It seemed fitting to commemorate this year by returning to the five Solas of the Reformation and remembering why they are vital.

When James Montgomery Boice founded the PCRT, he answered skeptics by pointing out that God has always used the great doctrines of the Reformed faith to give life to His church.  Shortly before his death, Dr. Boice wrote a book commending the Reformation Solas as the tonic for the ailing church of our time.  First among these doctrines is sola Scriptura, called the “formal principle” of the Reformation since it establishes Scripture alone as our ultimate source of truth.  The Reformation’s “material principle” – the heart of the matter is sola Fide: justification through faith alone.  As Jesus himself insisted, the primary message of the Bible is the person and work of God’s Son, in whom alone – solus Christus – we have forgiveness of sin and justification before God.  Moreover, the Reformation taught us that our salvation is the gift of God’s grace alone – sola gratia – so that our redemption redounds to the glory of God alone – soli Deo gloria.  As we revisit these most beloved themes, we seek not nostalgia or mere historical reconstruction, but rather we will preach the great truths that give the life and light that our present generation so greatly needs.

Like all previous gatherings of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, we will set our theology in the context of rich doxology in our host churches.  We are excited to hold our conference at University Reformed Church in East Lansing for the first time and to return to Proclamation Presbyterian Church outside Philadelphia.  I hope you will join us both in worship and sit under the preaching of God’s mighty Word.  We are grateful for our Reformation heritage and pray for a modern Reformation in which these precious truths may be recovered and loved.

Schedule

Pre-conference: Guilt, Grace, and Christian Growth with Geoffrey Thomas
8:00 a.m. Registration and coffee
9:15 a.m. Opening Bible Study, Richard Phillips
9:45 a.m. The Plight of Man — Helpless Guilt
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. The Provision of God — Heaven Sent Redemption
Noon: Lunch
2:00 p.m. The Perspective of the Christian — Hunger For Holy Growth
3:00 p.m. Question & Answer Session
3:45 p.m. End of Pre-Conference

Conference: Here We Stand: The Five Solas of the Reformation
6:00 p.m. Conference Registration
7:00 p.m. Opening of the 2023 PCRT
First Address: Is the Reformation Relevant Today? Kevin DeYoung

Saturday
7:30 a.m. Late Registration
8:30 a.m. Second Address: Standing on God’s Word, Geoffrey Thomas
10:00 a.m. Third Address: The Standing or Falling Article, Kevin DeYoung
11:00 a.m. Question & Answer Session (All Speakers)
12:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. Fourth Address: In Christ Alone, Richard Phillips
3:15–4:30 p.m. Workshops

• The Reformation Idea of Worship, Richard Phillips
• Piety and the Protestant Reformation, Geoffrey Thomas
• Learning Godliness from the Pilgrim’s Progress, Jeffrey Stivason 

4:30 p.m. Dinner (at local restaurants)
7:00 p.m. Fifth Address: Grace So Rich and Free, Richard Phillips

Sunday 
Sixth Address: The Reformation’s Chief End, Geoffrey Thomas 
10:30 a.m. PCRT worships with Proclamation Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr

Speaker Biographies

	Kevin DeYoung is the senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church (PCA) in Matthews, North Carolina and associate professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary (Charlotte).  Kevin holds an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and received his Ph.D. in history at the University of Leicester (UK). In addition to being a regular columnist for World Opinions, Kevin hosts the podcast Life and Books and Everything and writes regularly at kevindeyoung.org. He is the author of more than twenty books, including The Biggest Story, The Hole in Our Holiness, Crazy Busy, and Just Do Something. Kevin and his wife, Trisha, have nine children.
	Richard Phillips is senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. He is the author of numerous books and frequently speaks at conferences on the Bible and Reformed theology. He is the chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology and co-editor of the Reformed Expository Commentary series (P&R). An adjunct professor at Westminster Theological Seminary where he serves on the board of trustees, Rick serves also on the board of directors of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He and his wife Sharon have five children and live in Greenville. Rick is an avid follower of University of Michigan sports and enjoys reading historical fiction.
	Philip Ryken is the president of Wheaton College and the Bible teacher of Every Last Word radio and internet broadcasts. Dr. Ryken earned a master of divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary and a doctorate in historical theology from the University of Oxford. He preached at Philadelphia’s Tenth Presbyterian Church from 1995 until his appointment at Wheaton in 2010. Dr. Ryken has published more than 50 books, including The Heart of the Cross, Art for God’s Sake, When Trouble Comes, and he contributes to the Reformed Expository Commentary series. He and his wife Lisa have five children.
	Jeffrey Stivason has been serving the Lord as a minister of the Gospel since 1995. He was a church planter and is now pastor of Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia, PA, and professor of New Testament Studies at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh. He holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. Jeff is the managing editor for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals website PlaceforTruth.org.
	Geoffrey Thomas was the pastor of Alfred Place Baptist Church in Aberystwyth, Wales, for over 50 years. During that time Geoff preached through (almost) every word of the Bible. Geoff received his theological training at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, where he was especially influenced by the teaching of Professors John Murray, Cornelius Van Til, and E.J. Young. Westminster awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2011. Geoff is still a frequent conference speaker all over the world. He also holds the position of Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Hotel Information

Philadelphia

Courtyard Philadelphia Valley Forge/King of Prussia
1100 Drummers Lane Wayne, PA 19087
Call 610-687-6700 or book with this link by April 6th
Rate: $160
9.4 miles from the church

Marriott Philadelphia West
111 Crawford Ave West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Call 610-941-5600 by April 6th
Rate: $209
5.4 miles from the church