- Source: OTSEM
OTSEM (Old Testament Studies: Epistemologies and Methods) is a research network of several Northern European universities. Originally Nordic-German in nature, it now includes British universities as well, which gives it a Nordic-German-Anglo profile. The organization focuses on research into the Hebrew Bible and promotes the development of young scholars in particular, especially through annual seminars and special lectures. Though encompassing theological faculties and using the term Old Testament, OTSEM is non-confessional, with members from Christian (both Protestant and Catholic), Jewish, Muslim, and secular backgrounds.
Institutions
Currently, OTSEM consists of sixteen institutions from eight different countries:
Denmark: University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University
Estonia: University of Tartu (affiliated through Helsinki)
Finland: University of Helsinki, Åbo Akademi University
Germany: University of Göttingen, University of Hamburg
Iceland: University of Iceland
Great Britain: University of Oxford, King's College London, University of Edinburgh
Norway: University of Oslo, MF Norwegian School of Theology, VID Specialized University
Sweden: Uppsala University, Lund University
History
The history of OTSEM divides into three distinct periods: Proto-OTSEM, OTSEM I, and OTSEM II (the present iteration).
= Proto-OTSEM
=OTSEM's antecedents reach back to the 1970s. At that time, Helsinki and Göttingen had a student and professor exchange between their theological faculties. Beginning in the 1990s, bi- and trilateral doctoral seminars took place among the various institutions that would later become members of OTSEM.
1994: Helsinki visited Hamburg (where current Göttingen affiliates previously were)
1995: Aarhus visited Hamburg
1996: Hamburg visited Aarhus
1997: Lund visited Hamburg
1998: Hamburg visited Lund
2000: Göttingen visited Lund
2001: Lund and Oslo visited MF
2002: MF visited Göttingen
2003: Lund, Göttingen, and Oslo visited MF
In addition to arranging doctoral seminars, future members also organised professorial exchanges.
1995: Hamburg visited Aarhus
1998: Lund visited Aarhus
1999: Helsinki visited Göttingen; Aarhus visited Lund and MF; Lund visited MF
2000: Helsinki visited Göttingen; Göttingen visited Lund; Lund visited MF; MF visited Lund
2001: Lund visited MF; Helsinki visited MF
= OTSEM I
=From 2004 through 2008, the Nordic Council (NordForsk) co-funded the research network. In this period, OTSEM saw formalization and expansion. This expansion included an increase in not only the number of members and member institutions but also meetings and individual exchanges. In particular, the now formal organization commenced its annual conferences (Oslo in 2004, Göttingen in 2005, Aarhus in 2006, Helsinki in 2008, and Lund in 2008). With the end of funding from the Nordic Council came the end of OTSEM I and start of OTSEM II.
= OTSEM II
=Since 2009, OTSEM has been financed solely by its associated institutions. Nevertheless, the research network has continued its annual conference and individual exchanges.
Notable members
OTSEM members with a high international profile have included the following:
John Barton
Fredrik Lindström
Reinhard Gregor Kratz
Nathan MacDonald
Martti Nissinen
Hermann Spieckermann
Hugh G. M. Williamson
Terje Stordalen
References
External links
OTSEM Homepage at the University of Hamburg
