In Touch – April 2025 | European Nazarene College

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FA 2025 Impressions and Reflections ⋅ FA 2025 Opening Service ⋅ Faculty Training ⋅ LC Admin Meeting ⋅ BoT Annual Meeting ⋅ Leadership Team Retreat ⋅ EuNC@60 ⋅ EuNC in the News

A Minute from the Rector:
Launching Our 60th Anniversary Jubilee Year & Growing Together in Service

The Faculty Assembly 2025 (FA2025) was a cornerstone gathering for EuNC, bringing together faculty, Learning Centre Coordinators and Administrators, church leaders, and special guests for a time of worship, learning, and shared vision. More than just an event, FA serves as our annual meeting space—a time to equip and encourage one another as we continue the work of theological education across Eurasia. The Faculty Assembly 2025, hosted by the EuNC France Learning Centre, was a powerful reminder of our shared mission.

Launching the 60th Anniversary Jubilee Year
This year’s Faculty Assembly marked a historic milestone as we launched the 60th-anniversary jubilee year (2025-2026), celebrating six decades of equipping Christlike disciples for ministry. The Opening Worship Time, beautifully led by the France District, was a powerful moment of reflection and gratitude, bringing together faculty, students, church leaders, and EuNC friends via livestream.

We officially introduced the Historical Reflections project, inviting our community to look back at our journey—from our founding in 1965 through decades of transformation and growth—while looking ahead to the future through our Growing Together 2030 vision. This year-long celebration will honor our heritage while reaffirming our commitment to serving the Church through theological education.

Growing Together in Service
We embraced the theme “Faithful Stewards of God’s Grace” (1 Peter 4:10-11), reflecting on how we serve through our teaching, administration, and ministry. JGS Rev. Dr. Carla Sunberg inspired us with a powerful devotional, helping us reflect on EuNC’s history through her personal and family reflections. Our academic year motto, “Grow in Service,” is part of our ongoing Growing Together 2030 Strategy, which shapes our vision throughout this decade.

Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheatle led our faculty development sessions on Assessment and AI in Education, equipping us to navigate emerging challenges in theological training. A significant part of FA is the training and conference for Learning Centre Coordinators and Administrators, providing targeted development opportunities. This year, the focus was student recruitment, a vital area as we continue to engage new learners across diverse contexts. Additionally, the annual EuNC Board of Trustees meeting took place, ensuring strong governance and leadership as we move forward.

The Faculty Assembly 2025, hosted by the EuNC France Learning Centre, was a powerful reminder of our shared mission, a moment of both reflection and renewal—celebrating God’s faithfulness over the past 60 years while equipping ourselves for the future. Through worship, fculty development, and moments of fellowship—including a meaningful outing in Paris—we strengthened our commitment to equipping Christlike disciples for ministry.

As we move forward in this historic academic year, may we continue to grow together in service, stewarding the grace entrusted to us in theological education.

Friends of EuNC, we could not do this without you! Your support, donations, and prayers enable us to continue this vital mission, shaping the future of theological education across Eurasia.

This newsletter arrives during Holy Week—a time when we are especially mindful of Christ’s sacrifice and victory. We trust its message of community and hope is all the more meaningful in this sacred season.

With gratitude,
Rector Mária Gusztinné Tulipán

I truly enjoyed attending my first gathering of professors and administrators at EuNC in Paris. Beyond the insightful presentations on professional aspects of our work, I was particularly impressed by the depth of discussions that followed. However, what stood out most to me was the opportunity to personally connect with people from different parts of the world, all sharing a deep passion for the Lord and His Kingdom. It was inspiring to meet fellow educators who are committed to passing on biblical truth to the next generation. It is a privilege to come alongside such wonderful people of God and to join in this meaningful work for the Kingdom within the EuNC community.
Dr. Ylli Doci

