Post-ETTC Announcements

Dear friends and members of EASTRS,

Yesterday evening we closed our biennial ETTC at Sagunto, and it was such a joy to meet many of you in beautiful Spain! I am writing this while still in Valencia, where some of us did a little visit today. Thanks a lot once more to the entire team of the Campus Adventista de Sagunto, and especially the Facultad de Theología! (A report on the conference may follow after some time.)

This short newsletter is just to announce the most important news connected with EASTRS and ETTCs:

  1. Next ETTC. The next ETTC will take place in Maruševec, Croatia, at Adriatic Union College (Adventističko teološko visoko učilište), from March 17 to 21, 2027.
  2. New President. Tihomir Lazić handed over the presidency to László Szabó. Thank you very much for your leadership, Tihi, and welcome, László, to your new role!
  3. New President-elect. According to our constitution, the president-elect will be part of the executive committee and take over at the next ETTC. We elected Ivan Milanov, who teaches at Newbold College.
  4. Webmaster. We are still looking for a webmaster. It is not a difficult task, and your advantage will be that whatever your career stage, you are in a leadership team at a level where otherwise you only find the leading European Adventist theologians. If you think you could be part of the team, write me: treasurer@eastrs.org
  5. Spes Christiana. The next issue of Spes Christiana is online now (almost entirely). It is the 2024 issue, which was delayed a bit for various reasons (and therefore is available to everyone, regardless of membership status). It is an extra long issue though, so enjoy!
  6. NT / OT / ST / PT groups. We had great meetings on Sabbath afternoon with colleagues who share our areas of research and teaching (Church historians joined the Systematic Theology group). Several meetings initiated WhatsApp groups for easier future communication. If you have not been able to join these WhatsApp groups, please feel free to contact anyone from your specialization and get the link! (Or me, and I will forward.) Some project ideas have already arisen from these meetings, and the groups will no doubt help facilitate progress in these projects.
  7. News from the institutions. Please continue sending us relevant news from your institutions. New publications, projects, conferences, deaths, job adverts, new colleagues, etc.

Looking forward to meeting many of you in two years (sub conditione jacobea), or even earlier! May the Lord bless you all.

Warmest greetings,

Stefan Höschele
(Secretary-Treasurer)

Spes Christiana volume 35, 2024

Please note that the most recent issue of Spes Christiana on this site is only accessible for registered members of EASTRS who are up-to-date with their dues.

Register your membership here: Apply for membership

Pay your due here: Pay for membership

Spes Christiana 35

Table of Contents Download

Editorial

Laurence Turner & Paul B. Petersen
pp. 3–4
Download

 

Adventist Theology: A Shared Responsibility

Reinder Bruinsma

doi: [will follow]  Download
pp. 5–26

doi: [will follow]  Download

pp. 143–162

Storms

Kendra Haloviak Valentine
doi: [will follow]  Download

pp. 163–177

Book Reviews

 

Role Vacancy: EASTRS Webmaster

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