News from the SEI
Three ministry students go East:
Exploring Luther and Hus:
From 18 - 22 February three SEI
students along with 18 Church of
Scotland ministry candidates from New
College and Trinity College visited key
sites in Reformation History.
We began by descending on the sleepy
town of Lutherstadt-Wittenberg to learn
about Martin Luther’s life and ministry.
Staying in the Luther Hotel, whose
profits fund the work of the City
Mission, we experienced the culinary
‘delights’ of Luther’s Feast as well as
visiting important sites in the town.
We had a guided tour of Luther’s
House, followed by tours of the Castle
and Town churches where Luther
allegedly posted his 95 theses in 1517,
preached and worshipped (see ‘the
door’, right) . We then moved to
Prague, via an extended layover in
Leipzig. Here we had an opportunity to
explore historical churches related to
the Leipzig Disputation, Bach and the
20th century peace movements in East
Germany. In Prague we stayed in the
Church Pension of the Evangelical
Czech Brethren - imagine a surprisingly
well equipped and comfortable youth
hostel on the top floors of the General
Synod Office!
The focus of our time in Prague was
the life and ministry of Jan Hus, a
Czech reformer of the early 15th
century. We had a lively tour of key
sites in the city, heard about
defenestration and other ways people
expressed their displeasure of attempts
at church reform.
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The tour ended with Communion at St
Martin within the Walls, where the laity
first received the chalice at Eucharist.
After free time where we were able to
roam the Old Town of Prague we
visited the Protestant Theology Faculty
at Charles University. We ended the
tour, as we had each night, with
discussion-filled dinner followed by
student-led Evening Devotions.
The trip provided an opportunity to
reflect on those who have sought to
reform and renew the church following
study of scriptures and the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit. Thanks to the St
James’ Fund for funding the air travel
of Jenny and Harriet for the trip.
Susan Henderson, Jenny Holden and
Harriet Oxley
Periodic External Review:
We are delighted to announce that the
three Reviewers for the upcoming 2020
PER – an evaluatory process which
occurs periodically in all Theological
Education Institutions - are to be the Rt
Revd Dr Brian Smith, the Revd Dr Jack
Dyce (URC) and the Revd Dr Kevin
Francis.
More about this in future Newsletters