WINTER 2011/2012
INFORM 2011 has been an incredible year, filled with both blessings and challenges Blessings included seeing another successful cohort of students graduate, having several new key members of staff and faculty join us, and enjoying some fantastic Christmas concerts and worship evenings. Challenges include significant staff movement, including losing our Principal, having to lobby the government about the UK Border Agency limits on foreign students studying at independent colleges and ongoing financial pressure as the economic climate affects all organisations. We are however looking forward to 2012 and have an exciting range of new opportunities to share with you. The Laing Lecture in February promises to be one of the most thought provoking yet as our own Professor Tony Lane addresses the subject of life on other planets. During the year, there will be an LST Summer School, taster days, debates and a big production of the classic Godspell, to mention but a few of the events being planned. What inspires me most, though, is the feedback from our student body. One student summed up their LST experience
so far by saying: ‘The academic standard, combined with the close-knit community of students and faculty across the courses at LST, continues to provide me with far more than simply a qualification.’ LST is proud to be preparing the next generation of Christian leaders, workers and servants – all with a heart for God and deeper knowledge of his Word. It’s what we exist for and as you read on you will find out more about what we’re doing to continue to fulfil our calling in these challenging times. We hope that you will stand with us in prayer and, if you are able, with practical support as we enter a new exciting year.
Chris Jack, Acting Principal
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Welcome to INFORM, the first issue of LST’s new regular newsletter. Find it online or inside INSIGHT, LST’s theological magazine.
LST Newsletter Winter 2011/2012
LST Strengthens Leadership Team with New Vice Principal We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. William Atkinson to the post of Vice Principal (Academic), Director of Research and Senior Lecturer in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies. William worked briefly as a doctor before being ordained by the Elim Pentecostal Church. He spent 10 years at Kensington Temple in London and 10 years at Elim's college, Regents Theological College, where for seven years he was Principal. William said: “I am delighted to be joining the London School of Theology. God continues to do great things here. We have a wonderful faculty and I look forward to what we can achieve in the years ahead. LST is the largest evangelical theology college in Europe and is certainly the most exciting place to study theology that I can think of.” Chris Jack, Acting Principal, LST said, “William brings a wealth of knowledge and excellent experience to LST which I’m sure will serve the college well. Having a new Vice Principal (Academic) adds additional rigour and strength to the leadership as we seek to grow our work at the heart of theological education.” For the last four years William has ministered in the Elim Pentecostal Church in Braintree, Essex, where his wife Alison continues as minister. He has a degree in medicine from Edinburgh University, an MA
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from LST and a PhD in theology from Edinburgh. His PhD researched an aspect of the Wordfaith movement. He has written three books and several articles for academic journals including LST’s INSIGHT. His book The 'Spiritual Death' of Jesus: A Pentecostal Investigation, published in 2009, won the annual book award from The Foundation For Pentecostal Scholarship. His Baptism in the Spirit: Luke-Acts and the Dunn Debate were published in 2011.
Fully Funded Place In the summer LST ran a competition in Testify Christian Newspaper for a free place to study on a one-year CertHE in Theology. The response was amazing with many very strong candidates, which shows that there is a real hunger for theological study in the world today. In an unexpected turn of events, when we interviewed, we found not only a worthy winner of the place but a fantastic runner up, who was so amazing that we created an additional prize of a half price place for him. So we were delighted to welcome Sophia Davies (the winner) and Chris Durugo (the runner-up) along with the other freshers at the beginning of the new academic year. Matt Adcock, Director of Communications, said, “At LST we are all about training people to positively change the world for God and as the largest theological college in Europe we are keen to make our courses as widely available as possible. The competition to offer a fully funded position took place so that a student who could otherwise not have afforded to study theology now gets that chance.”
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LST Newsletter Winter 2011/2012
LST launch Ethnomusicology Music in the Global Church Should multicultural worship happen reactively as a response to changing church demographics, or should it happen prophetically and intentionally in order to advance the kingdom vision of unity and diversity in ethnically and culturally mixed churches and to break a “worship apartheid”? In January 2012 London School of Theology’s Music & Worship Department is addressing these questions in a module that is being taught as a four-day intensive. The course is available to those who are not studying at LST or who live outside the area or abroad. The module in Ethnomusicology: Music in the Global Church is part of LST’s two pioneering degree programmes in Theology Music and Worship.
Listening and song sessions will give exposure to the different world musical styles and practical exercises will be readily applicable to a variety of worship environments. The assessment will take the form of a project and involve the student in studying music of another culture and considering the ways in which the music could be used in that culture for mission and the development of the indigenous
church. Visiting students can choose whether they want to take the assessment or not.