It was wonderful to attend Faculty Assembly, this year right outside of Paris. It was with great anticipation that I had been looking forward to seeing old classmates, former teachers and meeting new friends. The Faculty Assembly opened with a message from Dr. Carla Sunberg, reminding each of the faculty to take into account 1 Peter 4:7-11. She said that as faculty we must focus on the present by becoming people of prayer, loving one another and practicing hospitality. I was reminded that not only as a faculty, but also as an ordained minister, I must continue to be a person of prayer. I must be defined by God’s holy love, and when people and students are coming from all cultures and backgrounds, I must welcome them with open arms. Words are not enough to thank all my EuNC professors that have invested in me their own knowledge, welcomed me as their family, prayed for me and showed me God’s love. Now, God has opened a door for me to be a EuNC faculty and it is my honor to do the same for my students.
Rev. Paula Creely

Attending the Faculty Assembly at European Nazarene College was an enriching experience. The gathering provided a unique opportunity to engage with professors and peers, deepening my understanding of theological education. I particularly appreciated the emphasis on academic excellence, spiritual growth, and the shared commitment to developing dedicated leaders for the Church.
The discussions on AI and assessment in higher education were especially thought-provoking, challenging me to reflect more critically on my role in this field. Overall, the assembly reaffirmed my calling and deepened my commitment to the mission of theological education.
Caroline Salameh

Forty-four faculty members from European Nazarene College (EuNC) learning centres convened in Torcy for the annual Faculty Assembly, a vital event focused on professional development and administrative alignment. The gathering was held on January 27-30, 2025 and aimed to foster fellowship among faculty and strengthen the connection between general administration and the various learning centres.

Dr. Carla Sunberg, General Superintendent, provided inspiring devotional messages, setting a tone of spiritual focus, while the Rev. Dr. Andrew J. Cheatle led the core sessions, addressing the timely and critical topics of Assessment and AI in Education.

The focus on these areas reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into learning platforms and research methodologies, it is crucial to understand its implications for faculty performance. Similarly, robust assessment practices are essential for ensuring quality education and demonstrating student learning outcomes with academic integrity.

The Faculty Assembly provided a platform for participants to engage with cutting-edge research and best practices in these areas, equipping them to better serve their students. The event underscored EuNC's commitment to staying at the forefront of educational innovation and fostering a collaborative academic community.

Dr. Fernando Almeida (Director of Curriculum Development and Quality Assurance)

Before the official start of the Faculty Assembly 2025, the Learning Centres’ (LCs) Coordinators and Administrators took the opportunity to meet on Monday 27th of January in Torcy - France. It was a time for being encouraged and challenged by God’s Word, as well as hearing about important information and updates related to those EuNC roles. Several important documents, recently developed as part of the upcoming ECTE accreditation visit, were presented and whose content can be reviewed and improved.

As a result of previous feedback received from the group, one of the highlights of this year’s gathering was the presentation on the topic of Student Recruitment, done by Sylvia Oosterwijk based on her experience at the Netherlands LC. Through it the group was inspired to start with a vision that is positively communicated, “think outside the box” by “throwing the net to the other side” to groups that generally are not thought of, and define a PR strategy with a good pastoral approach. The LCs leadership had time to pose questions and share experiences on common situations that they face in their roles, as to continue in the journey of being good stewards of God’s grace in service.

Rev. Raquel Pereira (Registrar)

At its annual meeting in Torcy, France, the EuNC Board of Trustees reaffirmed its commitment to strong governance, financial sustainability, and academic excellence. Key decisions included approving the 2025 Budget Plan, adopting new investment strategies, and discussions ensuring tuition structures support long-term growth. The Board also discussed enhancing administrative effectiveness, aligning leadership roles with institutional needs, and expanding educational initiatives. As EuNC celebrates 60 years of ministry, the Board’s strategic vision and financial stewardship ensure that the college continues growing together in service, preparing Christlike disciples for the future.

The EuNC Leadership Team is grateful for the opportunity to get together in Frankfurt, Germany from 31 March to 7 April. It was a time of planning, prayer, and partnership as we continue to serve the mission of theological education across Europe and beyond. One highlight was attending the service at Frankfurt-Hügelstraße Church of the Nazarene. The team enjoyed worshipping together and reconnecting with friends - including Rev. Dr. Klaus and Martina Arnold, Director of Global Education and Clergy Development for the Church of the Nazarene, former Rector of EuNC. What a blessing to share this space again with Klaus and Martina! Thank you, Frankfurt Church, for your warm hospitality and faithful partnership in God's mission!