Positive Judicial Meeting on Evangelicals in Austria
Yesterday, I was at an EVAK school leadership meeting, something like the acting board for the EVAK, and again was really encouraged about the things I was hearing. One of the members was late because he had just come from a meeting that was discussing the legal status of the free churches in Austria. Right now (free) evangelicals are not recognized by the government.[1] Reinhold said it was a positive meeting and we were making progress even though we are not recognized.
Reinhold said the subject of evangelical instruction in schools was mentioned. This is a long way from 35 years ago when evangelicals were thought of as a cult. In elementary schools they still provide release time, an hour or two in the school week where religion is taught by an approved religion teacher. In Kati’s school the only classes provided are for Catholic, Lutheran[2] and Islamic instruction even though her particular class has at least five or six children who are being raised by evangelical families, which I am positive is the highest concentration in one class in Vienna in the public schools! I was very encouraged to hear this. It also made me wonder if the EVAK could at some point in time help train people to teach these religion classes when the time comes.
I am almost always encouraged to hear what some of our students are involved in. Right now we have a few students who are starting their thesis. As their proposals are worked out and they conduct their studies and research I think what they are focusing on will help Austrian Evangelicals better understand where they have come from as well as help with the current church challenges. In the next few years, we will have graduates and I am curious to see how God will use these men and women in Austria.
[1] There are a few factors that are needed for this to happen 1) there has to be a certain number of the population 2) they have to be around for a certain number of years and 3) “ the powers that be” will approve the status to name the three big criteria that need to be in place before that can take place.
[2] I do want to make a comment here for those evangelical Lutherans and Catholics in North America. One thing I have learned by living in different cultures is many times the same words are used in two different cultures but have very different connotations. In America there are so many flavors of Lutherans and Catholics that there are many that do understand the gospel and are genuine followers of Christ. This is not the case here in Austria and in most places in Europe.
The Day I Realized I was Different
It was a Saturday afternoon in Dallas, TX when I realized I was a bit different. Okay, I already knew I was different so maybe the word I am looking for is unique. Christy, my wife, and I were spending the afternoon with good friends and I mentioned that I really enjoy curriculum development. Christy and I were preparing for a summer missions trip to Ukraine to teach English as a Foreign Language as part of my seminary internship. I was revising the curriculum that our mission had used for a few years and I was telling our friends how much I enjoyed crafting the lesson plans. It was then he and his wife laughed at me and said that I was the first person they knew of who actually enjoyed curriculum development and lesson planning. It was then I realized that not everyone thought the same way I did about curriculum development and lesson planning. I did and still do enjoy curriculum development, crafting a learning event in order to help people learn, grow and be changed by new information or understand old information in a different way.
I realize now that my love for curriculum design was a short step (and a long time in-between) thinking about how to structure a Bible Academy in ways that would really help men and women know God and His word well, feel deeply about what God feels deeply about and be trained to live wisely and bring others along in the same process.
In a few days I will hop a plane for the European Evangelical Accrediting Association’s (EEAA) bi-anual general assembly. Alistar McGrath is the main speaker and the theme was “Challenging a Vision of Theological Education – A Challenging Vision“. Needless to say I was excited. I have read a few of McGrath’s books and was eager to hear what he had to say about theological education. After I reflect on his talks I might post some of the relevant points for us here in Austria.
As I lead the accrediting efforts for the Evangelical Academy I have a conviction about accrediting organizations. The Evangelical Academy is ours, those who live in Austria and work in Austria and train others in Austria. We want to do what we say we do which is Equip Christians with a Bibilically rooted, theological education for ministry and leadership roles. In order to accomplish this we need some help and we are inviting the EEAA to provide some help and I believe they are doing just that.
The way I see it, my uniqueness, my different-ness, in my love for curriculum and school development, is ultimately being used to help the Austrian church become better equipped to reach everyone they can and teach everyone they reach (Matthew 28:18-20). And if that happens I am glad I am different.
EVAK Faculty Training Theme: Lots of Stuff, Little Time
What does organizing coffee have to do with teacher training?
