State-independent Theological University of Basel

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State-independent Theological University Basel (STH Basel)
logo
founding 1970 as Free Evangelical Theological Academy (FETA)
place Riehen
country Switzerland
Rector Jacob Thiessen
Students 100 (2020)
Website sthbasel.ch
The state-independent Theological University of Basel at Mühlestiegrain 50 in Riehen

The state-independent Theological University Basel (STH Basel) in Riehen near Basel is an evangelical university that is open to students of different Christian denominations . The STH Basel sees itself as an alternative to the theological faculties of state universities and was accredited as a university institution by the Swiss University Conference (SUK) in 2014 . Graduates of the theology course acquire the academic degrees of Bachelor or Master in theology .

The legal and financial sponsor of the STH is the Immanuel Foundation in Riehen BS.

history

After lengthy preparations, the STH Basel was founded in 1970 under the name Free Evangelical Theological Academy (FETA) by Samuel R. Külling (1924–2003) and opened in the Oekolampad parish hall in Basel. She received state approval to set up a college to train Protestant pastors.

The founding of the then FETA took place in the context of a conservative evangelical awakening that had taken shape in (West) Germany in the mid-1960s. Organizations such as the confessional movement No other gospel and the Conference of Confessing Communities in the Evangelical Churches in Germany , in which FETA founding member Georg Huntemann was also active, also belonged to it. The foundation of the FTH Gießen (formerly FTA) can also be attributed to this start.

The reason for the awakening movement was the strongly rational, demythologizing biblical interpretations by the theologian Rudolf Bultmann in the 1950s, which also found their way to several church pulpits, as well as increasing politicization in the Protestant church of the old Federal Republic, against which a counter-movement from conservative church circles was formed .

In 1973 the property at Mühlestiegrain 50 in Riehen was acquired, where studies have been carried out ever since. In 1977, studies at FETA Basel were recognized by the Swiss Concordat of the Regional Churches as being equivalent to those at state faculties. This recognition no longer exists today. In 1983, Immanuel Verlag, its own book publisher, was launched, which was also a member of the Swiss Association of Booksellers and Publishers. In 1987 the Free Theology Seminary was opened in Geneva for doctoral studies.

The renaming of FETA to State-independent Theological University Basel took place in 1994. In 1998 the Swiss Federal Office for Education and Science (BBW) and the Conference of Educational Directors (EDK) awarded the university the classification as a "university institution" in connection with the Lisbon Convention . The conversion of the courses according to the Bologna guidelines took place from the 2007/2008 academic year. In 2010 and 2012, these reforms were implemented at the Bachelor and Master levels. In November 2014, the STH was accredited as a university institution by the Swiss University Conference (SUK).

Bible understanding

From the beginning, FETA saw itself as an alternative to conventional theology studies at state universities, which the former FETA student and today's FTH lecturer Thomas Schirrmacher described in 1983 from the perspective of a Christian who sees himself as true to the Bible :

“Studying theology is no picnic ... Some should leave it instead of perishing. Anyone who dares nevertheless needs the clear support of a prayer crowd and a Bible-believing community, an experienced pastor and the willingness to study twice: once at the university the wrong one and then, unfortunately often in self-study, the biblical basics. "

The FETA Bible creed read as follows:

“The Bible of the Old and New Testaments in all its statements is divine revelation inspired by the Holy Spirit and is therefore the only authoritative source of truth and faith and absolute authority in all respects, namely in doctrine and life. It is the completely reliable, factually correct, true, consistent word of God in all areas. Your predictions (prophecies) are real and have been fulfilled or will be fulfilled. "

Although no agreement could be reached within the evangelical confessional movements about what is now to be understood as the authentically accepted Word of God, FETA founding member Georg Huntemann was a staunch advocate of a single literal interpretation of the Bible that could be recognized as true. Huntemann shifted the problem of a lack of unity in questions of faith that were felt to be fundamental, such as the ordination of women, to the effect that in the confessional movement, reflecting on the infallibility of the Bible, one was not radical enough.

Today the STH formulates on its website that for them the Bible is the basis for their theological work and, following the Second Helvetic Confession, the “true word of God”. In the “coexistence of the sciences”, however, “theology, like any other discipline, must justify its claim to truth and thus prove itself in the 'community of researchers'.”

recognition

As part of the Bologna reform, the private STH Basel, approved by the canton of Basel-Stadt , went through the accreditation process for the bachelor's and master's degrees in theology. If in 2012 it was not yet on the list of recognized Swiss universities of the Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities, in November 2014 it was accredited as a university institution as well as the accreditation of the Bachelor's and Master's courses in theology by the Swiss University Conference (SUK ).

