News 2008
A joyful and peaceful Christmas to you all !
IBTS is now closed for the Christmas vacation.
We wish all our friends and colleagues a joyful Christmas and a peraceful New Year.
Thank you for visiting our web site. Don't forget to look at our community blog and our related hotel web site
/19. 12. 2008/
IBTS Autumn Trimester concludes
The IBTS autumn Trimester 2008 concludes at 16.00 hours on Friday 19 December.
Lectures and activities continue until that time, including special carol services, festive Christmas dinner and the Christmas concert. The next Trimester commences on Monday 11 January 2009 at 08.55. This is to enable students from Slavic Orthodox countries to celebrate their Christmas with family and friends.
The Rector, Rectorate and Academic Teams, staff and students express seasonal greetings to all.
"The Light Shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overpowered it".
/10. 12. 2008/
IBTS and Elstal work on new Hubmaier initiative
The German Baptist Seminary in Elstal, Berlin and the Institute of Baptist and Anabaptist Studies, IBTS, Prague, are launching a new initiative.
Attached information: Hubmaier initiative [DOC, 91 kb]
/24. 11. 2008/
IBTS Acquires copy of the Pashkov archives
The International Baptist Seminary now has an electronic copy of the very important Pashkov archives, relating to early Russian Baptist life.
The originals of which are held in the University of Birmingham, England. They are the only accessible copy on the mainland of Europe.
The electronic copy of the archives was presented to IBTS by a former Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, IBTS Research Professor John H Y Briggs, during the 2008 Hughey Lectures at the seminary. The acquisition of this copy has been made possible by IBTS Chaplain, the Revd Gregory L Nichols, who is working on aspects of Russian Baptist history, especially on Ivan Kargel, an early Russian Baptist leader. Greg sought specific donations to fund the acquisition of the archives.
The archives are the personal archives of Vasili Pashkov, one of the founders of the evangelical movement in Russia. He was an early convert of Lord Radstock, an English evangelist who is credited with the start of the “Drawing Room Revivals” in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1874-76. From these revivals, the Evangelical Christian Union was born which later merged with the Baptist Union to form the largest Baptist Union in the world.
In the Pashkov Archives, there are personal letters, copies of articles and newspaper clippings collected during his life. They pertain to the start of the evangelical movement in Russia as well as the activity of the Evangelical Alliance and persecution of the free church.
/10. 11. 2008/
Diamond Jubilee Gift from Virginian Baptists
The IBTS Diamond Jubilee has received a superb gift from Virginia Baptists!
One key target of the IBTS Diamond Jubilee Year (2008-2009) is to replace the IBTS Mini van which is over ten years old and falling apart. Now, Virginia Baptists have promised US$10,000 to this task. The current van was a gift by Virginia Baptists and many volunteers from this community have driven the van over the years. Rector Keith Jones comments " This is a superb gift to us from Virginia in our Diamond Jubilee Year. We look forward to other faithful partners joining Virginia in helping to fund a new seminary van! "
It is hoped that other strategic partners of IBTS will contribute to the new van fund as part of the Diamond Jubilee Appeal.
/22. 10. 2008/
Hughey Lectures coming up
IBTS looks forward to welcoming Professor David Bebbington of Stirling University, Scotland, to deliver the 2008 Hughey Lectures
The 2008 Hughey Lectures will be held from 3-5 November at IBTS on the theme "Baptists and Revival" and will be delivered by internatinaolly renowned Baptist historian, Professor David W Bebbington of the University of Stirling in Scotland. Professor Bebbington, an outstanding historian of evangelicalism, will give the three main lectures and these will be supported by shorter papers from members of the Institute of Baptist and Anabaptist Studies at IBTS. Full details of the programme can be obtained by contacting the PA to the Rector, Lake@ibts.eu
/16. 10. 2008/
New Book Published
IBTS is excited to announce publication of a new book edited by Parush R Parushev and Rollin G Grams.
"Academic Reasoning, Research and writing in Religious studies: A Concise Handbook" published by Tribun EU s.r.o. of Brno, represents the distillation of key texts used in the acclaimed IBTS Research and Critical Thinking weeks held each August/September in Prague. This Handbook is an ideal resource for anyone intent on doing theology-related research at M or Doctoral level in the Anglo-Saxon educational system and a valuable supportive tool for those working in the Germanic or North american systems. The Editors (and principal authors) are members of the IBTS Academic team.
