Old Catholic Seminary gets new professor

New Testament scholar and church historian Rev. Dr. Peter-Ben Smit begins his new post on March 1, 2011 as the new professor of ancient structures in the Catholic Church Old Catholic Seminary at the University of Utrecht. Smit also remains active as a New Testament professor at the Free University in Amsterdam.The Old Catholic Synod made ​​the appointment of Smit in November. Smit will hold his first seminar ​​on November 30, 2011. The chairman and professor position has been  vacant since April 2010. The chair has existed  since 1974. The position is for "teaching and research in the Old Catholic Church structure, also containing the history and doctrine of the Old Catholic Church.

Professor Smit will focus on the study of the early Christian approach to the interpretation of tradition including the Bible. Interviewed, Smit was enthusiastic about the new position saying, "It is a privilege in this time as a professor to be appointed. I look forward to working with my colleagues at the Old Catholic Seminary and hope to make inspiring contributions to the practice of theology in the Netherlands."