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Nov 2003 Newsletter

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Nov 2003 Newsletter Contact ISSN 1521-9631 Vol. 27, No. 2 INSIDE An Advent Reflection 3 by IAPCHE Interim Executive Director, Europe Region Harry Fernhout 5 During the season of Advent, Christians around the globe Africa Region focus their attention on one of the great turning points in the Christian story and, indeed, the history of the world: the birth 6 of Jesus whom we know as the Christ. Advent reminds us of our conviction that our overarching Latin America story, the still unfolding tale of love told in the Bible, must shape our whole walk of life, including Region our engagement in higher education. This is, at bottom, IAPCHE’s reason for existence. Our 7 Bylaws (i.e., our constitution) boldly affirm this in the Preamble: “The members of the Association Asia-Oceania recognize academic work as an expression of life commitment to God the Creator, through Region Jesus Christ, in the power of the Spirit. Science and Scholarship cannot have a neutral, uncom- mitted character but should be pursued from a biblical perspective.” As if to emphasize this 8 point, the Bylaws go on to say that “God reveals in Scripture the true meaning of creation, sin, North America redemption, and service. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are consequently Region authoritative for education and scholarship.” 10 While IAPCHE claims the entire biblical story - from creation to new creation - as its own, some Seerveld parts of Scripture are particularly inspiring and direction-setting for Christian higher education. Collected Works IAPCHE members around the world would no doubt highlight different scriptural themes and passages, depending on their cultural context and tradition. In my own experience, two ‘anchor 12 texts’ that have proven durable in sustaining my engagement in Christian higher education in Special Book challenging times are found in Colossians 1 and II Corinthians 5. Feature Colossians 1:15-20 summarizes the 13 entire story of the cosmos, from begin- Books ning to the coming of Christ, with a seven-fold repetition that all things are in him. “All things have been created through and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body … so that in everything he might have supremacy. For God was Serving Christian pleased…through him to reconcile all Higher things…by making peace through his Education blood shed on the cross.” I’d like to Around the imagine that this passage was echo- World Since 1975. ing in Abraham Kuyper’s heart and mind when he uttered his famous words about Christ’s claim over every square inch of the cosmos. “All things” certainly embraces everything in Christian Contact • December 2015 A D V E N T R E F L E C T I O N & R E M I ND E R S higher education, from accounting to zoology, and from administration to community service. Everything in higher education is caught up not only in God’s project of creation and ‘holding things together,’ but also in God’s pro- ject of reconciliation, making peace (shalom) through the work of Christ on the cross. If ever there was a “biblical perspective” on the cosmic context of our work in higher education, surely this is it! As I read it, II Corinthians 5:16-21 picks up the theme of God’s reconciliation project and applies it to the life-mission of Christ-followers: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself in Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” An ambassador is someone who acts in the name of a higher authority. It’s a high calling. Imagine that your head of state called on you to serve as your nation’s ambassador in addressing the greatest challenge your country faces at this moment. No doubt you would feel both honored and intimidated! God calls Christ-followers to a much greater challenge and opportunity: to serve as ambassadors of reconciliation during the in-between time when “all things” are not yet made new. That our world desperately needs “ministers of reconciliation” is surely beyond question. A key part of the mission of Christian higher education is to prepare a new generation for active participation in in this God-entrusted mission. