Scholarship - Fellowship - Worship
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Our vision is to create an European network of theology students which facilitates international fellowship, deepens theological understanding and strengthens passion for mission. The annual Theological Students Conference is part of our effort to achieve that vision. The conference aims to bring together theology students from different cultures, theological traditions and educational institutions for a time of fellowship, teaching and reflection in an international environment. It seeks to inspire students in their spiritual life and theological studies and to challenge them to participate actively in Christian ministry and mission in Europe.
Questions about success and failure are basic to human existence and extremely important in the increasingly competitive world we live in. Success is most often connected to or identified with money, prestige and power, whilst failure is linked to poverty, powerlessness and rejection. A large amount of stress, disappointment and joy come as a direct result of human desire to succeed in life and to avoid failure.
Does Christian theology have any distinctive answers to offer to questions such as these? Does the Church judge success and failure with the same standards as the world or is there a different, specifically Christian approach? And if there is how applicable is it to everyday life in the real world? How are success and failure, money and power to be evaluated in the light of belief in an all-might Creator God and in a crucified and risen Saviour?
The programme includes lectures, seminars, discussion gorups, time for prayer and singing, cultural evenings, game nights and a whole free day for outdoor activities and mountain climbing. More detailed information will come later on.
Dr. Dewi Hughes (Theological Advisor; Tearfund):
Dr Dewi Hughes taught Religious Studies at the Polytechnic of Wales [now the University of Glamorgan] from 1975-87. He left academia to become the first Co-ordinator for Wales for the evangelical relief and development agency, Tearfund. In 1993 he became Tearfund's Theological Advisor and served in this role until his retirement in December 2011. His task was to provide advice to Tearfund on a whole range of issues that required some theological expertise. Providing theological advise to international teams and his networking role led to visits to theological colleges and consultations in India, Romania, Jamaica, Bolivia, Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, Panama, Hungary, Lebanon, South Africa and Burma. From 2004-10 he served as a member of the Lausanne Movement’s Theology Working Group.
Dewi is the author of a number of books including God Of the Poor, A Biblical Vision of God's Present Rule [OM 1998], Castrating Culture: A Christian Perspective on Ethnic Identity from the Margins [Paternoster, 2001] and Power and Poverty: Divine and Human Rule in a World of Need, [Nottingham/Grand Rapids: Inter-Varsity Press, 2008/09]. He has also co-edited a book with Jamie Grant of the Highland Theological College, Scotland entitled Transforming the World? The gospel and social responsibility, [Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press, 2009]. Outside Tearfund his passions are church, where he serves as a teaching elder, and gardening. He has been married to Maggie for 44 years and they have 5 children and 4 grand-children.
Robert Willoughby (Lecturer in New Testament; London School of Theology):
Robert did his first degree in modern languages at Nottingham and went on to teach them at a large comprehensive school in Derby for four years. During this time he worked amongst Asian immigrants, which eventually led him to short-term service in India with Operation Mobilization. He has served on several mission boards.
A graduate of LST, Robert began teaching New Testament here in 1984 and spent two years researching John's Gospel in Cambridge.
Robert teaches the Bible and Social Transformation and Theology and Social Transformation on the MA course. He takes a keen interest in current affairs locally, nationally and internationally and is involved as much as time permits.
An enthusiast for all good music, literature, art, sport and company, he is married to Ro and the father of two young adults. They were originally consultants for Robert’s award winning Children’s Guide to the Bible published by Scripture Union, who have also published the companion volume So, Who Is God? and several booklets on aspects of children's ministry.
Where? The conference will be held in Mittersill, a beautiful village in the Austrian Alps.
When? The conference starts on Saturday 11th August at 6 pm and will end on Saturday18th August after breakfast. For those arriving by plane or by train, please bear in mind that trains don't operate during the night and choose your flight times accordingly.
How much? & financial support The price for the conference 2012 will be € 210. The course is fully residential and the fee covers board and 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 amount of scholarship funding available. Please contact us for financial support, ifyou need help.
Language The lectures and courses will be taught in English.
Visa Austria is amember of the European Community and of the Schengen Treaty.
Application You can apply with the form on this website.
Deadline for application: 8th July (The deadline for applicants needing visas will be 15th June).
Participation: The conference is for students who are currently undertaking theologial studies at a European university or Bible College. Unfortunately we are unable to welcome students from other parts of the world.
For some pictures from previous conferences see:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=385913&id=729600112&l=3082d805b3
If you would like further information contact us: Charlie Hadjiev
charlie@ifeseurope.org
