Executive Committee


IBTS will become an “embedded


institution” in the Theology Faculty of one of the leading universities in Europe, the VU (Free) University of Amsterdam, which has a Christian foundation in the 19th


Christian “ethos.” Academically, this will put IBTS in a wider context than has been possible in Prague, with Mennonites, Pentecostals, Dutch Reformed, Dutch Baptists and others who are


The move to Amsterdam will be century and seeks to preserve a already


part of the Faculty. The major emphasis will be on doctoral studies (the growth area at IBTS in recent years), with some possibilities also for Masters level, in what will be something like (the exact name not decided yet) the International Baptist Theological Study Centre (IBTS Centre). The commitment of IBTS to center


its life on a worshipping and learning community will be carried forward by the re-development of a Baptist church building quite close to the VU University. The Baptist Union of the Netherlands has already proved itself to be an excellent partner in this venture, and the union will carry out


the redevelopment with


IBTS becoming the main tenant of the “Baptist House” (including a reduced, but specialist, library). The BU Netherlands, the Dutch Baptist Seminary and the EBF will also share the facility, together with the small local church that will continue to meet for its Sunday worship. Architects are already engaged in drawing preliminary schemes for the building. The whole plan has been carefully and


responsibly costed, but it is dependent on two factors that are somewhat outside our control; obtaining the “right price” for the buildings in Jeneralka, Prague, and achieving what we need from the investment of the capital in order to run the IBTS Centre. We hope and pray for a good outcome regarding these variables.


another new beginning for IBTS and we see ahead some exciting new possibilities, not least a greater emphasis on biblical and theological reflection on the profound social and missiological issues facing our churches and unions in contemporary Europe and the Middle East. In the new urban setting of IBTS these will be all around us, and we can connect with some very interesting and innovative projects already happening among the churches of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. The transition period will throw up


many challenges; new leadership and staff, new ways of working, Czech staff who have served IBTS for many years coming to the end of their contracts ; and not least keeping the status quo going in Prague while the new reality unfolds. We value the prayers of the BWA for us as we work to make it all happen.


North American Baptists Mark Major Milestones in 2014


The following are excerpts of a report submitted to the BWA Executive Committee by George Bullard, BWA


regional secretary for North America and general secretary lf the North America Baptist Fellowship


2014 is the 50th anniversary of the


formation of the North American Baptist Fellowship. This took place in 1964 and was symbolized by a gathering in May 1964 called Baptist Jubilee Advance. On March 6-7, 2014, NABF will celebrate the missional past, present, and future of Baptists in North America, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is also the 200th


anniversary of the Triennial


Convention among Baptists in the United States.


The Triennial Convention, so-called


because it met every three years, was founded in 1814. It was the first national Baptist denomination in the United States of America, with headquarters in Philadelphia. The NABF is bringing together a


task force to encourage the participation of North Americans in the BWA World Congress in Durban, South Africa. We believe this will be an important gathering, both because it is a World Congress meeting in Africa, and also because Baptist World Alliance® President John Upton is from North America and will be presiding at this meeting. We desire to support Baptists from throughout the world, but especially our African sisters and brothers with our presence. We will also be encouraging North American Baptists to engage in a missional activity in Africa before or after the World Congress. NABF, like BWA, is primarily an of Baptist


organization conference,


and unions.


conventions, As such,


strengthening these Baptist organizations is a key part of the work of NABF. To this end, NABF has followed the lead of BWA by initiating a Denominational Leaders Network. Only as our member bodies are strong and thriving can the work of NABF and BWA be strong and thriving, and can the work of the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment be strong and thriving. The Denominational Leaders Network


seeks to support and encourage the work of the chief executive officer and/or president of each member body. It provides a safe environment where they can talk about key issues of denominational leadership in a culture that keeps telling us we are in a post-denominational era when it is really a denominational


transformation


era. How to be and do denominationalism in the 21st


century is indeed


chaordic (a mix of chaos and order).


Worship during meetings of the Executive Committee


20 BAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE


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Regional Reports

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