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this year, it is important to remind ourselves that this event represents a pivotal moment in the cosmic story of what God is doing – his shalom-making project of reconciling all things to himself in Christ-Jesus, because of his great love for the world. Ultimately, this love is what sustains us in all the challenges we encounter as Christians who seek to enact reconciliation and renewal in higher education. IAPCHE 8th International Conference 2016 Reminders CALL FOR PAPERS REGISTER TODAY deadline fast approaching! for the IAPCHE’s 8th International Conference! YOU are invited to submit a proposal to Go to iapche.org/register to register for your spot at present a paper, organize a roundtable discussion, or participate in a panel at IAPCHE’s 8th IAPCHE’s 8th international conference. International Conference to be held at Baekseok University, South Korea from May 30 to June 3, 2016. Registration Rates: Subsidized/Standard Low Income Countries: $100/$550 YOU can address the conference theme, “Strengthening Christian Higher Education in an Era of Medium-Income Countries:$200/$650 Global Transformation,” from various angles: peda- gogy,curriculum, administration/leadership or High Income Countries:$300/750 research. Individuals are eligible to apply for a subsidized registration rate until February 10, 2016 and the The deadline for submitting proposals for the confer- standard rate until March 31, 2016. ence is January 18, 2016. See the full conference and on theme proposal submission details accommodation meals iapche.org/register/call-for-papers. Registration fee covers and during the conference as well as airport transfer to and from Incheon International Airport May 30 and June 3, and all registration materials. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to gather with over 200 leaders in Christian higher education to explore this topic. Register now! Contact • December 2015 2 EUROPE REGION LCC International University Hosts Students lectorate (2012-2015) will be presented. Individuals will from the Christelijke Hogeschool Ede in summarize what was learned in a “profile” of a Netherlands Christian teacher. Participants will sketch a few cen- tral images of the ideal Christian teacher in a series of KLAIPEDA, LITHUANIA--LCC International University sessions. expanded its cooperation with Christian University of Applied Sciences (CHE) in the Netherlands by hosting The three keynote speakers will be as follows: Lector students and Dr. Bram de Muynck (pic- faculty from tured right) will present the CHE for inter- findings of the four years national busi- research. Two other scholars ness visits and will respond to this presenta- academic tion: Dr. Wim van Vlastuin, experiences in theologian at Vrije Universiteit Klaipėda. Amsterdam (seminary of the Hersteld Hervormde Kerk), LCC hosted and Dr. David I. Smith, Professor of Christian Teaching the first group at Calvin College, Grand Rapids. Additionally, the of Dutch students in June 2015 and the second group conference will include ten workshops about a variety in October 2015. CHE. of subjects. The October academic experience was a business elective course jointly taught by CHE and LCC busi- Karoli Gaspar University of the Reformed ness faculty to a group of 15 CHE students and 7 LCC Church of Hungary Hosts Conference on students. Ethical Economic Thinking and “The course International Business – Human Resource Competitiveness Issues in Practice consisted of required readings, busi- BUDAPEST, HUNGARY--The Ethical Economic Thinking ness visits, lectures, group projects, presentations, and and Competitiveness Conference organised by Károli written assignments. During the course, students visited Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary companies like Regseda, DFDS Seaways, the took place in Amberton Hotel , as well the Klaipeda Port Authority,” Budapest on said Jekabs Bikis, Chair of the department of October 15, 2015. International Business Administration at LCC. After the opening “This exchange program brings lots of value to the words of Rector students. Also it is a good opportunity to experience of the University Lithuanian culture and improve English skills. Beyond Professor Péter that, the more HR specific topics during the company Balla, the plenary visits are bringing new insight and shifts in expecta- session of the conference began with the lectures of tions”, said Roelof van der Horst, Senior Lecturer in Dr. György Matolcsy, President of the Hungarian Business Administration at LCC International University. National Bank and László Domokos, President of the State Audit Office of Hungary. The event continued Driestar Educatief to Host Upcoming with the presentations of two international guest lec- Conference “Profile for Pilgrimage” turers: Professor Jacques Jaussaud from the University of Pau in France and Dr. Johan Graafland, economist GOUDA, THE NETHERLANDS--The research team, and theologian professor of Tilburg University in the “Lectorate of Christian Teaching,” at Driestar University Netherlands shared their views on the relationship will have its yearly conference on January 26, 2015. between economy and law. During this day the results of four years working in the Contact • December 2015 3 EUROPE REGION cont’d The plenary session ended with a roundtable discus- this was a strategic opportunity for LCC to be seen as sion with the participation of Professor Péter Halmai a legitimate voice in the dialog. It was a privilege to (University of Pannonia), Professor Csaba Lentner be invited,” said Marlene Wall.
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