A full set of the Canadian Journal of Theology, courtesy of Canterbury Cathedral library
The Canadian Journal of Theology was published by the University of Toronto and ran for 16 volumes between 1955 and 1970. It is valuable resource of learned articles from an interesting range of theological perspectives. Canterbury Cathedral library have kindly provided me with a full set of this journal. However, as far as digitisation is concerned, it presents some unusual challenges. In Canada the copyright term is life of author + 50 years and so some of the articles are now in the public domain. The digital rights (which were not thought of when the journal was published) belong to the authors, the majority of whom are now, sadly, deceased. Tracing the estates of authors is always a difficult task and so far I have only been able to make contact with a few of them.
As I have corresponded with folks in Canada, however, it has become clear that they are very interested in seeing this journal placed on-line. Because of this positive feedback and the tremendous value to students of the journal itself, I have decided to go ahead (cautiously) with this project straight away. While still attempting at every stage to find the copyright holder, I am going to begin making most of the articles available in the hope that the rights holders that I have been unable to trace, will contact me. I am making Volume 1 of the Journal available today.
It would be a great help if you could look through the table of contents and share this post with anyone whom you think might know one of the copyright holders.
The European Journal of Theology publishes bi-annually material in English, French and German. The majority of the articles from 2012 issues are now available on-line for free download.
My thanks to editor Dr Pieter Lalleman and to all the authors for their permissions. To subscribe to this journal go here.
Vol. 21.1 (2012)
Pieter J. Lalleman, “Editorial,” 3.
Peter Walker, “Revisiting the Pastoral Epistles – Part 1,” 4-16.
Jacob Theissen, “Paulinische versus jüdische und hellenistische Anthropologie? Zur Frage nach dem Verständnis von Römer 7,7-25,” 17-34.
Zbigniew Wierzchowski, “Broken and Scattered. Polish Baptists during World War II,” 35-46.
Stephan Schweyer, “‘Sie hielten alle einmütig fest am Gebet’. Zum Stellenwert des gemeinsamen Gebets für den Gemeindeaufbau,” 47-59.
Pierre Berthoud, “Africa welcomes the universal Church. The Lausanne III Congress in Cape Town,” 60-68.
Vol. 21.2 (2012)
Christoph Stenschke, “Editorial The current financial crises of Europe, Paul’s collection for Jerusalem and good stewardship,” 97-99.
Boris Paschke, “Matthäus 5,13-16 als Antizipation des nachösterlichen Missionsbefehls? Narrativ-kritische Überlegungen,” 100-106.
Terry Wardlaw, “A Reappraisal of ‘From Faith to Faith’ (Romans 1:17),” 107-119.
Peter Walker, “Revisiting the Pastoral Epistles – Part II,” 120-132.
Christoph Stenschke, “David Bosch, Paulus und die Mission der Kirche,” 133-147.
Andrew Kloes, “Four calls for religious reforms in the 1780s: Urlsperger, Joseph II of Austria, Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia,” 148-155.
Pavel Vojtech Kohut, “The Offer of Catholic Spirituality,” 156-165.
My name is Toivo Pilli and I am Director of Baptist and Anabaptist Studies at the IBTSC. I have been involved in the work of IBTSC since 2002.
Tell us a little about IBTSC.
IBTSC is a European higher education institution, which was initially established in Rüschlikon, Switzerland, in 1949, then under the name of International Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1996 the Seminary was relocated to Prague, Czech Republic, with a special aim of responding to the needs of Eastern European Baptists in pursuit of theological education and reflection, in the post-Communist era. Nowadays, after another move in 2014, IBTSC is located in the Netherlands. The Centre today focuses on three main areas: practical theology, contextual missiology and Baptist identity. The MA in Baptistic Histories and Theologies is validated by the University of Manchester, UK. IBTSC is an independent Collaborative Centre within the Theological Faculty of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Most of our fifty students are on the PhD programme with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. IBTSC has an excellent library in the main fields of research.
Are the courses full-time, part-time or a mixture of both?
All the courses offered are part-time, however the studies require travelling to Amsterdam for intensive teaching blocks, usually once or twice a year. For PhD students the most important meeting point is the Research Colloquium every January. For beginning students the starting intensives take place in August-September. Independent reading, writing, communication by e-mail, Skype and using IBTSC Moodle resources are part of the learning culture of IBTSC. The Centre teachers and students appreciate the intensive teaching and learning sessions in Amsterdam which enable them to build networks, communicate directly, sometimes discuss and debate, and deepen friendships.
After PhD graduation ceremony
How do IBTSC students fund their studies?
IBTSC students fund their studies from different sources: church support and scholarship funds, as well as personal funding. Although the Centre does not offer scholarships, the fees in this European higher education institution are extremely friendly.
Does IBTSC take students from overseas?
Yes, many students at IBTSC are from overseas. The student body at IBTSC is diverse and multicultural, serving the Baptist and wider Christian family – from Armenia and Australia, Cuba and Canada, Norway and the Netherlands, Ukraine and the USA, to name only some countries. Students benefit from interaction with other students – and teachers – from different cultural contexts: a Lebanese Christian perspective may be an eye-opening experience for a British student.
Baptist House where IBTSC Amsterdam is located
What type of ministry is IBTSC intended to prepare students for?
The Centre aims to help students to pursue their calling in life and ministry – some students are engaged in pastoral work, mission or theological education, others are strengthening their knowledge and skills for teaching or research. IBTSC aims to help students to reflect upon their own context: either from the aspect of mission, practical ministry or baptistic identity.
When students leave IBTSC, what kind of ministries / jobs do they go into?
As most of the students are PhD students, almost all of them already work as teachers, pastors, youth workers, mission leaders or they are involved in academic life. However, the experience in IBTSC may open up new opportunities, as the studies offer new horizons and insights, and help to clarify personal calling and ministry goals.
What is distinctive about what IBTSC offers compared with other colleges in the Netherlands and overseas?
January colloquium of research students
The IBTSC makes a deliberate attempt to enhance theological studies from a baptistic perspective. Strong focus on baptistic (both Baptist and Anabaptist) church traditions gives to these studies a unique colour of identity. However, there is a clear understanding that this can only be strengthened in conversation with other Christian traditions.
Please tell us about the library and other research facilities.
The IBTSC library consists of 40 000 carefully selected volumes which strengthen studies in the three key research areas: practice, mission and identity. The online resources, especially the Digital Theological Library, and vast holdings of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam library create excellent library opportunities for students and researchers.
Does IBTSC offer a distance or on-line learning option? If so, please tell us more about it.
IBTSC Amsterdam offers flexible part-time study opportunities, but not online courses.
My thanks to Dr Pilli for his contribution to this new series of interviews with faculty of theological colleges from around the world.
My name is Toivo Pilli and I am Director of Baptist and Anabaptist Studies at the IBTSC. I have been involved in the work of IBTSC since 2002.
