Advisory Council

Corneliu was a Professor of Biblical Theology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, ‘Aurel Vlaicu’ University of Arad, Romania and Director of Research at the Institute for Faith and Human Flourishing in Timișoara, Romania. After earning an engineering degree, with a specialization in biotechnologies, Corneliu obtained his Bachelor and Master degrees in theology (summa cum laude) from Evanđeoski Teološki Fakultet in Osijek, Croatia. Corneliu completed his PhD in theology at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies and the University of Leeds, UK (2006), with an interdisciplinary study on Pauline and contextual theology, with a focus on the social dimension of reconciliation.

Corneliu has served as President of the Theological Pentecostal Institute in Bucharest, Romania (2010–2014) and Academic Dean of Evanđeoski Teološki Fakultet in Osijek, Croatia (2007–2009), where he also taught for more than 16 years. In addition to his specialization and publications in the areas of Pauline theology and reconciliation, Corneliu has a special interest in pursuing a holistic understanding of the gospel as public truth, thus trying to integrate Christian faith with cultural, social and political realities of everyday life.

His publications include, The Power of the Gospel: A Plea for the Word of God (Bucharest, 2013); First the Kingdom of God: A Festschrift in Honour of Prof. Dr. Peter Kuzmič (co-editor with Miroslav Volf, Marcel V. Măcelaru and Krešimir Šimić, Osijek, 2011); The Social Significance of Reconciliation in Paul’s Theology: Narrative Readings in Romans (T&T Clark, 2010); and Encountering the Other: Studies in Reconciliation (Cluj-Napoca, 2009). Corneliu left behind his wife, Ioana and his two daughters, Anamaria and Carmen.

Slavko is the pastor of an evangelical church in Bosnia since 2003, “Langham Preaching” regional coordinator for Balkan since 2016 and also has been an active member of FEUER (Fellowship of European University Evangelists) since 2008. Every year he speaks at several mission week conferences in universities across Europe. In addition to teaching evangelism at a Bible school in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slavko has also been involved in street evangelism and training and equipping people for expository, exegetical preaching of the Bible. Slavko is married to Sanja and has two children.

Dănuț has served until recently as Director for Faith and Development for the Middle East and the Eastern Europe Region of World Vision International, and has taught Theology and Spirituality at: Eastern University in St. Davids, PA; ‘Emanuel’ University in Oradea, Romania; the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, Croatia; and the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague, Czech Republic. Dănuț holds a PhD in Theology from Brunel University, London, UK, with a thesis titled A Perichoretic Model of the Church: The Trinitarian Ecclesiology of Dumitru Stăniloae, published in 2012 by Lambert, in Saarbrucken, Germany.

Katharina serves as Librarian at Akademie für Kirche und Gesellschaft, Vienna and is involved in library and educational technology consulting. She was born in Soviet Kyrgyzstan and has previously worked in dual positions of teaching faculty and librarian at St. Petersburg Christian University (Russia), International Baptist Theological Seminary (Czech Republic) and TCM International Institute (Austria). Katharina holds Master degrees in Theology (MBBS) and in Library and Information Studies (Wales University in Aberystwyth).

She is also the Coordinator for the Central Eastern European Bible Commentary.

Katharina is married to Peter Penner. They have two children.

Peter was born and grew up in Kazakhstan, in the former Soviet Union. He studied theology and mission in Germany, USA (MDiv), South Africa (MTh and DTh) and Hungary (Dr habil). He served as pastor and theological educator, including in leadership, in different places, such as St Petersburg Christian University (Russia), International Baptist Theological Seminary (Czech Republic), and TCM International Institute (Austria). He has published monographs and articles and has edited many books in the area of Bible and mission. Peter is married to Katharina Penner. They have two children.

Ivan Rusyn is a president and a professor of missions at Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary. Ivan holds Master degrees in Contextual Missiology (Wales University) and in International Relations (Uzhorod National University). Ivan completed his PhD at the National University of Dragomanov in Ukraine.

Besides his role at UETS, Ivan Rusyn is also head of the education department of the Union of Free Churches of Evangelical Faith in Ukraine.