10.11.09 - Conference in Koltushi

The traditional joint conference of our seminary and the Theological Institute of the Ingrian Church celebrating Reformation Day was held On Friday October 30. 14 representatives from our seminary were in attendance, with two of our students reading papers – Gleb Pivovarov spoke on the theme of his diploma work (thesis) “World War One as a Result of Kulturkampf,” while one of our 5 first year students, Alexandra Libshtok, presented on the “Leipzig Miracle” (about the church's role in the peace revolution in East Germany in 1989.)

Though there was no official theme to the conference (the main point being that students in their final year were given a chance to present their research), a majority of the other papers also touched on the role of the Church in society.

After the papers everyone had lunch together in the Theological Institute's cafeteria, and then students from Koltushi showed a presentation about the Institute. Our reaction was: “we want to do something like that!” Afterwords we had the opportunity to visit the village church in Koltushi – the rest of the campus we had seen already at the beginning of the day, before the first paper was presented.

This meeting represented another step in the direction of the two seminaries growing to a better understanding of one another, with the hope that this will lead to fruitful work together (in education and in the parish context) in the future.