IBTS Spring 2025 Newsletter
Greetings from IBTS
There is so much good news to share with you all!
As we've entered 2025, I am grateful for all that we have experienced and accomplished together over the last few months. The end of 2024 was a time of growth, learning, and deepening connections, and I am excited to share the plans and opportunities that lie ahead for IBTS in 2025.
Find out more with a video update from myself by clicking the button below or keep reading for more updates on our work, upcoming courses, and ways to stay connected.
Blessings,
Enoh Šeba
(IBTS Director)
View Video Update
PhD Graduations
In November and December last year, we had much to celebrate as Richard Weaver, Patti Duckworth, and Matt Norman successfully defended their dissertations and completed their PhD studies. We are very proud of their achievements and grateful for their contribution to our research community. We also wish them well in their future academic and professional endeavors.
Advent Celebration
On 17 December, a traditional Advent celebration was held at the Baptist House in Amsterdam. In these challenging times, it was comforting and encouraging to be together with our friends from the Dutch Baptist Union and the Dutch Baptist Seminary, as well as with EBF General Secretary Alan Donaldson and EBF President Mateusz Wichary. Our prayerful reflection on the expectations of Mary and Elizabeth strengthened our sense of fellowship and intercession for the needs of our churches.
New Postgraduate Theology Students
From 13 to 17 January, we had the joy of welcoming our eight new Postgraduate Certificate in Theology students.
We spent an entire week introducing them to the beginning of their doctoral journey and hearing their initial ideas about research interests and questions. It was a great group of enthusiastic students, and they experienced first-hand the international flavor of IBTS, coming from Kazakhstan, India, Lebanon, Norway, Germany, and the USA.
The learning experience became even more intense during the following colloquium week (20-25 January) when they were joined by almost all of our doctoral students and a number of their supervisors. These six days were packed with useful lectures, exciting student presentations, and fruitful discussions.
The Baptist House was packed with over 65 people, and even more on Wednesday afternoon when we joined the James Wm. McClendon Lectures, organized by the Dutch Baptist Seminary, on prison theology.
Once again, these two weeks marked a great start to the year and helped the students to progress in their studies.
Stand Against Domestic Violence Residential
In February, we launched a Learning Network course called Stand Against Domestic Violence. This is a hybrid course, and the first part took place here at Baptist House from 19-21 February.
The two-day residential part of the course brought together seven participants from across Europe (Bulgaria, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, and Finland) around this important and too often "invisible" issue.
The course will continue with a series of online sessions that will involve even more participants. We await the results of this course with prayer, but even the first impressions encourage us to believe that faithful initiatives and fruitful collaborations will emerge in the future.
Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Course
Starting March 12th, 2025
Become a Champion for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB)!
In this dynamic 12-week course, you'll explore FoRB through a human rights-based approach and gain practical skills to become an effective trainer and advocate in your own community.
This immersive programme is perfect for educators, pastors, activists, missionaries, researchers, political leaders, and anyone passionate about human rights.
Through interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and expert insights, you’ll not only deepen your understanding of FoRB but also discover unique Baptist perspectives on religious freedom.
Woven in Green Webinar
Starting March 26th, 2025
We dress for adornment, identity, protection, or modesty, reflecting deeper values about what makes a good garment—questions as old as Creation.
As part of the Eco-Crisis and the Gospel theme, join our interactive webinar with Aline Nussbaumer (former A Rocha France) to explore fashion, theology, and creation care. Together, we’ll reflect on how our clothing choices can be an act of restoration.
Self-awareness & Identity in Missional Leadership Course
Starting March 31st, 2025
Self-awareness is essential for strong leadership, and understanding is the foundation of self-awareness—understanding yourself, others, Scripture, and your relationship with God. It’s important to recognize that you bring yourself into every situation, whether you realize it or not. A clear sense of identity allows you to lead with both confidence and humility.
In this course, we’ll explore how self-awareness and identity shape leadership. Through biblical study and spiritual direction practices, we’ll reflect on ourselves and our roles in our surroundings.
Vol. 24 No. 2 (2024): Journal of European Baptist Studies
The Journal of European Baptist Studies (Issue No. 2, 2024, Volume 24) is now available to read online.
This edition features nine articles by international authors, exploring key questions such as:
What defines normativity in Baptist theology?
Can forgiveness be abusive?
How do Canadian Baptist youth view sexuality and substances?
Who shaped Siberian Baptist missions in 20th-century Omsk?
How have Ukrainian Baptist-Orthodox relations evolved over a century?
Why not check it out today?