IBTS, Prague, was at its festive best this week, when The Revd Dr Ian M Randall, Senior Research Fellow and prolific author, gave the address to the graduands.

The conclusion of the 59th Academic Year of IBTS saw twelve students graduated Master of Theology or Magister in Theology and were awarded their diplomas by Dr Randall and dressed in their academic gowns and hoods by the Rector, the Revd Dr Keith G ones, and the Pro-Rector, the Revd docent Dr Parush R Parushev. Two students graduated with the Certificate in English Language for Theology and fifteen students graduated from the Certificate in Applied Theology course. Other students were Valedicted as they moved to the dissertation writing stage of their Masters, Magister and Doctoral degrees.

Amongst a capacity congregation present for the ceremony was the Lithuanian Ambassador together with representatives of the theology faculties of the Charles University and of other English language educational institutions in Prague.

Dr Randall took Erasmus of Rotterdam as his theme. Today Erasmus is known in educational circles as the title of the European Union programme enabling students to study at more than one recognised institution in the nations of the European Union. However, Dr Randall reminded the capacity congregation of students, graduands, families and guests that Erasmus had been a great scholar and the leader of the humanist movement in European Universities from which Luther, Zwingli and others developed their reforming zeal in the 16th century. He pointed out Erasmus was an especial beacon to students graduating from IBTS because of some of his ideas which are at the heart of anabaptist and baptistic life and theology. He drew particular attention to his concern for the recovery of the roots of faith in a carefully reading of the Biblical record, his desire for application in communities of learning and his affirmation of the place of women as learned scholars.

Countries represented amongst the graduating students were – Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

The Graduating students were presented by the Pro-Rector and Academic Dean, Dr Parush R Parushev. The Rector, the Revd Keith G Jones, congratulated each of the graduating students after Dr Randall had presented the diplomas.

Many photographs available. Contact Lake@ibts.eu for group of individual images.

IBTS is jointly owned by the 50 Baptist Unions of the European Baptist Federation.