Renovated Janskerk continues special tradition of church and university
Yesterday, in a packed, renovated Janskerk, the Protestant Theological University celebrated the opening of its 2026-2027 academic year. The combination of church and theological education is a special continuation of an old tradition: as early as the seventeenth century, the Janskerk housed the library of Utrecht University. Although the church is much better insulated now, Rector Martha Frederiks quipped during her address.
Photo: Minister Mirjam Sterk delivers the Willibrord Lecture
Close to the source
"What could be more beautiful than educating theologians in a building where people have been gathering around word and sacrament for more than ten centuries," Frederiks said, "and where every stone is steeped in the hope, faith and also the questions of those who, throughout all those centuries, have gone before us in the search for the power and meaning of the gospel?" By sharing the use of the Janskerk, we remain close to the source, she said, while at the same time we can search for new forms and new ways of being in order to remain recognisable, visible and of service to the society of which we want to be part. The Rector thanked all parties involved in the renovation of the Janskerk.
Church and theology as more than commentators
This year's Willibrord Lecture was delivered by none other than Minister Mirjam Sterk, herself trained as a theologian and currently Minister for Long-Term Care, Youth and Sport. In her passionate address, she called on the church and theology to reflect on "how old concepts such as ‘community’, ‘mercy’ and ‘justice’ can be captured and/or elaborated in new concepts (such as ‘collective self-reliance’ and ‘compassion’)". Without this leading to an 'instrumentalisation' of care. The full lecture (Dutch only) can be found on the website of the Government of the Netherlands.
Willingness is key to dialogue
This year's student lecture was delivered by first-year Master's student Frans de Koeijer. Among other things, he addressed conversations among students: "Looking back on the past academic years, I think I can say that interactions like these are mainly about questions such as: what really matters to you and me, and why? You notice that when we talk about these kinds of questions, we ourselves become fully part of the conversation. ‘Our’ Prof. Vos recently pointed out in Nederlands Dagblad the importance of ‘willingness’. The willingness to honestly put your own convictions on the table, and the willingness to listen to those of others. And of course, even with this attitude of ‘willingness’, there can still be friction. But then we experience friction as people for whom something is at stake, sharing that openly and honestly with one another and, despite all our differences, finding one another in confessing Jesus Christ – the crucified and risen Lord." He looks forward to practising this dialogue together in the period ahead. Download the full lecture (Dutch only) from our website.
