Participation in a new project - "Bible Commentary: The Modern Slavic perspective"

During January 25-28, 2011, the Center of the Christian life in Ukraine in Irpin (near Kiev) hosted a colloquium on the development and definition of the basic principles of writing a commentary on the canonical books of the Bible with a modern Slavic perspective.


The editorial board of the "Bible Commentary" includes the faculty, alumni, and the former head of SPbCU. SPbCU representatives (teachers and graduates) will be actively involved in the project as authors and editors and provide necessary information and prayer support.

The colloquium brought together nine members:

    * Dr. Sergey Sannikov: Chief Editor (Executive Director EAAA, http://e-aaa.info, http://sannikov.info)
    * Master of Theology and Religious Studies Taras Dyatlik: Project Manager (Head of Resources and Research Centre EAAA, http://e-aaa.info, http://dyatlik.net)
    * Bachelor of Theology Alexander Geychenko: Executive Secretary (Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of Odessa Theological Seminary, http://www.odessasem.com
    *  Dr. Peter Penner: executive editor of the section "New Testament" (vice-president of the European branch of "Training Christians for Ministry", in Vienna, http://tcmi.org), former rector of SPbCU 1992-1999)
    * Dr. Alexander Negrov: Executive editor of the section of the New Testament (Academic Dean of SPbCU 2001-2005, Rector of St. Petersburg Christian University in 2005, http://spbcu.ru, http://negrov.com ) 
    * Dr. Gennady Pshenichniy: executive editor of the section of the "Old Testament" (Rector of the Kuban Evangelical Christian University, Krasnodar, http://kecu.ru), a graduate of the SPCU Program Bachelor of Divinity in 2003)
    * Dr. Valery Alikin: executive editor of the section of the "Old Testament" (Head of the Department of Biblical Studies of the St. Petersburg Christian University, http://spbcu.ru),
    * Ph.D. Roman Soloviy: executive editor of the section of analytical articles (rector of the Lviv Theological Seminary, http://lts.lviv.ua, http://soloviy.org.ua)
    * Master of Divinity Fedor Raychinets: executive editor of the section of analytical articles (the head of the Master's program for transforming leadership Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary, Kiev, http://uets.net)

Alexander Negrov, the rector SPbCU said: "I enjoyed working in such a creative group. Perhaps to fully appreciate how serious and important this meeting was we will be able to only in a few years. "
Peter Penner, a former rector of SPbCU adds: "At last we have begun the practical work, and I'm looking forward to the time when I'm holding the first biblical commentary, not translated or reprinted, and written by national authors."

The meeting participants identified several outcomes with reference to the Christian theological research community with a proposal to become partners, sponsors and active participants in this project. The Editorial Board is aware that a new Bible Commentary, which is obviously the biggest and most ambitious project in the past 20 years, needs a collective prayer, research and critical financial support, and invites all interested individuals and organizations to contact them for more information or with suggestions on cooperation through the project manager Taras Dyatliku (tdyatlik@e-aaa.info, +38-067-2232023).

 

 
   
 
 What is the New Bible Commentary?
This project was initiated by the Euro-Asian Accrediting Association of Evangelical schools (http://e-aaa.info), which includes about 50 theological seminaries, Bible colleges and institutes, Christian universities. In writing the commentary, more than 30 authors are expected to participate. It is expected to be released from the press in the fall 2015. The main task of "Bible Commentary: The Modern Slav perspective" is to contribute to the preacher in the acquisition of a more holistic view of the biblical text and help in the search for the application of biblical truth in the modern Slavic context.
The Biblical commentary will be a one volume commentary (about 2 million words), including all the canonical books of the Bible. It is help evangelical ministers in Eastern Europe with relevant education and experience in church ministry. The commentary's focus is primarily for the pastors and preachers, as well as informal church leaders and all students of the Bible. The commentary will include about 100 analytical articles dealing not only with interpretations of the Bible, the Jewish people and the early Church, but also answer important questions of contemporary reality: the power of the church, tradition and innovation in the church, a virtual dependency, labor migration, human trafficking, bribery, social responsibility and justice, incomplete family, divorce, remarriage, family violence, suicide, etc.
The reader from Eastern Europe now has available to him translated biblical commentaries (Catholic and Protestant), or written by Orthodox authors. The "Bible Commentary: The Modern Slav perspective" is the first commentary, which will be written in the Slavic evangelical Christians in Eastern Europe. The new commentary intends to help ministers and members of evangelical churches to find the solution of modern problems through the prism of the biblical text.
 

