Rector Newsletter
NEWSLETTER 53 FROM PRAGUE AT THE START OF 2011
1 FEBRUARY 2011: FROM The Revd Dr Keith G Jones FRHistS, Rector
Three intensive weeks
Greetings to you from IBTS, Prague, where we are ‘full steam ahead’ in the middle of our Research Colloquium and Intensive Study weeks. In fact, so many people are around this year that some of our doctoral students are having to reside off campus at the Hotel Krystal. It is excellent to see the IBTS chapel full, with two circles of students, faculty, adjunct lecturers, supervisors and community members. The whole campus seems full of life; earnest conversations; modules in the Master’s programme being delivered by intensive lectures and inspections of various sorts taking place.
Let me describe some of the discrete elements of life in this intense period 24 January – 11 February so that you can imagine all that is going on and pray for us.
Another inspection
The Federal University of Wales, who validate our Master of Theology degrees and our doctoral programme, have re-structured their work to create a new University-wide Research Board, to look after everyone doing higher degrees, both in the constituent institutions of the University itself and in collaborative centres like ourselves. This past week a high-powered team from the Research Board came to visit us and see how we went about preparing people who are to submit dissertations and be examined for a doctoral degree. The team was headed by the Pro Vice Chancellor for Research in the University, Professor Robert Brown. He was accompanied by Professors from three other Universities – St Andrews, Hull and Leeds Metropolitan, plus staff from Wales. Before Christmas we had to work on a Self Assessment Document (SED) which amounted to about 1,500 pages with appendices. This formed the basis of the inspection, alongside meeting faculty, supervisors, students and staff.
The Review Panel asked many questions of different groups and now we have to wait some weeks until we get their written report, but Professor Brown said he was impressed with what we are doing and the SED was very impressive! Before Christmas we were struggling to compile answers to the countless questions being asked and prepare documents, but there is certainly a sense of satisfaction in knowing the work was of good quality.
The Research Colloquium
No less than twenty eight students have been reporting on their research proposals or on progress towards completing their dissertations for examination. Listening to these proposals from the students and commenting, questioning and challenging their ideas have been a team of thirteen supervisors from across various academic disciplines – philosophy, theology, history, ethics and biblical studies. The interaction is superb, the feed-back for students impressive, and whenever outsiders come to observe this event they leave impressed by the way it works and the value of it for our doctoral students. Alongside this large gathering, meeting daily in the chapel, we have caucus meetings for those working within a certain academic discipline, and the historians met twice during the week to assist one another in their research.
Glen H Stassen celebrates his 75th birthday
Glen Stassen, one of our Research Professors who is a Christian ethicist at Fuller Seminary in California, has been with us for the intensives. His writings on Just Peacemaking are internationally known and as part of the intensives our Thomas Helwys Centre for the Study of Religious Freedom and Human Rights has been hosting a conference looking at a Gospel informed perspective on Human Rights, Justice and Peace. Glen gave the opening lecture, reminding us of the importance baptistic communities have played in developing what he calls a 'thick' culture of human rights. Glen reminded us of Richard Overton (c. 1599-1664) who was on the radical edge of the Anabaptist community and then became a Leveller who, in his 'arrow Against All Tyrants', argued for the basic rights and liberties of all people. It was a passionate performance – a fitting reminder of Glen’s Christ-centred peacemaking and concern for those treated unjustly. Soon Glen celebrates his 75th birthday and as we wish him 'Happy birthday' we trust this passionate commitment will not be diminished.
Yet more doctorates
In 2010 no less than seven of our doctoral students graduated with the degree of doctor of Philosophy (PhD). During these intensives days of 2011, Meego Remmel had his oral examination (viva voce) and was judged successful by the Examiners. His thesis examined the Anabaptist ausbund of the 1600s and compared it with the development of hymnology amongst baptistic communities in Estonia. What are the themes, how is a community shaped in its practices by the Christian songs they write and sing. Fascinating work, reminding us of the importance of IBTS as a place where Anabaptist and Baptist life and history can be traced and researched, not simply as a historic exercise but to inform the life and mission of our churches today.
2011 – a challenging year
At the EBF Council in Italy in September the life and work of IBTS in Prague was strongly affirmed. The Council affirmed this statement about our ethos (edited from a fuller text):
- Crucially, IBTS is a place where Baptists from the variety of European (and other) backgrounds can meet and discover each others’ contexts and cultures. By allowing such meetings, in a setting of mutual respect, prayer, common life and learning, relationships are developed between those who are part of our individual Unions, and many who will be in leadership in such Unions. This strengthens the bonds within EBF.
- By taking seriously the European identity of EBF, both in historical research and in contemporary reflection on mission and service, we continue and develop an important aspect of faithful and incarnational life as Baptists in our own period and our own place.
- We also take very seriously the presence of a continuing intentional community in some form as central to this ethos. It is not enough simply to bring people together. The shape of life that is lived together is important, and requires care and commitment to shared life, prayer and involvement.
Yet to remain here in Prague we need to narrow the gap between income and expenditure. We have made great strides over the past three years. Realistically we need to reduce costs and increase income to bridge a gap of Kc 5 million (€ 200,000; US $ 277,700). We are improving income steadily, but please join us in prayer that we will be equal to the task.