/1. 10. 2008/
EBF Council discusses the theology of creation care
The EBF Council meeting in Lisbon this week will discuss the theology of creation care.
IBTS Rector, the Revd Dr Keith G Jones, will deliver a morning devotional on the theme and also run a seminar on the development of eco-seminaries, of which IBTS is the pioneer in Europe. At the same time the European Christian Environment Network is meeting near Milan and IBTS course Leader in Applied Thelogy, Lina Andronoviene, is participating on behalf of IBTS.
/22. 9. 2008/
Dr Albert W Wardin lectures at IBTS
Internationally known Baptist historian, Dr Albert W Wardin, was on the IBTS campus last week.
Dr Wardin led our Wednesday post-graduate seminar on "How indigenous was the Baptist movement in the Russian Empire ?". This thought provoking lecture expounded the argument that Russian Baptist life is not, as some claim " a foriegn import, incompatible with the culture and a threat to society" but rather, born out of indigenous movements, though, of course, gaining insights from Baptist communities elsewhere. He cited worship, and the lack of any deep concern for strict Calvinism as examples of the clear indigenous element which certainly makes Russian Baptist life at least a hybrid if not completely indigenojus and certainly not a western (especially Germanic) import.
A very lively question and answer session followed. As always at IBTS we were delighted to welcome Dr Wardin amongst us.
/18. 9. 2008/
IBTS Intensives highly successful
Three weeks of IBTS intensives have successfully come to a conclusion
The 60th Academic year of IBTS has got off to an exciting start with three weeks of Orientation and Intensive lectures. Students have been fired up on their courses with great enthusiasm, whether doing the Certificate Programmes in Theology or Theological English; or one of our five Masters programmes; or the Post Graduate Certificate or MPhil/PhD track. It marks a very encouraging start to the 60th Academic year, our Diamond Jubilee Year.
We have been delighted to welcome onto the campus our good friend, Dr Albert W Wardin, the doyen of Baptist history in the USA. He delivered a styimulating Post Graduate semniar on the indigenous beginings of Russian Baptist life. This article will appear in our Journal in due course.
/11. 9. 2008/
IBTS launches Commmunity blog - 1 September 2008
The Academic Team at IBTS have spearheaded the launch of an IBTS CommunityBlog.
With the current trend for Baptist Blog sites members of the IBTS community in Prague have eschewed the typical development of personal Blog sites and gone instead for a CommunityBlog which we beleive better reflects our ethos as a gathering, convictional intentional community engaged in learning and growing together. The Blog site sets out our ethos and purposes and will have individual and community contributions. IBTS Academic team comment "we are not great fans of individualistic blogging, but community blogging has an appeal to us, so on 1 september 2008 we have launched our blog as we move on in celebrating our Diamond Jubilee".
The Blog can be accessed from www.ibts.eu or www.svcc.cz or directly at http://blog.ibts.eu/
/2. 9. 2008/
IBTS 60th Academic Year
IBTS Faculty and staff are getting ready to welcome new students for the 60th Academic Year.
The programme starts with "M" and "Doctoral" level students arriving on 25th August for a week on research and critical thinking. Exchange students from Christopher Newport University, Virginia, arrive the same weekend to begin their fall classes. "This is always an exciting time of the year" says Rector Keith G Jones, "we look forward to welcoming those who will join our community for this academic year.
This special Diamond Jubilee Year promises to be a great year in the life of IBTS.
/6. 8. 2008/
New book on Balthasar Hubmaier published
The International Baptist Theological Seminary has published a new book on Balthasar Hubmaier by renowned Anabaptist scholar H Wayne Walker Pipkin.
Entitled " Scholar, Prophet, Martyr - the Life and Ministry of Balthasar Hubmaier, 1480-1528," the book, based on the 2006 Hughey Lectures at IBTS, reviews recent Hubmaier scholarship and then seeks to re-evaluate the work of Hubmaier. No serious work devoted to Hubmaier has been published in English since the translation of the book by Torsten Bergsten in 1978, so this is a "must buy" item for libraries and all Anabaptist and Baptist scholars and historians.