This is a new four-day intensive course at London School of Theology - to find out more or to apply for a place please contact Ruwani Gunawardene: t. 01923 456220 e. music@lst.ac.uk
Tribute to Paul Fisher: 9th April 1961 – 13th October 2011 It is with great sadness that I let you know of the death of Paul Fisher, who passed away on the 13th of October 2011, at the age of 50. Paul studied for the BA in Theology at LST (LBC) from 19911994 and then went on to do a postgraduate course at Spurgeons. He was a very popular student at LST (LBC) and was well liked by those who knew him. Paul had a strong faith in the Lord, which carried him right through his earthly life. There was gladness in his heart concerning the Christian hope we have in Christ Jesus and he looked forward to the
glorious promises he had in his Lord and Saviour. Paul was a Preacher, Teacher and Missionary and made an impact on many lives, both here in the UK and abroad. Paul enjoyed his time at LST (LBC) and we used to speak a lot about the times we spent there together. Along with Rev. Canon Ben Enwuchola and myself, we were a Prayer Triplet whilst at LST (LBC). We continued to be a Prayer Triplet after leaving LST (LBC) and up until Paul's death. I am sure that those who knew Paul during his time at LST (LBC)
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would remember a brother who was selfless and caring to all. Please pray for the Fisher family at this time as they come to terms with the passing of their son and brother, Paul. Paul's funeral service took place on Monday, the 24th of October 2011, at the St Marks Church, Battersea Rise in London and he was buried at the Putney Vale Cemetery. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, the 19th of November 2011 and afterwards a reception was held in Paul's honour. Tom Chacko, (LBC 1990-1993)
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LST Newsletter Winter 2011/2012
Laing Lecture Day: Thursday 9th February 2012 This years Laing Lecture Day will be presented by Professor Tony Lane MA BD DD (Oxon), Professor of Historical Theology at LST. Tony studied maths and theology at Oxford and Cambridge before joining the school's faculty in 1973. He has remained here since then, apart from a year away spent teaching in Kenya and researching in the USA. He was Course Leader for the School's BA programme for twelve years before becoming Director of Research from 1996 to 2008. In 2000 he was recognised by Brunel University as Professor of Historical Theology and in 2004 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Oxford University. He is an enthusiast for Christian doctrine, and especially its history. His desire is for students to become more aware of the riches of the Christian heritage. He has the ability to express complex doctrinal concepts and is widely published. For many years Tony chaired the Tyndale Fellowship Doctrine Group and he is one of the Presidium that runs four-yearly international congresses on Calvin research. He has examined PhDs for various universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, London and Edinburgh. Tony is interested in supervising students in historical theology. His prime specialisms are Calvin and Bernard of Clairvaux, though he has also supervised theses on other theologians from the Early Church, the Middle Ages and the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as Jürgen Moltmann. Theological
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themes that are of interest to him are especially Scripture and tradition, sin and grace, justification, sacraments and Catholic-Protestant dialogue. The programme for the day will be as follows: • Afternoon lecture: New Light from Old Truths: Lessons for Today from Bernard of Clairvaux on the Cross • Evening: The formal lecture Is the Truth Out There? Creatures, Cosmos and New Creation This lecture will examine some of the implications of modern scientific cosmology for Christian faith — in particular the issues of the age and size of the universe and of possibility of there being intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. We will ask whether the findings of modern cosmology in these areas threaten the truth of the Christian faith and also explore their implications for the doctrine of creation, for the doctrine of the Fall and for eschatology. The afternoon lecture will be held in the Chapel, at LST. The evening lecture will be taking place at Emmanuel Church, High Street, Northwood. Admission details to follow at www.lst.ac.uk.
Student Summer Placements Andy Kench at Kids' Lie Ministry, Northern Thailand So how would you spend twelve weeks of summer away from college? I was fortunate enough to be invited to join a mission to Thailand for a few weeks and jumped at the chance. I’d never spread the Gospel overseas so it was a chance to hear from God… and I did.
