Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2017

angement his blessing, asking his deputy, Dr Martin Selman, to take the lead in negotiations. Professor D. P. Davies 25 proved to be a man of vision and an outstanding friend of IBTS from his first visit in 1998, through until after his retirement from university life in the mid-2000s. He came to IBTS, Praha, with his team from the Validation Board and Martin Selman, on behalf of Spurgeon’s, was also present. As discussions proceeded, a review of the campus, time spent in the amazing library 26 and talking with the IBTS academic team, Professor Davies finally asked: “But why are you seeking this arrangement to teach degrees validated to Spurgeon’s and why should you not teach them directly?” The question prompted the response that we could not imagine the University of Wales, which at that time had a major engagement with validation, allowing direct validation of degrees with IBTS, which was emerging from a challenging adventure in relocation and refocusing the academic programme to meet emergent needs in a transformed European scene. Professor Davies took the view that direct validation was appropriate, especially as we had reached agreement with Michael Quicke at Spurgeon’s that they would release Dr Martin J. Selman to help us with Old Testament modules and Hebrew and Dr Ian M. Randall to resource us in delivery of the largely on-line and workbook modelled degree in Baptist and Anabaptist studies (the two start-up degrees with which it had been decided to re-launch the re-focused IBTS). Martin Selman was greatly trusted by the University of Wales and his commitment to this project was much appreciated by Davorin Peterlin, David Brown, and myself. Sadly, ill health prevented his involvement with us over an extended period, but his advice, support, and commitment at that time marks him out as a fine Christian scholar to whom IBTS remains deeply indebted. A side effect was that Martin’s commitment also prompted Dr Ian Randall to take an increased interest in the work and in the years that followed Ian developed a deep and continuing relationship with IBTS. He swapped roles between Spurgeon’s and IBTS, coming and living in Praha 24 The Revd Michael J. Quicke was the then Principal of Spurgeon’s College, London. 25 Professor D. P. Davies is a New Testament scholar, an Anglican by tradition, but profoundly at home amongst Baptists. 26 The IBTS library established in 1948 around collections of libraries from retired pastors had grown by hard work, careful purchasing, and the engagement of Gunter Wagner, Thorwald Lorenzen and H. Wayne Walker Pipkin in astute purchasing to a formidable collection. Whilst in Praha it was acknowledged as a premier theological library outside of the largest Universities, surpassing libraries of much larger institutions than IBTS and with specialist features in Anabaptist history, mission, and applied and dogmatic theology. Jones, A ‘Mistake ’ which Became a Triumph 13