Revd Dr Stuart Blythe, Rector of IBTSC Amsterdam will be leaving IBTSC to take up a new position as Associate Professor in the John Gladstone Chair of Preaching and Worship at Acadia  Divinity College.

Dr Blythe is the first Rector of IBTSC Amsterdam, taking up the post in 2014 and steering the institution through the critical period of establishing the operation in Amsterdam.  Over the past three years Dr Blythe has successfully overseen the new partnership with the Faculty of Theology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the first successful PhD promotions. In addition he has overseen the new relationship with Manchester University in the provision of the Masters programme.

Commenting on Dr Blythe’s resignation, chairman of the IBTSC board, Revd Dr John Weaver, said:

We are deeply indebted to Stuart for the leadership he has provided during the formative years of IBTSC in Amsterdam. His commitment to the students, the staff and delivery of high quality academic programmes has been outstanding. We are very sorry to lose him but recognise that this new position with Acadia provides a unique opportunity for him to develop his specialisation in homiletics. We wish Stuart every success for the future.

In his letter of resignation Dr Blythe noted that IBTSC has been successfully relocated from Prague in terms of programmes and that in the next few months the final physical relocation to the new Baptist House in Amsterdam will also be complete. Dr Blythe said:

I think that the team at IBTSC have achieved a remarkable amount in the last three years. Student numbers on the PhD programme remain good, something of a new narrative has been written, and there is the potential for a long term sustainable future. I wish nothing but the best for IBTSC. I consider this institution in its first incarnation as one of the most significant influences in my life.

Dr Blythe will take up his new position in Acadia at the end of September.

This news first appeared on the website of IBTSC Amsterdam on July 24th, 2017.