It is published by IBTS and obtainable through our bookstore (see web site section on publications).
/31. 7. 2008/
European Baptist Theological Schools meet at IBTS
The Fifth Forum of the Consortium of European Baptist Theological Schools is meeting at IBTS 29-30 July 2008.
The thirty one institutions from Europe and the Middle East are meeting together to discuss issues of common concern, partnership in development, training of library personnel, curriculum development, sharing resources, development of web-based materials, trustee and faculty development and other important concerns.
This is the largest and most organised regional consortium of theological institutions in the BWA world family. Full details can be found at http://www.cebts.eu.
/29. 7. 2008/
IBTS hosting theological educators
IBTS is hosting over 100 Baptist theological educators from 26-29 July 2008.
The seventh Baptist International Conference of Theological Educators is being held in Prague from 26-29 July 2008 at the IBTS campus. With theologians from all continents participating including BWA General Secretary Neville Callam, Liliam Lim (Singapore), Tomas Mackey (Argentina), Miyon Chung (South Korea), Joyce Bellous (Canada), Curtis Freeman (USA), Geoff Pound (Middle East), Nigel Wright , Anna Robbins and Robert Ellis (UK)), Lauran Bethell (Netherlands) and Ian M Randall (IBTS, Czech Republic) it is an impressive line-up of speakers.
BICTE is held every five years. Previous events have been in Vancouver, Seville and Cape Town.
/26. 7. 2008/
IBTS welcomes BWA Gathering 2008
IBTS is delighted to welcome members of the Baptist World Alliance Gathering to Prague
Over 400 delegates from around the world are assembling in Prague for the annual BWA Gathering, 2008. IBTS/Hotel Jeneralka is one of the host venues. The BWA/IBTS Garden Party will be held on the campus on 22 July. IBTS is providing major logistic support to the Baptist World Alliance for this event.
/19. 7. 2008/
British Baptist Historical Society Centenary congress
IBTS welcomes the Baptist Historical Society of Great Britain for their Centenary congress.
Fifty members of the Society are at IBTS celebrating one hundred years of the BHS, founded by the late Dr W T Whitley and others. Speakers at the event include Dr Bill J Leonard (Wake Forest, USA), Dr Toivo Pilli (Tartu, Estonia), Dr Linda Wilson (Bristol, UK), the Revd A A Peck (EBF General Secretary) and Dr's Ian Randall and Keith G Jones (IBTS). Additionally there are no less than sixteen short papetrs by other leading Baptist historians.
The BHS produces an important international journal - the Baptist Quarterly - dealing with issues of Baptist History and Identity. It is currently edited by Professor J H Y Briggs , a Research Professor at IBTS. From later this year he will be succeeded by Dr Ian M Randall, Senior Research Fellow at IBTS.
/17. 7. 2008/
IBTS welcomes BWA Women's Department Executive Committee
IBTS Rector, Keith Jones, has welcomed the BWA Women's Department Executive Committee onto the campus.
This summer the Baptist World Alliance is holding its annual Gathering in Prague. One of the very important preliminary events is a meeting of the BWA women continental Presidents and the BWA Women's Department President and officers. IBTS is delighted to play host to this international group who are meeting from 15 -19 July prior to the full BWA Gathering. Led by their President, Dorothy Selebano (South Africa) and their Executive Secretary, Patsy Davies (USA, formerly South America) the group are engaged in forward planning until 2014.
Rector Keith Jones comments "the BWA Women's Department has an excellent ministry and networks Baptist women throughout the world. Over my eighteen years of detailed involvement with the BWA I have consistently been impressed by the quality and energy of this area of life of our global Baptist family. It is truly a delight to have this group of key leaders on our campus."
/15. 7. 2008/
Dr Ian M Randall launches new book
The Revd Dr Ian M Randall, Senior Research Fellow at IBTS, launches his latest book this weekend.
Entitled " Spiritual Revolution - the Story of OM" the launch will take place at the world-famous Keswick Convention in the English Lake District. Operation Mobilisation Founder George Verwer, will be amongs those attending the launch and book-signing. Dr Randall is one of the most prolific Baptist and evangelical history authors with over ten boooks to his credit.
He is currently working on another three books.