“With a decision of November 26, 2015, the Concordat for the training of Reformed pastors and their admission to church service (in Switzerland) adopted a new regulation for entry into the learning vicariate for STH graduates. This means that the degrees of the STH Basel are recognized by the church. In addition to studying at the STH Basel, a total of 60 CP (= two semesters) must be acquired at one of the theological faculties in Basel or Zurich (around half each in the bachelor's and master's degree) in order to be admitted to the vicariate to become. These study achievements can in turn be taken into account by the STH Basel. "

Since 1987, the STH Basel has been authorized in the canton of Geneva to offer doctoral programs with the possibility of a doctorate at the Seminaire Libre de Théologie à Genève . This leads to the academic degree of Doctor of Theology (Dr. theol.). The Seminaire Libre is historically linked to the Faculté de l'Oratoire . This educational institution, which emerged from the Geneva Réveil , existed from 1832 to 1921.

Professors and lecturers

literature

  • Friedhelm Jung: The German Evangelical Movement. Baselines of their history and theology. (Zugl .: Marburg, Univ., Diss., 1991) 3rd, extended edition, Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft, Bonn 2001, ISBN 3-932829-21-2 .

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ State-independent Theological University of Basel: Organization & contact. University management. 2019, accessed November 23, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Daniela townspeople: STH Basel: The Bible open and respectful encounter , idea spektrum idea Special 3.2020
  3. ↑ a b - Brief portrait and position determination of the STHB.
  4. ^ [1] Swiss University Conference , Institutions and Degree Programs. The accreditation is valid until November 26, 2021
  5. ↑ http://www.livenet.ch/themen/kirche_und_co/kirchen_gemeinden_werke/114110-samuel_kuelling_79jaehrig_gestorben.html
  6. ↑ a b c d e f STH Basel: Portrait - On the history of the STH Basel .
  7. ↑ a b c Reinhard Scheerer: Confessing Christians in the Protestant Churches in Germany 1966–1991. History and shape of a conservative evangelical awakening. Haag and Herchen, Frankfurt am Main 1997, ISBN 3-86137-560-5 , p. 17ff. or 29f.
  8. ↑ Georg Huntemann: This church has to be different! End of the national church - future of the confessional church. Verlag der Liebenzeller Mission, Bad Liebenzell 1997, ISBN 3-88002-080-9 .
  9. ↑ Reinhard Scheerer: Confessing Christians in the Protestant Churches in Germany 1966–1991. History and shape of a conservative evangelical awakening. Haag and Herchen, Frankfurt am Main 1997, ISBN 3-86137-560-5 , p. 8ff.
  10. ^ A b STH Basel: The STH Basel was accredited as a university institution , accessed on December 3, 2014; Swiss University Conference: Accredited Institutions and Degree Programs , accessed on December 3, 2014
  11. ^ Free Theological University Gießen: Lecturers.
  12. ↑ Thomas Schirrmacher : Surrounded - Fronts in theology studies. in: Information letter from the Confession Movement. Lüdenscheid 1983, quoted from: Reinhard Scheerer: Confessing Christians in the Protestant Churches in Germany 1966–1991. History and shape of a conservative evangelical awakening. Haag and Herchen, Frankfurt am Main 1997, ISBN 3-86137-560-5 , p. 34.
  13. ↑ Reinhard Scheerer: Confessing Christians in the Protestant Churches in Germany 1966–1991. History and shape of a conservative evangelical awakening. Haag and Herchen, Frankfurt am Main 1997, ISBN 3-86137-560-5 , p. 30.
  14. ↑ Christian Frei: Georg Huntemann, one of the most distinctive and original theologians turns 80. In: STH-Postille 3, p. 3.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF file; 1.1 MB)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / sthfreunde.sthbasel.ch  
  15. ↑ Georg Huntemann: This church has to be different! End of the national church - future of the confessional church. Bad Liebenzell 1979, ISBN 3-88002-080-9 , cf. Pp. 77ff., In particular 79.
  16. ↑ Georg Huntemann: This church has to be different! End of the national church - future of the confessional church. Bad Liebenzell 1979, ISBN 3-88002-080-9 , p. 79.
  17. ↑ values. In: Website of the STH Basel. STH Basel, accessed on June 3, 2013 .
  18. ↑ Theology threatens to become a science of religion. INSIST magazine 04/2013, accessed on July 2, 2014 .
  19. ↑ http://www.crus.ch/information-programmes/reconnaissance-swiss-enic/hautes-ecoles-suisses-reconnues.html (accessed on: August 1, 2012).
  20. ↑ http://www.livenet.ch/magazin/gesellschaft/213872-sth_basel_muss_ein_zweites_mal_ansetzen.html (accessed on: April 20, 2012).
  21. ↑ See notification on the STA Basel website , including a reference to "Regulations on the recognition of degrees from the State-independent Theological University Basel (STH Basel) in Riehen and entry into the learning vicariate of the Concordat"
  22. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of September 30, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed on: August 2, 2012).

Coordinates: 47 ° 34 '38.8 "  N , 7 ° 39' 0.3"  E ; CH1903:  615.91 thousand  /  two hundred sixty-nine thousand six hundred and fifty-nine