IBTS Community Blog

It’s some time since I last blogged on the theme of Czech bureaucracy, but yesterday I had another experience of the approach to life which comes out of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, re-interpreted by communism and now overlaid with a pedantic approach to doing things officially, for which the EU is blamed and all seen through the eyes of Franz Kafka.

The Czech postal services advised me I had four parcels safely in their care at their big Post Ofice near Smichov, in Prague. So, with Katka, my PA, I ventured out to recover this present from the USA courtesy of various postal authorities.

The big concrete and blue clad building (Czech Postal service has a blue colour scheme with a yellow posthorn) could only be entered by a covered ramp, designed as if to resist riots by the populace, anxious to get hold of their post. In the entrance hall it was not at all clear where to go. However, behind a smoked glass door there was an information booth with a stern-faced lady in uniform. Her enquiry window was firmly shut. Katka knocked at her door and she deigned to open it a little. After some questioning we were directed to the lifts (elevators) and told to go to the third floor. We eventually managed to summon a lift and went to the third floor. Read the rest of this entry »

Somewhat surprisingly, especially when we’re moving towards Easter, but yes, there’s still snow around, and more minus temperatures promised. Here are some photos from a few weeks ago, when we had REALLY lots of snow. As you see, it’s been put to a good use (thanks, Viljar, for the photos!):

Joanne Gilbert-Cannon, who came to IBTS a couple of years ago for a study leave, has shared this poem which she wrote whilst at IBTS.

Where God lives?  By Joanne Gilbert-Cannon

(A poem from Prague, IBTS Study leave Jan. 2010)

I went to the mountain

to peer up at the top

couldn’t wait to see God.

Up those rocks and stairs

and ice I climbed

for one glimpse

something of the extra-ordinarily

Divine.

But what I found,

were many others

that looked like me

but spoke slightly differently.

They too,

were climbing for a GOD-sighting

still-life of the Holy One.

Up words

and into dreams,

then further into ideas

we climbed together.

Until we finally saw you—

down at coffee—on the stool next to us at the bar

sitting on the wood bench in reception.

One of us caught your eye on the tram

and another

gave you a koruna as you shivered in the cold at St. Wenceslas Square.

My dear God,

couldn’t you please go back to live on the mountain-top.

it’s easier to find you there.

the valley has become so crowded, noisy and dirty.

We would love to help you move.

A little note from Rosa Hunt, IBTS doctoral student from Wales:

I know that at IBTS we are passionate about freedom of religion, so I wonder whether anyone has any comments on two recent pieces of British legislation. Late last year the government produced a piece of legislation which proposed that gay marriages could be held in churches – but banned them from Church of England churches. Now today I hear that a woman MP is proposing legislation which would force the Church of England to accept woman bishops. I have a problem with both these bits of legislation, and it is nothing to do with my beliefs about the nature of marriage (incidentally in this case it is the Baptist Union of Great Britain which has determined what I must believe, but that’s another story …) or the equality of women. Of course I believe woman should be in ordained ministry! But my problem is that I categorically reject the right of the state to tell the church what we can and can’t do! Doesn’t anyone else agree? Why haven’t we had a massive outcry from the Baptists? is this a case of “they came for the Anglicans but I wasn’t an Anglican …”

On the behalf of IBTS and a group of Prof Stassen’s colleagues and students across the globe, our Academic Team had nominated Prof Dr Glen Stassen, IBTS Research Professor, for this year’s Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award of the Baptist World Alliance. We are glad that this nomination was honoured by the BWA Executive Committee and Dr Stassen’s outstanding life-long commitment to the struggles for justice, peace and human rights received this world-wide recognition.

Our congratulations to Glen! We are privileged indeed to have someone like him as one of the senior members of IBTS lecturing and supervisory team.

For the BWA news release on this award, click here.

…that you still have a chance to come and visit us for the ‘Northumbria Week’, meet students from other European Baptist schools, and enjoy some time for reflection and fellowship.  All are welcome!

Yes, it’s Shrove/Fat Tuesday, and tomorrow morning we will celebrate the Ash Wednesday, with the burning the Palm cross and imposition of ashes! But here’s what we enjoyed today over the coffee (sorry if this made you salivate:)):

Twenty biblical scholars, representing Lutheran, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic and Baptist traditions, from ten countries, recently spent three days in Prague reviewing Bible Translation matters in Central and Eastern Europe under the auspices of IBTS.

Since it was ‘a first’ of its kind it was appropriate that the issues ranged over a broad agenda but there was a clear thread and the purpose of the Seminar was never lost sight of.

Alec Gilmore set the scene with a presentation of how in 2011 the UK had celebrated the 400th Anniversary of the publication of the King James Version, based on two productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Howard Brenton’s Anne Boleyn and David Edgar’s Written on the Heart, focusing on some of the translation issues they raised to see how they chimed in with similar issues in other countries.

Since the Czech Republic was contemplating similar celebrations in 2013, Lydie Kucova (Biblical Studies Lecturer at the International Baptist Theological Seminary) followed with a survey of comparable translations, ancient and modern, from six countries in Central and Eastern Europe as a basis for further discussion. Read the rest of this entry »