Over the past few days at the research colloquium in Amsterdam students have been presenting an update on their studies. Some are at the beginning of their studies seeking a focus and methodology to carry their work forward. Others are facing the challenges of writing and rewriting. All students are part time and doing their work while sustaining ministries in churches and colleges. The geographic range of students is wide. As part of the colloquium we also have various seminars for students and staff. Here Dr Tim Noble is presenting a piece of recent research on ‘Freedom’ drawing some theological links between Russian Orthodox Theology and Liberation Theology. The paper as…
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Bursary Scheme
At the IBTS Centre we are aiming to provide affordable and accessible post-graduate education in an international Baptist context. We see such theological education as not simply informative but trans-formative. While some costs are higher for students in Amsterdam other costs of study are less expensive. Be this as it may, the national and personal situations of students may mean that such education is simply unaffordable. We at present have two students for whom this is the case. They are already involved in significant ministries in their countries. They are supported by friends, family, and home churches for travel and accommodation but cannot pay for fees. The IBTS Centre can…
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IBTSC Amsterdam: Hughey Lectures and Convictional Theologies Conference
From November 3rd till November 6th 2014 the IBTS Centre Amsterdam will be hosting the Hughey Lectures and then a conference in Convictional Theology. The Hughey Lectures will be delivered by Dr Curtis Freeman, Director and Research Professor at the Baptist House, Duke University. The title of the lectures is Undomesticated Dissent. Lecture 1: The Dissenting Conscience Lecture 2: The Dissenting Church Lecture 3: The Dissenting Christ Prof Dr Freeman will examine these themes by looking at the Canon of Dissent in English Protestantism. Specifically, he will look at the way this canon has been memorialized in Bunhill Fields, the Dissenter burial grounds in London. By looking at the three memorials to three great voices of dissent in…
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Rector Update
On the 1st June 2014 I took over as the Rector of IBTS as it transitions to IBTS Centre Amsterdam. I come to this post after being a Scottish Baptist minister in two Churches over a fifteen year period and teaching at the Scottish Baptist College for the last nine. Since June I have managed to be in Prague for some important endings: the last graduation service, the last exam Board, the last shared prayers in the Chapel. I was grateful to be given the opportunity to offer the graduation address. Then as now I would suggest that worship, mission, and discipleship do not belong in one world whereas…
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New Year, New Day, New Opportunities
Happy New Year to all our blog readers! Skander, our MTh graduate from Sweden, used to repeat this pretty much each morning: “new day, new opportunities”. I thought about him this morning when Norbert (who had studied together with Skander) led us in our morning prayers reflecting on what may be awaiting us all this year. May we all look to the coming days of 2014 with trust in God’s goodness and love, and with peace and excitement for the opportunities and challenges that may be awaiting us. Here’s one opportunity you may be interested in: We are looking for a volunteer (or two) to help us out for a…
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In the land of Kafka
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…
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Prague’s Golden Lane
If you are currently in Prague, then you can visit it immediately, and for others, this is an activity for your next time in Prague/IBTS! Prague’s Golden Lane inside the Prague Castle has reopened after a major reconstruction. But whether you’re in Prague or not, you can enjoya really cool virtual tour with a 360-degree panorama of the Golden Lane here. Enjoy! – Lina
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What can we change?
This week, we’ve started our Environment month – and being a month, it will run for four weeks, but this first week has been especially focused on environment for our CAT students as their lectures were all on creation care. We were glad to have Dr John Weaver of South Wales Baptist College with us for these lectures, and today the CATs shared some of their own reactions (very positive and enthusiastic – even more so than some other years) to what they’ve been exploring throughout the week. Some of those reactions are ‘postable’ in terms of format, so we thought you may enjoy them too. Here comes the first…