ICETE News Nov'11

The keynote address for the 2012 ICETE International Consultation for Theological Educators will be delivered by Chris Wright, the principal architect of the Lausanne Movement’s historic 2010 Cape Town Commitment. ICETE’s fifteenth Consultation is taking place 15-19 OCTOBER 2012 in NAIROBI, KENYA. Chris Wright, International Director of Langham Partnership International, will lead participants in exploring the Consultation’s theme: the relevance of the Cape Town Commitment for contemporary theological education. Also addressing participants in plenary session will be two other global evangelical leaders: Doug Birdsall, Executive Chair of the Lausanne Movement (LCWE), speaking on “The Vision of Lausanne for Theological Education”; and Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), speaking on “Theological Education’s Role in Global Evangelicalism”. ICETE’s triennial consultations are widely popular for offering evangelical theological educators the only occasion of its kind for peer professional interaction at global level. The 2012 Consultation will provide participants with a range of seminars, panel discussions, workshops, and roundtable discussions in areas of common interest additional to the Consultation theme.

The triennial gathering is organised as an in-house family event. Participation is open to delegates from any theological school linked with one of ICETE’s member associations around the world (ATA, ACTEA, AETAL, ABHE, EEAA, E-AAA, CETA, SPAEC), or representatives from any other entity formally associated with ICETE. Guests or observers are accommodated on an invitation basis only. The 2012 Consultation’s composite participation fee is US$750 per individual (covering registration, accommodation, and meals). However, delegates from institutions that are formally linked to one of ICETE’s member associations, or from other ICETE-linked entities, are eligible for a 50% discount on the Consultation fee. Travel and related expenses are the responsibility of the sponsoring institution or individual. Since space at the Nairobi consultation will be limited, those interested in attending should begin inquiries at this time, by contacting the ICETE Consultation Directorate for registration instructions. Include indication of the institution or entity being represented and its ICETE connection. Address inquiries to: ICETE2012Nairobi@gmx.net

The Cape Town Commitment

The Cape Town Commitment is the defining document emerging from Lausanne’s 2010 Congress. With respect to theological education the Cape Town Commitment offers both an affirmation and a commitment “The mission of the Church on earth is to serve the mission of God, and the mission of theological education is to strengthen and accompany the mission of the Church…. Theological education stands in partnership with all forms of missional engagement. We will encourage and support all who provide biblically-faithful theological education, formal and non-formal, at local, national, regional and international levels” (Part II.F.4). The document as a whole builds on the Lausanne Covenant of 1974 and the Manila Manifesto of 1989. John Stott played a principal role in the formation of both earlier statements. His ministry successor, Chris Wright, played a similar role for the Cape Town Commitment. The complete text is available on the web at: www.lausanne.org/ctcommitment

ICETE Doctoral Project

ICETE has undertaken a project to support the evangelical doctoral programmes that have been emerging at leading theological schools in the majority world. The project is meant to provide them with relational space for contact and collaboration, and to assist in devising guidelines for ‘best practice’. A representative group of such programmes from Asia, Africa, and Latin America has participated in two exploratory events, the first held in Beirut, Lebanon, in March 2010, and the second in Bangalore, India, in October 2011. These gatherings were designed as preparatory for a major ICETE consultation on doctoral theological education in the majority world to be held in 2012 The event will be open to all evangelical doctoral programmes in the majority world, and to any other interested parties within the ICETE constituency. It is scheduled to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, on the weekend preceding the ICETE 2012 International Consultation. Full details will be announced later; inquiries may meanwhile be addressed to: iceteadmin@bellsouth.net ICETE’s Doctoral Project is co-sponsored by Langham Partnership International and Overseas Council International.