Participation in the ICETE International Consultation

Alexander has recently participated at the ICETE Leaders Colloquium IV in Sopron, Hungary, 3-5 October and also attended the ICETE International Consultation (during 5-9 October 2009). The 2009 ICETE Consultation Theme was - “Energising Community: Theological Education’s Relational Mandate.” There were about 190 participants from 38 different countries, representing all of the ICETE-member associations, and most of ICETE’s partners, associates and affiliates. Many speakers at the conference encouraged that theological education must orient itself pervasively in terms of the Christian community being served. The programs of theological education must demonstrate the Christian pattern of community. The theological institutions must pursue contact and collaboration among themselves for mutual support, encouragement, edification and cooperation. During the conference it was discussed that the project of forming suitable church leaders requires—crucially—relational objectives for student formation. Insofar as Christian ministry is at core a social calling, our students need to be equipped for social life and ministry. Specifically they need to be formed in relational intelligence and competencies, socialised for team-work capabilities, equipped for the tasks of community formation and nurture, and imbued with such values in their vision of Christian ministry. Educational outcomes need to be attempted, and assessed, not least in terms of such relational capacities and goals. Alexander also was a member of a plenary panel that engaged with the four central plenary presentations on the theme of the 2009 Consultation, namely: (a) Enacting Community in our Theological Schools--Joseph Shao (Philippines) ; (b) Equipping Emerging Leaders for Community--Oscar Campos (Guatemala); (c) Making Community Together: Theological Schools in Concert--David Baer (USA); (d) Supporting God’s Community--Daniel Bourdanné (Chad). The speakers of this panel were: Graham Cheesman (Northern Ireland), moderator; Douglas Carew (Kenya); Duane Elmer (USA); Alexander Negrov (Russia); Lydia Jaeger (France); Erez Soref (Israel)

Alexander also participated in this special workshop panel that will discuss two recent book on theological education published from within the ICETE family in Asia, namely: (a) Tan, Derek, and Siga Arles. The Pastor and Theological Education: Essays in Memory of Rev. Derek Tan. Singapore: Trinity Christian Centre, 2007. (b) John, Narendra, Siga Arles, and Brian C. Wintle. Striving for Excellence: Educational Ministry in the Church : Essays in Honour of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Narendra John. Bangalore, India: Asia Theological Association, 2007. Other theologians who were involved in this workhop were: Dieumeme Noelliste (Haiti), Frew Tamrat (Ethiopia), Marcio Matta (Brazil).

ICETE is a global community, sponsored by eight regional associations of theological schools, to facilitate collaboration worldwide for excellence and renewal in evangelical theological education. The sponsoring associations together cover all parts of the world, with a combined constituency of more than 872 evangelical theological schools in 113 countries. The student population represented is in excess of a hundred thousand in preparation for church leadership roles, predominantly in the majority world. ICETE was established in 1980, and functions as a global partner within the World Evangelical Alliance.

Our recent photos (July-Aug 09)

1. Family night

2. just a picture

3. Alexander conducts the wedding ceremony

4. Together with International Students

Our friend has published a new book - " Russian Protestants and State Power (1905-1991)"

We are happy to inform that our colleague, Dr. Tatyana Nikol'skaya, has published a scholarly book on the history of the Russian protestant Churches during the period of 1905-1991. The Book was published by European University in St Petersburg. This book is the first solid historical research on the history of Russian protestantism. The Book documents finding from 12 archives!

