Podcast

We are pleased to announce the launch of History for a Pilgrim People, a new podcast produced by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church through the Committee for the Historian. Hosted by Camden Bucey, historian of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and Danny Olinger, chairman of the Committee for the Historian, this program is devoted to the careful study and faithful stewardship of the church’s history—not as an exercise in nostalgia, but as an act of service to Christ and his church.

From its founding, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church has understood that history matters. Our story is not merely a record of past events, names, and dates, but a testimony to the Lord’s providential care of his people in times of trial, conviction, sacrifice, and perseverance. History for a Pilgrim People seeks to recover and reflect on that story in a way that strengthens the church’s sense of identity and deepens her commitment to faithful obedience in the present.

The title of the podcast reflects a central biblical conviction: the church is a pilgrim people. Drawing on the imagery of Hebrews 3–4, the series approaches history through the lens of pilgrimage—recognizing that God’s people journey through the wilderness toward their eternal rest. The title also serves as an homage to History for a Pilgrim People, a significant collection of historical writings by Charles Dennison, a former historian of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Together, this biblical and historical framing underscores a pilgrim ethic that shapes how we understand the past and how we live in the present: as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, called to faithfulness rather than success, and to service rather than self-preservation.

Each episode of History for a Pilgrim People will explore key moments, figures, and themes in the history of the OPC and its antecedents. Topics will range from the broader Presbyterian and Reformed context of the early twentieth century to the founding of the OPC, major denominational controversies, formative theological commitments, and more recent developments in the church’s life. Along the way, the program will also highlight the work of past historians of the OPC and reflect on how historical memory has shaped the denomination’s self-understanding.

A particular aim of the series is to support the work of the Committee for the Historian, whose charge is to preserve, interpret, and share the church’s historical record. Through conversation, teaching, and storytelling, the podcast seeks to serve the whole church by fostering gratitude for God’s faithfulness in the past and wisdom for the challenges of the future.

Ultimately, History for a Pilgrim People is about discipleship. By learning from those who have gone before us, we are encouraged to see ourselves within the great cloud of witnesses and to press on together in hope. As Rev. Dennison memorably wrote, “Our purpose is not success; it is not even survival, but the giving up of our lives in service to our great God and in imitation of our Savior. This is the lot of the disinherited—a position much closer to the poor of the earth. It is where Machen ended; it is where we began.” This podcast is offered in that spirit, for the encouragement and edification of Christ’s pilgrim people.

New episodes of History for a Pilgrim People are planned for release on a monthly basis. Each episode will be available both in video format on the OPC’s YouTube channel and as an audio podcast for listening on the go. Viewers may watch the program on YouTube, while audio listeners can subscribe using their preferred podcast app; instructions for subscribing are available through Podbean’s podcast directory. See additional subscription options below.

 

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