|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
CBTS President Lectures, Visits Students in Prague "When there are [Bible] readings in conflict, how does the Spirit guide toward consensus?" Central Baptist Theological Seminary president Molly Marshall fielded this question and many others as guest presenter of the Nordenhaug Lectures Nov. 5-7 at the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) in Prague, Czech Republic. With the theme, "Reading Scripture with the Spirit," Marshall gave three one-hour lectures to describe how the Spirit guides believers as they read the Bible. Each session closed with a "conversation," in which students and faculty could question the theologian. Faculty members dominated the question-and-answer session following Monday’s lecture. But on Tuesday and Wednesday, the seminary president imposed "marshal law" to encourage more student participation. She preached in chapel worship and celebrated communion on Wednesday. She enjoyed one-on-one contact throughout her weeklong stay, particularly with young women leaders. Many of them, such as Lithuanian doctoral student Lina Andronoviene, are heads of Bible colleges. "They find their voices and affirmations at the seminary. It’s a remarkable phenomenon," Marshall said. One hundred thirty-eight students, representing about 50 Baptist unions of the European Baptist Federation, are currently enrolled at IBTS. "The joy of seeing the vibrancy of Baptist churches coming out of Eastern Europe and the rising women’s leadership" stood out, Marshall said. "These are sharp students and their commitment is deep…. I am deeply moved by the vibrancy of their faith and the seminary’s ability to accept diversity…and find common affirmations." Andronoviene is, in many ways, "the conscience of the campus" in attentiveness to the environment and in sensitivity to human suffering issues, the seminary president explained. Interested in intentional community, Andronoviene and her husband are developing an intentional community with single, extended family members in their home. "I think any Baptist from our part of the world would be impressed by how serious this seminary [IBTS] takes Baptist identity and how seriously they take their mission to their context," Marshall added. "They are committed to teaching students to minister." Marshall’s lectures will be included in a larger work, "Scripture, Spirit, and Community: Essays on Spirituality and Leadership in Baptistic Communities." Seminary leaders hope the manuscript will be published in 2008. How did the CBTS president answer the IBTS students’ question about the Spirit’s role? "Clear consensus may not emerge easily, but the Spirit allows us to bear the strain of differences if we are allowed to remain in community together," she responded. "To be in the Spirit doesn’t mean unequivocal unity…but to be bound together in spite of dissenting opinion." IBTS launched the lecture series in 1974 to honor Josef Nordenhaug, the institution’s president from 1950-1960. Nordenhaug served as Baptist World Alliance General Secretary from 1960 until his death in 1969.
|
Giving to CBF of
Missouri:
|
|