After I will read it I will make sure to write a short review about this book!


Книга Т.К. Никольской — первое масштабное исследование об истории русского протестантизма как самостоятельного и самобытного явления. В книге использованы материалы 12 государственных и церковных архивов, правовые документы, воспоминания, публикации дореволюционной и советской периодической печати, религиозного самиздата.


Русские протестанты (евангельские христиане, баптисты, пятидесятники, адвентисты седьмого дня) получили легализацию в России в 1905 г. по Указу императора Николая II «Об укреплении начал веротерпимости». Эти конфессии, наиболее распространившиеся среди русского народа, стали серьезными соперниками первенствующей Русской Православной Церкви. Число русских протестантов росло и в первое советское десятилетие.

Хотя у русских протестантов были и недолгие времена относительного благоприятствования, в целом они оставались нежелательным и гонимым меньшинством. К репрессиям со стороны государства, достигшим апогея в 1930-е годы, добавлялось общественное неприятие «сектантов». В результате положение русских протестантов было сложнее, чем православных верующих, также подвергавшихся гонениям.

В послевоенные годы негласный контроль за деятельностью религиозных организаций осуществлял Совет по делам религиозных культов. По мере ослабления тоталитарного режима верующие все активнее отстаивали свою самостоятельность. Сопротивление вылилось в протестные движения баптистов-инициативников, подпольных пятидесятников, адвентистов-реформистов. Среди осужденных по религиозным статьям в 1960-1980-е гг. русские протестанты составляют самую значительную часть. На «закате социализма» власти использовали для борьбы с ними не только репрессии и пропаганду, но также политику компромиссов и тайных «игр», способствующих ослаблению и расколу религиозных движений. Лишь перестройка принесла русским протестантам, как и другим конфессиям, настоящую религиозную свободу.

Книга будет интересна как для специалистов по истории религии, религиозно-государственных отношений, христианских служителей, так и для всех, кто интересуется историей христианства в России.






Сведения об авторе: Никольская Татьяна Кирилловна — кандидат исторических наук, преподаватель СПБХУ, автор работ по истории религиозно-государственных отношений в России в XX веке.

Participation in organiziang conference on Freedom of Religion

With support from various organizations, St Petersburg Christian University hosted the international conference “Russia of XXI c: Freedom for Religion and Church” . This conference provided a tremendous opportunity for Russian and international scholars to discuss questions of the role of law in providing legal support for the rights to practice religion in Russia. There were about 100 participants mainly the key Russian officials and scholars. The intense and engaged discussion on the relevance and significance of Russian constitution, further panels dealt with questions of practice how Russian legal system is protecting (or regulating) the Freedom of Religion in Russia. The conference included a number of meaningful roundtable discussions.

We are back in St Petersburg!

Our family is back in St Petersburg! We are very delighted to have Timothy and Lilia with us at least for a part of this summer. They, in their turn, are happy to be around and together with their special friends.

Our grandma celebrates 80th birthday

It is a great joy that our grandmother, Tatyana Negrov, turned 80 years old on June 24, 2009! Thank God for so many years that he has granted to her and we pray that she continues to live for Him on this earth.


On June 27, 2009 we had an honor of gathering together with at least a group of relatives to celebrate this wonderful event. On her birthday she was able to see most of her sons (Anatoly, Sergey, & Alexander) and members of their families; sadly, one of them (Pavel) was not able to arrive due to some traveling issues. However, we were still able to have an excellent time with our relatives. First, we celebrated partially at Grandma’s apartment, were she got her presents, after that we went to eat out for such a special occasion, and lastly, we got all the cakes that there were (and there was quite a lot of them) and went to the park to enjoy the sweets with tea and family games on the fresh air.

We wish Grandma many more wonderful years and God's manifold blessings!

Written by Kristina Negrov