Twelve of us gallivanted to Fang in northern Thailand to spend time at Kids’ Lie Ministry, a Christian run orphanage for around eighty children and teens. Supported by Churches in the UK and elsewhere, the organisation is now run by a married Thai couple whose lives and values, so counter-
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LST Newsletter Winter 2011/2012
cultural in their care for the weak, perfectly exemplified the awesome power of the Holy Spirit within them. To call the place an orphanage is slightly misleading; some are orphans but many of the children have been rescued from forms of slavery or simply been abandoned by parents for reasons we can’t even begin to understand. It was truly heartbreaking to hear stories of their blighted young lives prior to being saved. However, if you imagine that we were greeted by a bunch of self-pitying moody youngsters, you’d be wrong. I’ve never met such happy and joyful, loving and beautiful children. For kids who have so little, they were truly blessed. It was a great experience sharing Bible stories wit them, teaching English and bi-lingual worshipping with a group who truly loved God and loved their home and family in the orphanage. To see the transformation produced by showing them love and sharing the Gospel was truly heart-warming and I felt I had to return overseas soon as there are so many others like these children who desperately need the love of Jesus and I felt God calling me to do just that. Andy Kench BA Theology (2nd year)
Rev Dr Geoffrey Grogan: 4th May 1925 – 31st August 2011 Geoffrey Grogan received his theological education at the Bible Training Institute, Glasgow (later renamed the Glasgow Bible College) and the London Bible College (later renamed the London School of Theology). He later taught full-time at these two colleges, the former from 1951 to 1965 and then (as principal) from 1969 to 1990, and at the latter from 1965 to 1969. Since retirement he taught as a visiting lecturer at the International Christian College, Glasgow, the Scottish Baptist College and several overseas locations. Below former LBC students of Geoff’s share their tributes – more can be viewed at: www.geoffreygroganmemorial. wordpress.com. “Those were formal days with lecturers wearing gowns so we called him Mr. Grogan, though “Geoff’ among ourselves. I had never come across handouts for lectures before; his were more like comprehensive worksheets, meticulously prepared and lastingly helpful. When asked to teach doctrine in subsequent years in Malaysia and Indonesia I did it my way, but always had those outlines at hand. His clarity in teaching about justification in relation to sanctification ‘our standing and our state’ has been passed on by me to many. And those lectures were all done ‘under fire’ from students with strong commitment to different views who did not always appreciate
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the learned, courteous and patient ways of this gentle giant of a man. I don’t think I ever had a personal conversation with Geoff at LBC but he somehow remembered me enough to write a welcoming letter when 20 years later I was invited onto the faculty. His encouraging words, and from the Principal of ICC too, strengthened my confidence. His example enriched us all. I thank God for him.” Ailish Eves - Lecturer in Mission (LBC 1988-2003)
“Ailsa and I had the privilege of attending lectures from Geoff Grogan while studying at LST (formerly LBC) in the mid 60s. His lectures were always meticulously prepared and delivered with patience not without a sprinkling of wisdom and humour. I remember some very helpful pastoral/theological conversations on the Greenline bus from Bushy Heath when I was returning to the Marylebone site of the college on Sunday evenings from a student pastorate. We had further interaction with Geoff when he was a member of the OMF Scottish Council and later he was such an encouragement when I taught at GBC for a short period.” Ralph and Ailsa Martin (LBC 1963-1967)
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LST Newsletter Winter 2011/2012
New Faces At LST LAURA NAIRN: CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Laura comes with a wealth of senior management experience in both the public and not-for-profit sectors. Having spent 8 years with the civil service, Laura moved to the voluntary sector to manage the funding of The Salvation Army’s homeless housing schemes across the UK, to a value of £64m. While still with The Salvation Army she studied Theology and moved on to church leadership, running a church and community centre in a deprived area of Bradford. She then moved into the overseas and emergency response area, working with a number of international development organisations with two significant appointments in Haiti, the last of which was as Programme Director with Tearfund. A graduate of Reading University, Laura has degrees in French and Economics, Pastoral Care with Psychology, and a Diploma in Theology. Laura said: “I am excited to join LST and will be looking to build and take the college forward to ensure it is at the heart of resourcing the church with excellent theological training.” MATT ADCOCK: DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Matt has been working in communications for 15 years and joined LST from NHS London. He has previously worked for
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Youthwork Magazine, City & Guilds and YMCA England and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations. When not at work Matt is the film reviewer for a group of regional newspapers, writes novels and edits a blog. Matt said: "LST is an incredible force for good in the world, the academic faculty are some of the finest thinkers in Europe and the students are inspirational in their thirst for God. My heart is to get people to better understand and fall in love with Theology – it is something that every Christian should want to explore.”
MARK BEAUMONT: SENIOR LECTURER IN ISLAM AND MISSION Mark was born in London and raised in East Kilbride, Scotland. After studying Philosophy and English Literature at Edinburgh University, he came to London Bible College in 1972, where he was in the last group of students who took the London BD. Mark then became Minister of Dennistoun Baptist Church in Glasgow for five years. In 1993 he was appointed lecturer in Mission, Ethics and Historical Theology at Birmingham Bible Institute. His 2003 PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies was subsequently published as Christology in Dialogue with Muslims in 2005. He is a council member of Arab World Ministries UK.
STEVE WALTON: PROFESSOR OF NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES London School of Theology (LST) is delighted to announce that Senior Lecturer, Steve Walton, has been appointed Professor of New Testament Studies. Steve’s passion is to help others engage with the NT for themselves, and he is therefore an enthusiastic teacher of Greek. He co-authored a Gospels and Acts textbook, Exploring the New Testament, Vol.1, which is now in a second (revised) edition (2011), as well as writing a scholarly study of Acts and 1 Thessalonians, Leadership and Lifestyle, and a book on vocation for all Christians, A Call to Live. He is currently working on the Word Biblical Commentary on Acts. CHWEE LEE: DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES & HOSPITALITY Chwee is Chinese and came to England over 30 years ago. Brought up in a Presbyterian family, she studied at a Convent School and now worships at a Baptist Church.She has also sudied at the Open University, Birkbeck College and the University of London. Chwee has a Masters in Organisational Behaviour and a Postgraduate Diploma in Small Business Management. Chwee has most recently been working with a Christian Charity in London. She is excited with her new role at LST and is unashamed to accost anyone for LST’s sake!
