Greetings! From the IBTS team in Amsterdam we pray for a peaceful and restorative summer and look forward to connecting with you again in the autumn.
Peace and blessings.
Exploring doing a PhD?
IBTS is still open to applications for January 2023. We often find people at this time of year wondering if they still have time to make an application, so if you know anyone who has been considering doctoral work in theology please let them know that IBTS still has a few spaces available for a 2023 start. As you know, the decision to register for a PhD is a major life step and for that reason we encourage people to get in touch with the IBTS office for informal conversations before they make a formal application. It is never too early to start the conversation! In addition we are excited to be joined by a number of new supervisors over the past 12 months and potential students may be interested in checking out the website. The most recent to join the IBTS supervision team is Prof. Reggie Williams. We are delighted to welcome Reggie (we will welcome him more fully in the autumn) and this opens up new opportunities for those who would like to do research in Reggie’s specialist fields.
Dr. Mike Pears
Journal of European Baptist Studies
We are pleased to announce that the latest edition of JEBS (Journal of European Baptist Studies) is now available to access online. We are delighted to have representation from both present and past students! We would draw your attention particularly to a touching tribute from Dr. Lon Graham, written about our colleague Anthony R. Cross, who passed away in July of last year.
To read, follow this link.
Art on the Boundaries
The IBTS Learning network is moving into the area of art! Led by Victoria Aleksandravicene and Henrikas Zukauskas, we are hosting an online event on September 1st around the question - is there a place for art in church, theology and social action?
If you would like to attend this online event, please click here to register.
Dr Tommaso Manzon
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Tommaso Manzon as a new research fellow at IBTS. Tommaso is a highly qualified academic who is serving in his first ministry post in Milan. We had the privilege of meeting Tommaso at our IBTS Ethics Conference in May of this year, and we are delighted to continue to build on the developing relationship between IBTS and the Italian baptists.
Dr Stuart Blythe
We would like to extend our congratulations to Dr. Stuart Blythe who, having been promoted to full Professor in November 2021, has become Associate Dean of Acadia Divinity College. Stuart was an integral part of the development of IBTS in its current format, and his extensive contributions are still felt today. We are delighted to see his continued progression and we will keep watching from afar!
Dr Caleb Hutcherson
Congratulations to Dr. Caleb Hutcherson on his successful promotion last month! It was a delight to have him and his young family with us in Amsterdam, and we wish him well in all of his future endeavours.
Caleb's thesis entitled ‘Even When I’m Washing the Underwear?’: Towards Understanding the Particularities of a Transformative Arab Evangelical Practice of Theological Reflection in an Arab-Muslim Milieu, can be read here.
You can also watch a short video of his promotion here.
Freedom of Religion or Belief
The European Baptist Federation Freedom and Justice Commission and the IBTS Learning Network are offering a training of trainers course in Freedom of Religion or Belief for all. The 12 week course takes a human rights based approach to FoRB and will equip participants with the tools necessary to become trainers and advocates for FoRB in their context
You can support this project by sharing this throughout your networks, particularly if you have contacts in or around Eastern Europe.
Learning Network Updates
The IBTS Learning Network has three cutting-edge courses beginning in the autumn, each on different topics.
Creation Care - September 2022
Modelling and Mentoring - September 2022
Freedom of Religion or Belief - Autumn 2022
To learn more about the Learning Network, watch this video from Matt Norman, our educational specialist.
ICETE
The ICETE Consultation is taking place this year in Izmir, Turkey on 14-18 November. This will be an exceptional global event, bridging together theological educators from all over the world. The topic this year is Formal and Non-formal Theological Education: Beyond Dialogue, with the Early Bird rate for registration valid until August 1.
You can find more information and the registration form here. As IBTS are ECTE members, anyone who receives this invitation within the non-formal world is eligible for a 20% discount using the code MEMBER22.