/11. 7. 2008/
IBTS welcomes missionaries from American Baptist Churches, USA
IBTS is hosting a conference for ABC-IM, USA missionaries in Europe and Africa this week.
The IBTS Rectorate team have been glad to welcome to the campus American Baptist Church missionaries in Europe and Africa this week for some intense training in important issues to do with missionary life, welfare and security. The group have included many with whom IBTS has a close relationship and several who lived on campus in the past. Amongst these are - Charles Jones, ABC-IM representative for Europe and Africa; Dr Lauran Bethell, who works with issues of trafficking and prostitution and who lived on the IBTS campus for several years; Susan Lindermann , who served on our English language lecturing team and now works in Bulgaria and Eleazar Ziherambere, former BWA Regional Secretary for Africa.
It has been good to renew fellowship with these good friends.
/9. 7. 2008/
IBTS welcomes Wales Exam Board
The IBTS / University of Wales Examination Board met in Prague on 30 June.
Chaired by the Academic Dean, Dr P R Parushev, the Examination Board included representatives of the University of Wales Validation Unit, the University of Wales Moderator, Dr Simon Oliver and External Examiners: Professor Gordon Wenham, Dr John Corrie, Dr Helen Costigaine and Dr Crawford Gribben.
The Board confirmed examination results and discussed the current degree programmes of IBTS. Rector, Dr Keith G Jones commented, "the meetings went very well. We have had an excellent academic year and we were warmly congratulated by our colleagues, our External Examiners and our University of Wales moderator."
/1. 7. 2008/
IBTS hosts EBF/BWA Living Waters Mission Conference
Over 40 Baptist mission experts from Western and Central Europe gathered at IBTS 11-15 June.
IBTS hosted the latest in a series of BWA Living Waters events this past week when Baptist missioners from central and eastern Europe gathered in Prague. Speakers at the BWA/EBF Conference from the IBTS Faculty included Rector, the Revd Dr Keith G Jones, Dr Peter F Penner, the Revd Darrell Jackson and Tim F T Noble. Of the 40 participants, many were associated with IBTS as either alumni or students.
IBTS offers a specialist "M" level degree in Contextual Missiology - one of only a handful of Baptist institutions in Europe to do so.
/15. 6. 2008/
IBTS Graduates 28 Students
IBTS was at its festive best on 30 May when the 59th Academic year closed with a splendid graduation ceremony.
The conclusion of the 59th Academic Year of IBTS saw twelve students graduated Master of Theology or Magister in Theology and were awarded their diplomas by Dr Randall and dressed in their academic gowns and hoods by the Rector, the Revd Dr Keith G ones, and the Pro-Rector, the Revd docent Dr Parush R Parushev. Two students graduated with the Certificate in English Language for Theology and fifteen students graduated from the Certificate in Applied Theology course. Other students were Valedicted as they moved to the dissertation writing stage of their Masters, Magister and Doctoral degrees.
Amongst a capacity congregation present for the ceremony was the Lithuanian Ambassador together with representatives of the theology faculties of the Charles University and of other English language educational institutions in Prague.
Dr Randall took Erasmus of Rotterdam as his theme. Today Erasmus is known in educational circles as the title of the European Union programme enabling students to study at more than one recognised institution in the nations of the European Union. However, Dr Randall reminded the capacity congregation of students, graduands, families and guests that Erasmus had been a great scholar and the leader of the humanist movement in European Universities from which Luther, Zwingli and others developed their reforming zeal in the 16th century. He pointed out Erasmus was an especial beacon to students graduating from IBTS because of some of his ideas which are at the heart of anabaptist and baptistic life and theology. He drew particular attention to his concern for the recovery of the roots of faith in a carefully reading of the Biblical record, his desire for application in communities of learning and his affirmation of the place of women as learned scholars.
Countries represented amongst the graduating students were – Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
The Graduating students were presented by the Pro-Rector and Academic Dean, Dr Parush R Parushev. The Rector, the Revd Keith G Jones, congratulated each of the graduating students after Dr Randall had presented the diplomas.
/1. 6. 2008/
IBTS Graduation Ceremony, 30 May
IBTS will celebrate the end of the 59th Academic Year on 30 May 2008.