Job Posting Announced

The Theological Book Network (TBN) is a non-profit organization, with ICETE Associate status, that is committed to providing majority world theological schools with access to high quality theological materials. TBN is seeking a new Executive Director who will bring professional credentials in global higher education and publishing, along with an established record of building networks across disciplines and interest groups. Serving as the global spokesperson for TBN, the Executive Director is responsible for overall strategic planning, fund development organizational development, collaborative partnerships, financial management, staff management and all program operations. Qualifications include at least five years of demonstrated success in staff leadership, fundraising, partnership development and financial management; a broad understanding of theological education; ability to network with publishers and libraries; success in organizational growth through strategic planning; personal qualities that include integrity, commitment to the TBN mission, respect for diversity, and ability to motivate; commitment to the tenets of the Christian faith; and effective communication skills. Resumes may be sent to: sharlow@bakerpublishinggroup.com [provide the email subject heading: ‘TBN Job Post’; no files larger than 1 MB, please]. The submission deadline is 31 December 2011. Further information is available at: www.theologicalbooknetwork.org/tbn/

John Stott PhD Scholarship in Biblical Preaching

Langham Partnership International is pleased to announce the creation of the John Stott PhD Scholarship in Biblical Preaching. Named in honour of the founder of Langham Partnership, John Stott, the award is designed to promote research and cutting-edge thinking in biblical exposition and preaching. This award will be for study on a PhD course starting in September/October 2012, and will be for up to three years of full-time study, or six years of part-time study. The scholarship will be for those undertaking research in the area of Homiletics, Biblical Interpretation with a view to Preaching, or a Missiological or Historical topic with a strong focus on Preaching. The first candidate is likely to be accepted on a PhD programme in the UK or Europe. The scholarship will cover fees on the PhD course, and a contribution towards accommodation during the period of study. The award is only open to applicants from the Majority (Developing) World, and applicants must be highly commended by a Christian institution or organisation in the Majority (Developing) World. LPI is interested in receiving applications from experienced preachers who already have a recognised postgraduate Masters degree in a related field (e.g. Biblical Studies, Practical/Pastoral Theology, Mission/Church History, Christian Communication), and some experience of teaching homiletics. If you would like to receive further information, or apply for this award, please send a curriculum vitae including details of relevant academic qualifications, and a statement of your area of research interest, to: gaynor.harvey@langhampartnership.org The closing date for the submission of full applications is 16 December 2011.

Resources from Tyndale House, Cambridge

Tyndale Research Library in Cambridge UK is one of the three leading biblical research libraries in the world (the other two are in Rome and Jerusalem). Its research resources are legendary. Tyndale is now working deliberately to make many of these resources available on the web for biblical researchers anywhere in the world. The project is titled STEP: Scripture Tools for Every Person. Of particular note is that Tyndale is asking to partner with biblical scholars and researchers worldwide in development of these resources. Here are website locations for a full orientation to this promising new Tyndale project.

Theological schools should take time to forward this important information directly to any senior staff in biblical studies. It would also be of keen interest for any post-graduate students involved with biblical studies.

“ICETE is among the most important networks serving within global evangelicalism, because it is helping to train leaders in the regions from which evangelicalism's leadership will arise for the 21st century.”

Doug Birdsall, Executive Chair
Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE)

About ICETE

ICETE is a global community, sponsored by eight regional associations of theological schools, to facilitate collaboration worldwide for excellence and renewal in evangelical theological education. The eight sponsoring associations together cover all parts of the world, with a combined constituency of more than 872 evangelical theological schools in 113 countries. This represents globally a student population in excess of a hundred thousand persons presently in preparation for church leadership roles, predominantly in the majority world. ICETE was established in 1980, and functions as a Global Partner within the World Evangelical Alliance.

ICETE Sponsoring Associations: AACTEA (Africa); ATA (Asia); CETA (the Caribbean); EEAA (Europe);
E-AAA (Euro-Asia); AETAL (Latin America); ABHE (North America); SPAEC (South Pacific)

ICETE Officers: Chair: Joe Simfukwe (Zambia); Director: Paul Sanders (France/Lebanon);
Associate Director: Douglas Carew (Kenya); Deputy Director: Paul Bowers (USA/Africa)

ICETE Council of Reference: Rolf Hille (Germany); Emilio Nuñez (Guatemala);
Chris Wright (UK); Wilson Chow (Hong Kong); Doug Birdsall (USA);
Daniel Bourdanné (Chad); Peter Kuzmič (Croatia)