Early Church: From Persecuted to Protected to Prominent

Teacher: Pastor Kurt Thielen

Milan may have hosted unforgettable Olympic moments, but its most world-changing event happened 1,700 years ago. With a few strokes of a pen, the Edict of Milan ended three centuries of Christian persecution and forever altered the trajectory of the Church—and the world.

In this seminar, we’ll explore how Christianity moved from the margins of society to the center of power. What changed when the Church was no longer persecuted but protected? How did legalization reshape Christian worship, leadership, theology, and mission? And how did the surrounding culture begin to shape the Church in return?

We’ll examine the rise of creeds and councils, uncover the political and spiritual dynamics at play, and wrestle with the lasting shifts—both beautiful and troubling—that still influence the Church today.

Join us as we trace the turning point that transformed Christianity from a persecuted movement into a prominent institution—and consider what it means for us now.