Last week 14 teachers split up into 4 teams and had to categorize and explain 20 types of Vienna coffee. Now you may ask what in the world does that have to do with teacher training at a theological school?
Great question, I am sure many of the teachers thought the same thing. Last week Christoph Windler and I lead a faculty workshop where we were providing tips and tools for the teachers to understand how to grasp the core issues of a subject, focus on them and be able to communicate this. We used the various coffees of Vienna as an example. They were split into groups with the task of being able to tell a non-coffee drinker the differences. It was suggested, next time to have taste testing as apart of this activity.
This was just one of the activities we had for the day.
The training was centered around concepts of a book,Viel Stoff Wenig Zeit (Lots of Stuff, Little Time) written by a professor here in Vienna. I had a lot of fun working with BAO’s president, Christoph Windler as we planned and co-lead this day. This was one of the biggest presentations I have done in a long time and am pleased with how it went.
We have many quality teachers who teach at the Evangelical Academy. The way they participated in the day was encouraging. Many had a learners attitude and I am sure will put to use some of the things they learned. Many instinctively already used some of the methods we taught but the way in which we presented we were able to make the concepts easy to remember next time they prepare a class.
The Evangelical Academy has a unique position in training current and future leaders for the Evangelical church here in Austria. With evangelicals in the minority, less than 1% of the population, many who are learning at the Evangelical Academy already have influential positions. It is our desire that the students learn how to think biblically and theologically about the ministries and daily contexts they are involved in. Not only that but that they would be equippers and coaches for men and women to grow in the knowledge of Christ and know how to reach their nation for Christ in practical and effective ways.
Here is a picture of all the teachers that took part in the training day. We appreciate your prayers for these people as they teach, guide and mold the future leaders of Austria.
Here’s an informative infographic on the different types of coffee.
What Would Make Your List for a Perfect Church Leader?
What do you think an ideal church leader or church planter looks like? What qualifications (character), skills and attitudes are needed as they train for future ministry? Questions like these have been rolling around my head the past few months. This isn’t just an academic exercise for me. Sure, I have been in discussions like this in seminary or with friends but right now this is different. Let me provide a little background and explain.
Even though the Evangelical Academy has been around for about five years we are continually learning and improving the way things are done. We have had quite a steep learning curve in learning the ropes in higher education. We have something really good that is meeting an immediate and future need but we could be better.
One way we are improving ourselves is by asking a series of questions from a variety of the schools stakeholders like, the school’s faculty, the school’s leadership board, the mentors of the students, Church leaders etc… Each group will discuss the same set of questions that will help gain a 360 view of what needs to be taken into prayerful consideration as we prepare the school’s curriculum.
Here are two of the first questions we are asking:
- What are some of the things that are hindering the spread of the gospel, and nurture of churches in Austria? This question is broken down into 1) external hindrances produced by the culture and context unique to Austria and 2) internal hindrances produced by the evangelical churches and It’s sub-culture.
- What type of person will it take to meet these hindrances? What skills, behaviors and character is needed? What can be developed through training, mentoring and practice?
The answers will be analyzed and synthesized in providing a graduate profile, a detailed description of what a graduate from the Evangelical Academy will be able to know, feel and do.
I have already done this myself identifying a number of unique things that pertain to Austria specifically. I believe this is of little help if one person provides a document like this. Ultimately, the document will be short sighted; having gaps in different areas and robs the leaders and stakeholders of gaining ownership of something they are all heavily invested in. That is why I am excited about starting this process with the schools leadership board toward the end of September.
After completing the graduate profile process, the next project is to look at our current curriculum to see if it addresses the necessary issues Austria is facing. My guess is many of the classes we already have are good but there will need to be some adjustments as to the content and approach for teaching. I also am excited to see if any new classes or emphases are needed.
As you can see I am excited about this and am glad to be a part of this process. Many of the things I am learning in my doctoral classes I am able to put into immediate use. I am indebted to Robert Ferris and Perry Shaw for the time they took in teaching and talking with me this past year.
I will keep you posted on the process. I am sure it will be interesting to see how this plays out in real life. Making plans on paper always seems so simple yet when it leaves the table and enters the real world it takes on a different life.
