Scholarship - Fellowship - Worship

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Introduction

This summer theology students from all across Europe will meet at Schloss Mittersill, Austria. Being trained and educated on academical level they will share their faith, life and knowledge with each other for seven days. You are invited to experience a week full of crossing-borderfellowship and training in a beautiful environment. Our vision is a Europeannetwork binding theology students from all Europetogether in fellowship, strengthening the academic attitude and growing in afaithful life with the Lord Jesus. Our hope is that such a European networkwill add lifeshaping experiences to the standard education of theologystudents. And will equip them in being an honest witness of the Gospel of Jesusin academia and societies.

In this way we aim to contribute to your training as future ministriesthrough excellent academic teaching, beingpart of a vibrant, supportive and international Christian community oftheologians. This summer will be our first step to such a network.

The theme: ‘Sharper than a Two-Edged Sword’: In search of Biblical Hermeneutics

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that 'The Word of God is living, active and sharper than a two-edged sword'. But how do we read and understand the Biblical text and how do we relate its message to our ever changing world? Over the centuries hundreds of theologians have developed theories andmethods to read the Bible in such a way that the voice of God is being heard, understood enpractised in personal life, Church, politics and economics. This week we will unfold to you anevangelical mode, which will support you to make your decisions in interpretingthe Bible in a sensible and faithful way. Attention will be given to exegeticaltools; your personal Bible-reading and life with Christ; reading the Bible in apostmodern and multi-religious society; understanding God's living voice ininterpreting the Bible.

Programme

Each day of the conference is arranged with time for worship, lecturesand expositions, recreation and personal sharing in small groups. There aplenty of possibilities to engage with the speakers in an informal, personalway. In the mornings Benno van den Toren will deliver an exposition in which hediscusses important topics within the field of hermeneutics. Peter Balla willspecify Benno's systematic expositions with his findings on the Old and NewTestament Theologies and Exegesis. In the afternoons

we have, after a two-hour break, small groups: sharing our experiencesand practicing together on the hermeneutical tools we received in the expositions.Relaxing moments like watching a film, a cultural evening, etc. will occurregularly during the conference.

Speakers

Revd Dr Benno van den Toren:

Benno van den Toren is from the Netherlands. He studied theology inUtrecht, Oxfordand Kampen where he did his doctoral research on apologetics, Karl Barth, and postmodernism.He taught systematic theology for eight years at the Bangui Evangelical Schoolof Theology (Central AfricanRepublic). During those years he publishedin Dutch, English, and French, mainly on the nature of Christian doctrine and ethics in a multiculturalworld. Benno has many research interests, among those the possibility of cross-cultural andinterreligious apologetic dialogue, the theology of religions and thetheological understanding of multiculturalism. He is married to Berdine andthey have three teenage sons.

Dr. Gerhard Maier

Dr. Gerhard Maier studied law and theology and has PhD in New Testament studies. He has been the rector of Albrech-Bengel-Haus in Tübingen, a visiting lecturer in Basel and Leuven and the Bishop of Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg. He is the author of numerous books and commentaries in German in the area of NT.

Information

Where? Theconference will be held at Schloss Mittersill,a beautiful castle in the Austrian Alps. You will find information about how toreach Schloss Mittersill by plane and by train at: http://bibleandculture.oesm.at/index.php?id=37.

When? The conferencestarts on Saturday 7th August at 4pm and will end on Saturday14th Augustat 11am. For those arriving by plane or by train, please bear in mind thattrains don't operate during the night and choose your flight times accordingly.

How much? & financial support The price for the conference 2010 will be 250 euro. The course is fully residential and the fee covers boardand lodging, materials and tuition. The fee does not cover travel and visacosts nor any other money which you want to spend while in Austria. We have a limited amountof scholarship funding available. Please contact us for financial support, ifyou need help.

Language Thelectures and courses will be taught inEnglish.

Visa Austria is amember of the European Community and of the Schengen Treaty. Please remember toapply early enough if you need a visa!

Application You can apply with the form on this website.

Deadline for application: The deadline for applicants needing visas will be 15th June. For all other applicants the closing datewill be 8th July.

Contact

If you would like further information contact us: Charlie Hadjiev (IFES staff worker among theology students)

charlie@ifeseurope.org