Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2017

tjesweg, Amsterdam. Each phase has been developmental, but there has been a common desire set out by the very first Rector, 5 George Sadler, to pursue academic excellence in theology for the purpose of equipping the churches of Europe in their mission. This common driving force has been at the heart of the approach of those who have had responsibility for the institution and those who have taught in the institution. At different moments there have been misguided and ill-informed suggestions that IBTS was ‘dumbing down’. 6 In fact, as this 1 For the history of IBTS from 1948 until 2013 see the excellent book by Carol Woodfm, An Experiment in Christian internationalism: a history’ of the European Baptist Theological Seminary’ (Macon, GA: Baptist History and Heritage Society, 2013). 2 Henceforward in this article I shall simply use the abbreviation IBTS. 3 See Carol Woodfm, An Experiment in Christian Internationalism and Keith G. Jones, The European Baptist Federation: A Case Study in European Baptist Interdependency 1950-2006 (Milton Keynes: Authentic Media, 2009) especially chapter 4. 4 In line with IBTS editorial policy I will use the titles of cities as presented in the appropriate language and not an English transliteration. 5 1 use the term ‘Rector’ here as this is the common term in mainland Europe. The title ‘President’, a north American term, was used from 1948 until 1998, but the job description has remained similar throughout. 6 At the time of the adjustment and refocusing of the educational programme in 1997 this criticism was made by R. G. (Gene) Pucket, editor of the North Carolina Biblical Recorder, and his trenchant criticisms Journal of European Baptist Studies 17:1 (2017) article seeks to demonstrate, IBTS was ramping up its educational provision in the vision of George Sadler and to an educational plain that had proved impossible to obtain in Switzerland. The pursuit of academic excellence When George Sadler drew his team together by the side of the Ziirichsee in 1948, the intention, as declared to the earlier Baptist World Alliance London Conference, 7 had been to establish a training institution for Baptist pastors from south east Europe. The choice of Switzerland as a venue immediately ensured that the students would be drawn from central, as well as south and south east Europe, so the vision was expanded from the very day that the small faculty took up residence in the Chateau at Riischlikon. Sadler, and then Josef Nordenhaug, 8 who succeeded him as Rector, saw that if the churches of central mainland Europe were to be properly served by pastors who were well versed in the classical disciplines of theological education, then aspiration to something beyond a basic foundation certificate, or, at best, an equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in the system of the United States higher education regime, was necessary. Throughout the history of IBTS there have been moments when the