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LST Newsletter Winter 2011/2012
LST Class of 2011 DISTANCE LEARNING Theological Studies Award Olapeju Ajayi Simon Barker Sarah Coates Glenda Parsons John Troake David Williamsttt Oichun Wong Advanced Theological Studies Award Roy Whitney
MIDDLESEX AWARDS Certificate of Higher Education in Theological Studies Stephen Goulds Stephan Hertig Aimee Schmidt Certificate of Higher Education in Theology Sarah Davies David Gallop Sarah Gibson Andrew Gowland Kayoko Ishii Timothy Palmer Grace Percy Eleanor Tatton Certificate of Higher Education in Theology & Counselling Andrea Kunz Certificate of Higher Education in Theology, Music & Worship Anna Bosatta Diploma of Higher Education in Theological Studies Angela Such Diploma of Higher Education in Theology Emma Guille Jae Hyong An Olwyn Mark Peter Moore Janice Roberts Moira Rumveye Jeanny Wang
Diploma of Higher Education in Theology & Counselling Timothy Jenkins Olufunbi Sekoni Lail Peeradina Judith Salisbury Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies Angela Fox Bachelor of Arts in Theology David Banks Ruth Barber Simon Barnes Georgina Bassett Laura Bradford Peter Bradnock Samuel Buck Liselle Clarke-Moisley Guilherme De Paula Daniel Durston Thomas Fakile Kirsty-Jane Gardner David Ginns Paul Hammond Daniel Joy Anna Kelly Miriam Kendrick Sophie Lau David Leeds Luke Maxted Ross Maynard Sarah McCarten Scott Miles Daniel Ostertag Christine Potter Jonathan Quinlan Kathryn Salkeld Kelly Spearing Ashley Taylor Jonathan White Matthew White Paul Wragg Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Counselling Judith Blackwell Mary Harris-Mayes Rima Minassian Lauren Musgrave Shemida Rayan Philip Waine Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Music and Worship Christopher Bryant Rosella Caruso
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Charlotte Fabian Hovan Hovsepian Mehr Samantha Prower Charis Smith Jessica Stevenson Postgraduate Certificate in Aspects of Biblical Interpretation Geraldine Lau Benjamin Sternke Postgraduate Diploma in Aspects of Biblical Interpretation Timothy Wilkinson Master of Arts in Aspects of Biblical Interpretation Blair Lee Christine McConnell Susan Pegram Edmund Weber Abukari Yakubu Master of Arts in Transformation: Scripture, Church and World Andre Adefope Whitney Adshead Grace Al-Zoughbi Daniel Bannoura Wesley Chiang Keyvran Cyrus Chloe Lynch Helen Morris Danelle Nightingale Martin Williams Master of Theology Alistair Hornal Oddvar Sten Ronsen James Tarrant Master of Philosophy Eric Jenkins Doctor of Philosophy Steven Bruns Paul Han Andy Harker John Kilzer Richard Snoddy
BRUNEL AWARDS
Doctor of Philosophy Andy Bannister Darrell Brown Susan Bubbers Daniel Janosik Philip King Steven Koskie Alexandra Owen Li Qu Giedrius Saulytis Kulli Toniste
COMING SOON TO LST Godspell – The musical The LST Music Department is planning a major production of the musical ‘Godspell’ in 2012. Directed by Paul Knight whose directing credits include many West End musicals. LST students and colleagues are lining up for auditions as we search for actors/singers/dancers and band instrumentalists. It promises to be a very exciting event, so earmark your 2012 diaries for a date from March 20th – 24th. For more information or to book a place please contact: music@lst.ac.uk Everybody now...
“Prepare ye, the way of the Lord!”
Master of Philosophy Janice Curcio
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Get Biblefresh in 2012! It's never too late to start benefiting from studying the New Testament, making it an ideal time either to get involved again or to start from scratch. This LST monthly series will significantly develop your appreciation and understanding of the Bible. Speakers have been drawn both from the LST faculty and major British Evangelical scholars. Each day will be a complete experience in and of itself. BibleFresh days at LST provide an excellent introduction to the Scripture. For more information email: open@lst.ac.uk or book online at: http://www.lstbiblefresh.org
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www.facebook.com/LondonSchoolofTheology There is also a new LST Facebook page where photos, news and debate can be found.
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