Meeting people throughout Europe for EBF Mission I was impressed by the motivation, gifts and desire to learn of churchplanters, mission-minded people and people involved in arts and mission. I’m glad to be part of the IBTS Centre team since January. I’m Ingeborg te Loo and I’m working as the coordinator of the Learning Network. It’s a new collaborative venture which aims to deliver high quality, accessible, inclusive, grounded, theological education, focused on the missional opportunities of those in Baptist education and leadership across the EBF region. The Learning Network will be a blended learning fellowship with on-site learning and digital learning methods. We are developing this with a team…
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Thanks to Richard and Jo-Anne
Over the years IBTS in its various incarnations has benefited from the support of volunteers who in a variety of ways have contributed significantly to the institution and its students in many different ways. This year we were pleased to welcome the contribution of Richard and Jo-Ann Matiachuk from Canada. After a visit earlier in the year we were delighted when at their own expense they came back for two weeks in October/November. During this period they brought their expertise in specific areas such as the library and in editing material for a future Journal. In both areas work began that will have longer importance. In addition, however, they were quite…
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Six Months On…
We have now been operational in our Amsterdam for the past six months or so. The relocation of the library and set up of the offices taking place in August 2014. In the following months set up issues continued to demand a lot of time an attention. Simple things can suddenly become BIG – e.g. when you discover that the computers have been set up in a language you don’t speak! In some ways it seems longer than six months and at other times less. Despite all that has been going on, building on the past with the support of previous and new colleagues a lot have been achieved in…
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Freedom and Person: Research Colloquium 2015
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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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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Boards
We are in our season of transitions. The Library has already removed from Jenerálka to Postjesweg in Amsterdam and David, Zdenko and Vladko are working hard on assembling it ready for the Academic Year 2014-2015. Meanwhile on the Jenerálka campus the academic year 2013-2014 has to be put to bed. So yesterday (Monday 23 June) the Exam board dealing with Master of Theology degrees from the University of Wales met to review progress of the final batch of MTh students and to pass results on for verification at the University Exam Board meeting in Cardiff in the first part of July. We were delighted to have our Moderator, Dr Helen…
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A historic moment
We have just concluded our last University of Wales Exam Board for the Taught Degrees – here’s the Board itself celebrating this historic moment! A huge thank you to all who contributed to the success of our UW MTh and PGCTh programmes – so many faces and names, both of the teaching staff and the students, are going through my mind right now… – Lina
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Coming for a Farewell
Dear friends of IBTS, Our times at the beautiful Prague campus are inevitably coming to the end. To say farewell, we will be once again holding our traditional Graduation Service. This will take place on Friday 30th May, and we would like to invite you – our students, alumni, faculty members, staff, volunteers, supporters, friends … – to take part! It will be the last occasion to celebrate another successful year and the academic achievements of our students here in Prague, and it would be lovely to have as many of IBTS friends present as possible. Do come to be part of this last festive gathering, to meet your friends,…