IBTS Centre is pleased to announce the third successful PhD defense of 2021. On March 11, Mattias Neve from Sweden defended his thesis “In Pursuit of Proximity: A missiological study of four ‘emerging church’ communities in Sweden.” During his opening remarks Dr Neve explained that “ The ‘Emerging Church’ is an international grassroots phenomenon within evangelical Protestantism calling the church in the West to embrace innovation and experimentation by adopting new ecclesial forms, practices, and theological frameworks. The dissertation explores this phenomenon in Sweden and inquires in what ways these communities may contribute to shaping the church’s cross-cultural mission, action and reflection in contemporary Swedish society. … The research concludes…

We are delighted to announce that the collaborative partnership between IBTS Centre and Vrije Universiteit Faculty of Religion and Theology has enabled us to establish an endowed chair in Christian Social Ethics. This is a very significant step for both partners and will open fresh possibilities in terms of doctoral supervision and research. As the chair-holder, David Gushee will be working closely with the IBTS Centre community to develop research opportunities in Christian social ethics specifically in the context of the European Baptist Federation (EBF) region. The past year has involved a careful process of planning and we are very appreciative of the partnership and shared vision that has grown…

During the annual colloquium two of our researchers successfully defended their PhD theses in the virtual world of Zoom and streamed live online via YouTube. Lon Graham defended his thesis  “’All Who Love Our Blessed Redeemer’”: The Catholicity of John Ryland Jr” in which he argues that while Ryland’s catholicity was unusual it was not unprecedented in the Particular Baptists of the 19th Century. Lon demonstrates that Ryland’s catholicity can be shown to be christocentric, pneumatological and experiential. Lon’s examiners (officially known as opponents) engaged with many aspects of his thesis, not least the question of the impact that such research may have had on him as a person. Lon’s response…

There’s very little about 2020 and the start of 2021 that has been in any way normal. The same applies to the IBTS (what, no C?) annual colloquium. Even during the challenging years of the transition from Prague to Amsterdam the colloquium gathered together all the researchers and supervisors in a makeshift arrangement. Colloquium has never not happened – and this year, despite Covid, it is still taking place in the virtual realm of Zoom. The team in Amsterdam have done a marvellous job of lining up a full colloquium programme with even more goodies than usual. While participants may be denied the wonders of Dutch cuisine (particularly the wonderful…

Small beginnings  One day in early November 2019 at IBTSC, I remember sitting down with Mike Pears, trying to form a plan. As we chatted through this new ministry challenge, I realised what I should have already known, ‘don’t go to Kelso with your fixed ideas, instead, be prepared to listen, to see where God is already working, don’t make assumptions, be ready for the newness of God.’ A tale of four churches I often tell people (perhaps with misplaced pride), that I am the first pastor of KBC for over 30 years, but the credit doesn’t go to me, it really goes to the nine faithful people I encountered…

Trevor Raymond Hobbs, professor of Old Testament at IBTS 1996-1998, died on Friday 8 November 2020 at the age of 78. Ray had Welsh roots being born in 1942 in Pontypridd, South Wales. He received his education at the University of London (B.D., Ph.D.), the University of Zurich and the Baptist Theological Seminary, Rüschlikon, Switzerland (M.Th.). In 1969, he moved to Hamilton, Canada to teach at McMaster Divinity College and McMaster University, later becoming Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Interpretation. When the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) relocated from Rüschlikon to Prague in the Czech Republic in 1995, Ray became a professor of the Old Testament the following year.…

Dear friends The McClendon Chair for Baptistic and Evangelical Theologies and the International Baptist Theological Study Centre warmly invite you to join a conversation on Inhabiting the City, which will b3 held on November 13, 2020.  Keynote speaker Ryan Andrew Newson will introduce the topic and invite us to reflect on what it means to live as followers of Jesus Christ in contemporary, plural urban societies. In an interactive online programme of about 2.5 hours, the theme will be discussed, among students, academics, pastors and anyone interested to join.  The event will be organised in partnership with the Scottish Baptist College and Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary.  We hope for a…

Dear friends and colleagues   In the midst of the summer season when many of us are taking summer leave we have been confronted by the heartbreaking news of the explosion in Beirut. Added to the already critical situation – including the COVID 19 pandemic and currency collapse – this adds a seemingly unbearable burden for the people of Lebanon. We at IBTSC have close relationships with ABTS and LESD  in Beirut; Elie Haddad and Caleb Hutcherson are current PhD research students at IBTSC, we have a few prospective students, as well as past students from Beirut. Another research student Scott Gustafson and the organisation he works for, Purpose Global,…