I have received a request from the India Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) in the Kottayam District of Kerala, India.

Principal Dr. K. Jacob Kurian has provided full details of the need and opportunity but in brief it is to teach a Module Course in Historical Theology.

The proposed dates for the teaching of this module are 27th to 31st August and 3rd to 7th September, 2007 at IBTS for 4 hours (an hour being 45 minutes of classroom work and 15 minutes of weightage for study in the Library.

This is a first year M.Th. (in Theology) class and is designed to trace the development of doctrines through church denominations, spiritual movements, and Christian leaders.

Students hail from Baptist, Brethren, Pentecostal, and Episcopal churches. In India today Dr Kurian says, “Students need to learn to discuss controversial issues, speaking the truth in love, enabling their own churches to grow evolving from within with freedom of expression and without spoiling the fellowship, without compromising on principles in the name of tolerance and broadmindedness, and without syncretism.”

The class will be comprised of very mature students able to assimilate deep truths.

The students have various Indian native languages as mother-tongues but the medium of instruction is English. No translation is provided or needed. English grammar and vocabulary are taught incidentally, not formally as a separate course.

If 27th to 31st August and 3rd to 7th September, 2007 are inconvenient another option is from 5th to 9th and 12th to 16th November, 2007.

The Seminary is in a rural setting with excellent campus facilities. It’s a 2-hour drive from Kochi Airport on the South-west coast of India.

The Seminary is accredited by IATA (International Association for Theological Accreditation). IBTS is an arm of the India Baptist Convention which is a member of Baptist World Alliance.

IBTS will meet the expenses of the resource person for travel from the airport to Seminary on arrival, from Seminary to airport for departure, boarding and lodging.

Further details not included in this posting have been received. If you would like more information and/or would like to express interest, please write as soon as possible to:

Geoff Pound
Convenor, TWB Coordinating Committee.
geoffpound@yahoo.com.au

Image: Map of Kerala with location of Kochi and Kottayam District. Click on it for enlarging.