Protestant Faculty of Theology at Madrid (UEBE)
Former names | Baptist Theological Institute, Baptist Seminary in Barcelona |
|---|---|
| Type | Seminary |
| Established | 1922 |
Academic affiliation | Consortium of European Theological Baptist Schools |
| President | Julio Díaz Piñeiro |
Academic staff | 20 |
| Students | 40 |
| Location | Alcobendas, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Website |
www |
The Protestant Faculty of Theology at Madrid (UEBE), also known as the Faculty of Theology of the Union of Evangelical Baptists of Spain, and previously known as the Baptist Seminary in Barcelona and the Baptist Institute of Theology, is an accredited seminary offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in theology. The seminary campus is located in Alcobendas in the Community of Madrid.
History
In 1922 a meeting of Spanish Baptist leaders took place in Madrid with the goal of unifying the Baptist work in the country. This was encouraged by the Board of Foreign Missions (presently called the International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention of the USA. The decision was made to found a Baptist seminary in Spain and later that year the Baptist Theological Institute was inaugurated in Barcelona and began its journey with seven students. The faculty was composed of Nils Bengston, Ambrosio Celma, Everett Gill and Percy Buffard, founder of the Spanish Christian Mission, based in Valdepeñas (Ciudad Real). In 1925 Baptist missionary Vincent Leroy David arrived in Spain and took up the position of director. By 1926 the seminary had fourteen students and, two years later, ten. At this time the faculty of teachers was formed by Vincent L. David, his wife, Nils Bengston and Emilio Mora. One program aimed at training men for the pastorate, while the other trained lay leaders for work at the various Baptist missions.
The seminary was very dependent on aid from North American and was negatively affected by the Great Depression. The contributions of the FMB to the Baptist work in Spain decreased by 33%, and the Baptist Theological Institute of Barcelona had to temporarily cease functioning in 1929. In the fall of 1948 the seminary was reopened with six students after nineteen inactive years. The new director was Dr. Jorge Jennings who had been sent to Spain by the FMB. Classes resumed in a rented building in a popular neighborhood of Barcelona which served both as a study center student housing. Soon the seminary had its own building on Camp Street in Barcelona, bought by the FMB, which in 1957 was expanded and modernized.[1] By then the seminary's director was Dr. Roy Wyatt. The restrictions of the Franco regime to the Spanish, non-Catholic confessions were hardened in the 1950s, but nonetheless the seminary continued to function. In the 1960s the seminary was closed on two occasions due to internal problems (1959-1961 and 1962-1963).[2]
The most significant event in the seminary's history was its transfer from Barcelona to the city of Alcobendas, in Madrid. In 1976 the new installations of what would be a seminary and Baptist center were inaugurated in this town on the outskirts of Madrid. While this decision did not satisfy some Spanish Baptists, but the time and the urban development of the city ended up affirming the Baptist leaders who defended the convenience of placing the most representative institution of Baptist work in the center of the country. In 1978 Mr. José Borrás Cerveró was appointed director, becoming the first Spaniard to accede to this position in fifty-six years. Since then, the successive directors of the Baptist Seminary have been Spanish, and its staff of teachers has also been reinforced with native staff.[3]
In 1997 the seminary adopted its current name of Faculty of Theology of the UEBE (Union of Evangelical Baptists of Spain).
Campus
The campus is located at 134 Calle Marqués de la Valdavia in Alcobendas and is 15 to 20 minutes away from central Madrid by train (cercania). "The Seminary is close to parks, schools, recreational facilities, and various, metro, train, and bus stations. The Seminary building is both residential and educational."[4]
Academics
Since 1922, the seminary has been training most of the Spanish Baptist pastors and leaders, but also of other evangelical denominations, offering formation programs that respond to the current ecclesial and ministerial needs inside and outside Spanish territory. In a 2014 interview Dr. Julio Díaz Piñeiro, director of the seminary, said, "Churches must recognize theological education as part of the teaching ministry of the church, and theological institutions, on the other hand, be at the service of congregations, not of themselves or of a misunderstood intelligentsia."[5]
The seminary offers two accredited degree programs: Bachelor of Theology and Master of Theology. In addition to these the seminary offers others non-accredited degrees and diplomas.
The seminary publishes the Protestant Theological Journal as well.
Accreditation
In September 2011 the seminary received civil accreditation becoming recognized as the Protestant Faculty of Theology of the UEBE.[6]
References
- ↑ Hughey, J. David (1985). Los Bautistas en España. España: Casa Bautista de Publicaciones. p. 123.
- ↑ "A Brief History". FTUEBE. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ Díaz, Julio (December 2016). "40 años de Seminario Bautista en Alcobendas". Protestante Digital. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ Tipton, Whitney (April 2011). The Origins of Religious Liberty in Post-Franco Spain: A Baptist Perspective (Honors Thesis) (PDF). Jefferson City, TN: Carson-Newman University. p. 35. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ Alencar, Jacqueline (May 2014). "Julio Díaz Piñeiro: La enseñanza teológica debe ayudar a la iglesia a descubrir su misión". Protestante Digital. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ "La titulación del los centros de formación teológica protestantes es reconocida..." Lupa Protestante. Retrieved 13 March 2018.