www.institut-urchristentum.org
Dear Friends:
Unlike Garrison Keillor's fictional “ Lake Wobegon ,” we have not really had a quiet time this spring. “Hectic” and “stressful” are two descriptors that immediately come to mind instead, but God is good, and we are surviving. Our new granddaughter was born and my father died about the same time in April. We are also preparing for the formal separation from the Gemeinde, as that little group moves out of the Institute building the end of this month. At the same time, the EES is investigating a new church plant here in Tübingen. In the last month I have had some guests. I hosted an EES board member and her husband for a couple days of intensive discussion about the church plant project. I also hosted two visiting students who were here for a week each. On top of all that, we have had the normal busy semester.
Publication I am happy to announce that my article on the anniversary of the Barmen Declaration will be published in the journal Encounter this summer: "Remembering the Barmen Declaration: Seventy-One Years Later." Encounter 66.3 (2005) 257-264. I have also accepted the invitation to become a “Consulting Editor” for the Stone-Campbell Journal for the next cycle, 2005-2008.
Colloquium Prof. Lichtenberger is back after his sabbatical semester, which makes my job much easier. We have had several good papers so far, and look forward to the others. Some of the titles are: “Communication in the Pauline Letters;” "A Study of the Shepherd-King Motif in Matthew 9:36;" “Recent Trends in Paul's Doctrine of ‘New Creation';” “Non-Canonical Writings and Biblical Theology.” I will read at the last session, July 11, a paper on “Rereading 1 Peter in Light of the Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor .”
Theological German Course I have four students this semester, all from different Universities in California . They are here on an undergraduate exchange program. They are all German minors, though not religion or theology majors, so I get to explain quite a bit about the biblical and theological material. As Christians they are interested in the class, and happy to get a credit for something stimulating to their faith. We are again reading Bonhoeffer's Nachfolge ( Cost of Discipleship ), along with Adolf von Harnack's Das Wesen des Christentums ( What is Christianity? ).
Theological English I only have two students in this first attempt at “Theological English,” but we are having a good time. We hope to make the class a permanent offering and seek to add it to the official University course offerings.
Vesper Service : The English Vesper Service group continues to be small but enthusiastic. We are planning our annual “Fourth of July” barbecue, to take place on Sunday, July 3 (yes, they have the “4 th of July” here, but no, we do not get the day off to celebrate American Independence Day).
Cherie : On Good Friday we drove to Vienna where Cherie joined a volunteer work group at TCM's Haus Edelweiss leadership training center. She enjoyed meeting the other volunteers, including those from First Christian Church of Johnson City , TN. That group was led by EES board member Pat Bonner. Cherie spent two weeks there, and was only home a couple days before flying to Tennessee where she is now baby sitting our new granddaughter.
Memorial for Otto Betz: As you may know, our dear friend Prof. Dr. Otto Betz passed away on May 27. He had suffered a long time with cancer and the side affects of chemotherapy. His funeral was Friday, June 3, at the city cemetery in Tübingen. His grave is down near the street, barely 50 meters from the Theologicum, the theology building he called home for many years. Prof. Betz was for many years the faculty sponsor of our colloquium, and he and his wife have been wonderful supporters of many, many foreign students over the years. Special Project : For anyone who knew Otto Betz and wishes to participate, we are collecting memories to go into a book for Frau Betz. Anyone with fond memories of Dr. Betz is invited to write that material and send it to me by email, preferably as a MS Word attachment. Or, you may send material to the EES office in Atlanta . Email and postal addresses are at the beginning and end of this newsletter. Hand-written material can be given to Frau Betz, but we prefer word processing, since we want to make multiple copies. Please submit your contributions no later than September 1, 2005.
Family News : Of course our big news is the grand-baby! Pyper Lili Paddock was born on April 27 in Johnson City , TN. She was 8 lbs 4 oz., and 22 inches long. She has long legs, and big hands and feet—looks like she will not be taking after my side of the family!
Cherie was already in Tennessee when my dad had a serious stroke. It was his third stroke in six or eight years, and though he seemed to rally at first, this time he could not bounce back. He died a week later. With the baby due any time, and our finances as they are, Cherie did not try to make it to Oregon . Pyper was born on Wednesday, April 27th, Alisha and the baby went home from the hospital 24 hrs later, and my dad's graveside was on Friday the 29th. I flew to Oregon on the 26 th and was there eight days. We are grateful that we could delay long enough so my brother Steve could make it from South Africa .
During her busy spring preparing for the baby, Alisha still managed to do well in school. She received this year's award for “Outstanding New Testament Student.” She is back at work in the Emmanuel library, and will be starting her summer practicum soon. The baby has a bed in Marty's office near the library, and Cherie is there during the days as the nanny. So far it seems to be working out. Cherie will stay till mid-September. Alisha has accepted the offer to work more hours in the library next year, which will require that she slow down on her schooling, not finishing the M.Div. till 2007. This, she decided, is not a bad thing, especially with the new baby. However, she will still try to get her thesis done, since her advisor will be on sabbatical during the 2006/2007 school year.
Justin is finishing his second year at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg . Because of finances and other considerations, he is postponing study in Spain , and may do a “post-graduate” program there later. Meanwhile, he has committed to finishing the master's degree in Salzburg . He was asked by his professor to be his assistant next year. Justin stays very busy between his studies and “projects” (mini-concert tours and two recording projects ) with the chamber orchestra, Camerata Academica Salzburg this spring and summer. This spring and summer he is playing in music festivals in England , Austria , and Switzerland . He will tour with Ensemble Modern (Frankfurt), and in the fall will play in a string quartet on a tour to Japan . He is also preparing for an international competition in Geneva , Switzerland , in November. If I make an appointment far enough in advance, I can see him from time to time.
My mom is doing o.k. There is much adjustment, and normal grieving to accomplish, but she has a good support network between family, neighbors, and church friends. Cherie's dad, Jim, and his wife Alice, continue to do great. They are talking about driving back to Tennessee , and perhaps going on to Atlanta for a Braves game.
Financial Update We are finishing our third year in Tübingen. Our sincere and on-going thanks to those of you who have supported us with your prayers, and to those who have supported us financially, especially with the extra expenses for travel to my dad's funeral. We ask for continued support in both areas, as the value of the dollar continues to drop. In this time of economic and political uncertainty, we continue to face the daunting task of raising nearly 20% more in US dollars, just to break even with where we were two years ago. We need your prayers now more than ever! For specific financial information, contact the EES office in Atlanta (see below).
love,
Scott and Cherie Caulley
items for your prayer list:
· New Colloquium and Vesper Service participants
· courses; Theological German; Theological English
· plans for a church plant
· family of Prof. Betz
· Increased financial support ; the continuing exchange rate problem