Towards Understanding of the Practice of Proclamation: The Core Element of Russian Baptist Worship, Timofey Cheprasov, 2015

atstve Evangelskikh Khristian-Baptistov, p 245. *1 It has to be pointed out that there are various reasons for churches not receiving (or often not accepting) newly formed “theologians” after their graduation. Frequently, churches were not ready for them. The people that were allowed to go to study, were often the people that the churches (or their leaders) did not want to see in ministry anyway, they literally wanted to get rid of them. So, their return with qualifications for ministry only caused tensions. However, 225 real interest in supporting educational programmes or developing partnerships with schools. Even today many local churches still perceive theological education as something damaging to true spirituality, rather than a tool that can assist them in mission and ministry. At present, theological education in Russia finds itself in an even more challenging environment. Financial support from foreign sponsors has dwindled. The number of applicants has significantly fallen, either due to the graduates unable to find employment in churches or other Christian organizations, or because secular universities with prospects of a more enriching career, are winning in a battle for prospective Christian students. As a result, a number of schools and educational programmes have closed. Others are trying to find ways of moving forward by experimenting with new programmes (e.g. online and distance learning courses), by asking questions about the kind of graduates they should be preparing, to respond to the needs of local churches, and by looking into the past, trying to develop “context sensitive” approaches to Christian learning.” Thus, the gap between churches and educational institutions has not been bridged yet. | believe one of the key issues still has not been considered in the important on- going discussion about the future of theological education in Russia. Churches perceive the call to ministry, success in pastoral work, and fruitful preaching to be, first of all, a result of the work of the Holy Spirit. As | noted earlier, any shortcomings or failures are understood as the absence of God’s Spirit, due to the wrong condition of the heart of amongst thousands of students that enrolled into various seminaries and colleges, there were many who saw their diploma as a possible step for a career, rather than as equipping for ministry. Many students were attracted by financial scholarships (which theological schools within Russia provided their students with), which sometimes were bigger than a salary they could earn in full-time employment. (See Ralph H. Alexander, “Assessment of Leadership in Post-Communist Europe,” in Consultation on Theological Education and Leadership in Post- Communist Europe (Oradea Romania, 5 October 1994), pp 3-5; see also Elliot, “Bogoslovskoie Obrazovaniie v Postkommunisticheskii Period...,” p 17-20). 2 An article by Steve Patty, “Vzgliad Na Bogoslovskoie Obraz