For IBTS the start of 2022 has been filled with energising activity. We are delighted to welcome Ross Hamilton to Amsterdam. Ross has moved from Scotland to take up the post of Senior Administrator and is already working effectively to develop our online presence. We are privileged to be joined by seven new research students from around the world who are setting out on their doctoral journeys. We also welcome eight new Senior Research Fellows to the IBTS Research Community who are taking up supervisory responsibilities and participating in the online colloquium next week (their details will soon be posted on the website). We are very encouraged by the community developing around the IBTS Learning Network and looking forward to the beginning of the new course in Reimaging Mission and Learning in Community.
All of these activities bring with them a rich experience of fellowship with those from diverse cultural backgrounds for which we give thanks to God! What an envisioning way to begin 2022!
Social Media
At the beginning of next week, we will be re-launching IBTS on three platforms – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This move will allow us to present the vision and identity of IBTS in a clear and consistent way, opening more avenues for us to engage with a wider audience of all ages. This will be formally launched in the coming weeks, and we would like to invite everyone to engage with us online and to help us quickly build a solid and active online community. We would love to see your contributions and responses across each of these pages as we continue to learn how to interact in new ways in these strange times.
Workshop: Qualitative Data Analysis, 14 February 2022, 15:00 online
We are planning to hold an online workshop focusing on qualitative data analysis on February 14th from 15.00-16.30 CET. With the changes necessary to our colloquium programme moving wholly online, we have not been able to include this particular workshop as originally hoped. While this workshop has a specific focus on analysis of qualitative data, we are considering having an ongoing research group on qualitative research more broadly.
This workshop is open to anyone interested: those who currently are, or have in the past, been involved in qualitative data analysis; those who anticipate undertaking qualitative data analysis in the future; anyone else interested in broadening their understanding of theological research methods.
Our focus for this workshop is on analysing data and we would like to look at actual research examples. We are not looking for presentations, but invite you to come ready to share something of your experiences with data analysis: What have you found helpful? What has been difficult? What texts have informed your approach? Was there something that didn’t work well? What surprised you in conducting data analysis? What particular concerns do you have?
Please let us know if you plan to join the session, and to help us prepare, please send Fran Porter (fporter@ibts.eu) a brief outline of what you could share in the workshop.
Should you be interested to register, please contact the office: administrator@ibts.eu
Ethics Conference
Date: 4-6 May 2022
Venue: Baptist House, Amsterdam
Topic: The Heart of Christian Ethics: exploring The Sacredness of Life, Justice, Forgiveness, Truth and Love.
Please note that the Inauguration of Dr David Gushee will now take place on 4 May at 15:45 and that this will be integrated into the programme.
For more information please follow this link: https://www.ibts.eu/programmes/ibts-ethics-conference
Inauguration of David Gushee
You are invited to the Inaugural event of Dr David P Gushee.
Date: Wednesday, 4 May 2022 15:45
Venue: Vrije Universiteit, Main building, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081HV, Amsterdam
Format: In person and online
Topic: Defending democracy from its Christian enemies: A central task for Christian social ethics today
Youtube link: (http:www.youtube.com/BeadlesOffice)
This event will be followed by a reception at the VU, according to the applicable rules.
Promotions:
We are proud to announce that the following research students have their defence dates planned:
Jamie Washam: 10 February 2022
Dale Stairs: 15 June 2022
You will be able to follow these online on youtube: through the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnN8TaVYe83472ewz9CH9HA
Learning Network
For the last two years IBTS has been working in developing a new format of theological education. With the introduction of our Learning Network, we have sought to introduce a structure which is ‘learning centred’ through intercultural and contextual dialogue in a more informal setting. Our vision is for people throughout the EBF to be connected around our metaphorical table, connecting with one another, and sharing their knowledge for a practical purpose. As you are connected to the IBTS we would like to invite you to identify a leader within your local context to join our table – a person who may benefit from taking a step into a different type of theological education. you can refer them to the news item on the website:
https://www.ibts.eu/programmes/reimagining-mission-and-learning-in-community
Dates for Learning Network courses:
Reimagining Course – planned for April
Ethics Conference: 4-6 May
Youth Course residential: 17-19 June
Forb course: planned for September
Mentoring and modelling: planned for October
JEBS
Please note that the latest publication of our journal (JEBS Volume 21:2) is available on open access
www.jebs.eu