Re-Envisioning Church in a Digital Age: Theological, Missiological, and Educational Reflections

The European Adventist Society of Religious Studies (EASTRS) is seeking a committed and skilled individual to take on the voluntary role of Webmaster. This position offers a unique opportunity to build on the remarkable legacy left by Dr. Tom de Bruin, who stepped down at the beginning of 2024 after nine years of dedicated service.

Honouring Dr. Tom de Bruin

Since March 2015, Tom has been instrumental in shaping EASTRS’ digital presence and organisational development. Together with Dr. Verrecchia, he co-wrote the society’s constitution, sourced the original logo, and created the first website for EASRS. Following the inaugural meeting in 2017, where the constitution was presented to the members, Tom updated the logo and website to reflect the society’s new name. Over the years, he managed more than 60 newsletters, supported the growth of the society to over 150 members, and, in 2020, launched the digital publishing of Spes Christiana with Reinder Bruinsma and Kerstin Maiwald, publishing eight issues to date. His tireless efforts, vision, and dedication have left an indelible mark on EASTRS. We are deeply grateful for Tom’s extraordinary contributions.

About the Role

The newly appointed Webmaster will have the opportunity to continue and further develop this important work. Key responsibilities include managing EASTRS’ digital presence, newsletters, and Spes Christiana publishing, as well as engaging with members and subscribers.

Requirements

• Membership of EASTRS (or willingness and eligibility to become a member)
• Proficiency in WordPress
• Strong command of English (editing experience preferred)
• Knowledge of internet hosting and domain management (preferred but not required)

Key Responsibilities

• Website Management: Update the WordPress site with new information, ensuring quality and consistency (1–2 hours per month).
• Newsletters: Draft and distribute newsletters to members twice a year (2–4 hours per newsletter).
• Digital Publishing: Upload and publish Spes Christiana PDFs once a year (4–8 hours per issue).
• Membership Management: Maintain and update the membership list and Spes Christiana subscribers list (approximately 30 minutes per week).
• Email Monitoring: Manage the EASTRS inbox, responding to or redirecting 5–10 emails per month.
• Board Meetings: Attend and contribute to online EASTRS board and Spes Christiana meetings (2–5 meetings per year).
• General Meeting Reporting: Participate in and report to the EASTRS General Meeting (once every two years).

Time Commitment
This role requires approximately 4–6 hours per month, with additional time during newsletter preparation and Spes Christiana publishing periods.

What We Offer
While this is a voluntary role, it provides:

• The chance to develop professional skills in website management and digital publishing.
• The opportunity to network with scholars and professionals across Europe.
• The satisfaction of contributing to a dynamic and growing academic society.

How to Apply
If you are interested in this role, please email webmaster@eastrs.org with your CV and a brief statement outlining your interest and relevant experience.

Deadline for Applications: 10 March 2025

It has now been a full year since Pastor Darko Pirija, our dear colleague, professor, and academic registrar of the Adriatic Union College, passed away too early, leaving us all in deep sorrow. Although, by God’s grace, we continue our work with enthusiasm, the void left by Darko is keenly felt in the life and work of our College and campus at Maruševec. As a long-serving lecturer, dean, and academic registrar of the College, he left a profound mark on the development of this key Adventist educational institution within the Adriatic Union Conference.

Darko Pirija was born on 9 May 1967 into the family of Ivan and Ankica Pirija. Growing up in a pastoral family, together with his brother Miro, Darko experienced life in ministry early on as his family served in many churches across the Croatian Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He attended the Adventist Secondary School Maruševec, where he deepened his love for God and learned about Him. This led him, upon graduation, to pursue further studies at the theological seminary in Maruševec, the Adriatic Union College, after which he went on to Newbold College in England, where he spent several years studying, working, and living, ultimately earning a Master’s degree in Theology, with a specialisation in the New Testament.

After completing his studies, he returned to Croatia, where he began teaching New Testament subjects at the Adriatic Union College, as well as holding Religious Education and English classes at the Adventist Secondary School Maruševec. Alongside this, he completed his pastoral internship in Zagreb and continued to serve churches in the Maruševec area. For a time, he served as the pastor of the local church in Čakovec. He was ordained to the ministry in 2006. From that time until the end of his life, he faithfully served as the academic registrar of the Adriatic Union College and a lecturer of numerous theological subjects at the same institution.

Darko was a professor to many generations of theology students, who are now pastors, church administrators, theologians, and biblical scholars in various countries around the world. Through his ministry as a pastor, lecturer, author, translator, and editor of theological literature (including the College’s academic journal Biblical Perspectives), he made an invaluable contribution to the development of theological thought in Croatia and beyond.

As a passionate lover of theology, he was both the organiser and a regular participant in theological symposia in Europe and America, such as ETTC, AAR, and SBL, and was well-liked by colleagues from all over the world. As a member of numerous theological societies, such as EASTRS, Society of Adventist Philosophers, ATS, and ASRS, Darko was tireless not only in networking but also in mentoring and counselling younger colleagues.

Despite suffering from a severe longtime illness, he continued serving with all his heart, doing what he loved most until nearly his last day. As one of his students, now also a member of the College staff, said, “Though he battled a painful illness for many years, I never once saw him irritable or harsh in his dealings with others. He was always gentle, kind, approachable, and ready to share advice and the life wisdom he had gained, often sprinkled with intelligent humour and his characteristic benevolent laugh. In short, Darko was a man who, no matter how much life bent him, always lifted others up.”

We would be inconsolable if we did not await the same Day in which Darko believed and prepared others for. But, “we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Until that moment, though we can never replace Darko, we will honour his legacy best by serving with all our hearts and continuing to develop this College, into which Darko invested his entire life.

This tribute was written by Neven Klačmer and Matija Kovačević.