Doctor of Ministry Reformed Theology: MaryAnn Robertson Rennie

DMin alum MaryAnn Robertson Rennie reflects on how the Reformed Theology focus at PTS challenged her worship and encouraged her to talk to her congregation more about theology.

[@DouglasBrackenridge]

My parents, John and Azile Townson Brackenridge, Lanadrkshire natives, immigrated to the U.S. in the 1920s. Raised in the culture of the Reformed faith, I later attended and graduated from Pittsburgh Seminary (then P.X.S) and earned my Ph.D. at the University of Glasgow. One insight I gained in Scotland was that some aspects of my Reformed beliefs were shaped by cultural factors rather than theological traditions. To cite only one example, I found that my beliefs regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages differed from from many of my Scottish counterparts. After preaching one Sunday in a small church in Argyllshire, I was invited to lunch in the home of one of the elders. It was a cold morning, and when we arrrived he immediately invited me to have a alcoholic drink to warm me up. When I informed him that I did not drink alcohol and had not done so my entire life, he responded, "You are a Presbyterian minister and you don't drink?" I aassume that you may have learned some things about your experience in the US that parallels those of mine in Scotland. I wish you well in your future ministries.