The Graduation Ceremony will be held on Campus at 15.00 hours with the address to Graduating and Valedicted Students being given by the Revd Dr Ian M Randall, Senior Research Fellow and Director of the IBTS Institute of Baptist and Anabaptist studies.
Graduating students include 17 who have gained their Master of Theology degree during the past year and 13 in the Certificate in Applied Thelogy programme. Ambassadors from the countries of graduating students have been invited to the event and several have indicated their intention to be present.
/8. 5. 2008/
Lectures by Professor Craig A Evans
Professor Craig A Evans, noted New Testament scholar, is lecturing at IBTS 28 April - 2 May
The Department of Biblical Studies at IBTS is delighted to welcome distinguished Professor Craig A Evans to the campus from 28 April. Professor Evans from Acadia University, Nova Scotia in Canada, whose recent acclaimed work "Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars distort the Gospels" has won him widespread acclaim, will be lecturing at IBTS on "Jesus and His World" in a series of 12 public lectures. He will also feature in the Wednesday workshop Post Graduate lecture on the "Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament".
Dr Peter F Penner, Course eader in BIblical Studies, comments, "it is a major coup for IBTs to have this visit from Professor Evans."
/24. 4. 2008/
Applying to IBTS for Academic study
April is the month to make sure applications to IBTS are completed and sent to the Registrar.
The IBTS Academic Team are now processing applications for 2008-2009 Academic Year (our Diamond Jubilee Year) for Certificate, "M" level, Post Graduate Certificate and Doctoral programmes. Full details of all programmes and application forms are available on our web site in the Academic Programmes section. Queries to Registrar@ibts.eu
/1. 4. 2008/
Easter Greetings from the IBTS community
The Rector, Academic Team, Lecturers, staff, students and volunteers extend to everyone joyful Easter greetings!
We have journeyed from Palm Sunday through Holy Week and to Great/Good Friday and the remembrance of the events on the hill. Waiting patiently we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead with sisters and brothers of faith.
May celebrations this Eastertide be truly meaningful for you!
/20. 3. 2008/
IBTS launches new CPD programme
The International Baptist Theological Seminary has launched a new continuing professional development programme.
This CPD programme is designed to give participants contemporary up-dating of qualifications with Certification in post graduate studies. Students signed up for this can take full advantage of updating previous skills or acquiring new skills at higher degree level but in easily accessible part-time units.
Topics so far available in the CPD programme include Youth Ministry, Environmental concerns, Biblical studies, Baptist history and identity, contextual missiology, preaching.
Future CPD topics include leadership, human rights, strategic planning and critical thinking.
For more details see www.ibts.eu/programmes or contact CPD@ibts.eu
/24. 2. 2008/
IBTS welcomes partners
IBTS welcomed the Langham Partnership Regional Council 1-3 February 2008.
The Revd Dr Chris Wright and other Langham International Partnership staff joined the Langham Regional Partnership Council, chaired by the Revd docent Dr Parush R Parushev (IBTS) for meetings to discuss developments in evangelical theological education in central and eastern Europe.
Overseas Council International will hold their central Europe Institute of Excellence from 18-22 February at IBTS. The Revd Dr Keith G Jones (IBTS Rector) and the Revd docent Dr Parush R Parushev (IBTS Pro Rector) will be be speaking at the Conference.
/2. 2. 2008/
IBTS Research Students gather
Over 30 research students will gather at IBTS from 28th January for the annual Research colloquia.
Master of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy and Post Graduate Research Certificate students from all over the world - Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Asia - will congregate at the IBTS campus for the colloquia where students report on-going work and present papers for peer and tutor review. The IBTS on-site academic staff will be joined by seven adjunct lecturers for this annual gathering which has proved to be a great help in assisting research students. IBTS Pro-Rector and Academic Dean, Dr Parush R Parushev, masterminds this annual event which is acclaimed as a major innovation pursuing quality in research by supervising officials at the Univeristy of Wales.
/21. 1. 2008/
IBTS Greets the New Year
Members of the IBTS community are re-assembling in Prague.
The year 2008 will see IBTS begin celebrations of our 60th Jubilee year (1949 - 2009) and with over 130 students from 38 countries and alumni working in over 60 countries we have made a major impact on the world Baptist and evangelical community over that period. Look out for a full year of special events!
/5. 1. 2008/
