History of the faculty ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** The history of the Hussite Theological Faculty of Charles University starts in the early n and lasts to the present. It can be divided into a number of stages. Although it is predom to the history of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church (hereinafter CČSH), it has always evolve ecumenical framework which we can mention here only briefly. *========================================================================================= * Hussite Czechoslovak Protestant Theological Faculty 1921–1932 *========================================================================================= After its establishment the Czechoslovak Church needed a place to educate future priests. new faculty was out of the question. However, there was the possibility of sending theolog protestant Hussite Faculty which had been established shortly before. The first student from the Czechoslovak Church enrolled at the Hussite Faculty in the acad 1921/22. The number of students soon increased. The first professor representing the Czech was Karel Statečný who died in 1927. The theologians of the Czechoslovak Church studying at the Hussite Faculty attended confes lectures at the theological dormitory. These lectures were organized by the later professo theology, the patriarch František Kovář. Due to apparent confessional differences between the Czechoslovak Church and the protestan Czechoslovak Church made efforts to establish its own theological faculty, or rather a The This idea was put into practise in 1932 but only lasted two years. *========================================================================================= * The Theological College of the Czechoslovak Church 1932-1934 *========================================================================================= Eighty-six full-time and six part-time students enrolled into the summer semester of 1932/ Church representatives gave lectures at this indpendent college, including Alois Spisar, t Procházka, the bishop Rostislav J. Stejskal. As the institution was private, it faced sign and organisational difficulties. Therefore it was decided that the students of Czechoslova return to the Hussite Faculty. *========================================================================================= * Hussite Czechoslovak Protestant Theological Faculty 1934–1939. From 1935 the Czechoslova *========================================================================================= In 1935 the Czechoslovak government issued a regulation changing the statute of the Hussit which the Czechoslovak Church had already run four departments. A pedagogical department of the Czechoslovak Church was also established. Alois Spisar (th was elected the first full-time professor, who was succeeded by František Kovář (biblical religious studies). A few years later F. M Hník became an associate professor in Christian the late thirties there were 130 candidates involved in Theological studies. The promising however, interrupted by the Nazi German occupation which led to the closure of all Czech u November 1939. *========================================================================================= * The Czechoslovak Church Section at the Hussite Czechoslovak Protestant Theological Facul *========================================================================================= The Hussite Czechoslovak Protestant Theological Faculty (HČEFB) was opened in June 1945 ac governmental decree No. 9/1945 Coll. dated 25 May 1945. The Faculty continued their activi its legal status dated 29 September 1938. There were some changes in the pedagogical department of the Czechoslovak Church Section. professors were A. Spisar a F. Kovář. F. M. Hník became a professor after his return from O. Rutrle became a substitute teacher of practical theology and M. Novák a substitute teac Testament. The historian M. Kaňák left to study in the USA immediately after he obtained a M. Hník was elected the Dean of the Faculty for the year 1946/47. F. M. Hník, supported in the president E. Beneš, was in 1947/48 replaced by the Professor J. L. Hromádka, who retur USA in 1947. The latter, however, was a Protestant. *========================================================================================= * Hussite Czechoslovak Theological Faculty 1950 – 1990 *========================================================================================= At the beginning of the existence of the Hussite Czechoslovak Protestant Theological Facul were 223 students attending the Faculty and 14 professors giving lectures. The Hussite Fac other theological faculties in the former Czechoslovak Republic was newly reorganized. The was divided according to faith into two separate faculties: the Hussite Czechoslovak Theol in Prague for the Czechoslovak Church, and the Protestant Theological Faculty in Prague fo Church of Czech Brethren and some smaller protestant churches in Prague. Even though the r made by the State, it was agreeable to all parties. The situation was radically solved by the governmental decree No. 112/1950 Coll. on Theolo dated 14 July 1950. The Hussite Czechoslovak Theological Faculty was opened on 6 October 1950 by a constitutio of the Faculty Board. The first Dean was Professor F. M. Hník. The Faculty became publicly to the academic celebration which took place in Karolinum on 16 October 1950. Seven main d professors, four minor department professors, two associate professors and five assistants The Systematic Theology Department was led by Zdeněk Trtík, the Biblical Theology Departme 1950-51, led by the patriarch Kovář, after which it was taken over by Jindřich Mánek. Miro giving the Old Testament lectures in 1950-51. In 1950-1960 the talented Stanislav Heřmansk as an assistant. The Practical Theology Department was headed by professor Otto Rutrle (19 administrator of the Catechetics Department was Rudolf Horský, The Canon Law Department wa of the Central Board of CČSH Veleslav Růžička. The Theory of Religion and Philosophy Depar reorganized and led by Jaroslav Světlý (1950-53). Jaroslav Kučera worked as an assistant i 1950-60. The Social Sciences Department was shortly led by the Deputy Minister of Finance (1950-51). The lectures were led by Karel Rataj (1950-51), and Professors Karel Hlaváček ( Josef Polák (1952-68). The atheistic state made attempts to suppress the scientific and research activities organ the Faculty and turn the Faculty into a purpose-built vocational school for practical eccl administration. The attempt was never successful and despite the risk, the Faculty stayed the representatives of liberal art both abroad and at home. In the years that followed, fo were awarded the degree of associate professor took over the posts of their teachers. Thes Ebertová, Vladimír Kubáč, Jiřina Kubíková, Zdeněk Kučera, Milan Salajka a Zdeněk Sázava. T with the new postgraduate students was partially successful. However, the Faculty was not to other universities in the totalitarian regime. Both the teachers and the students found restrictive. Other Faculties had the same problem. The democratic spirit of the Faculty was apparent in particular during the events connecte anniversary of the origins of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1988 both at home and abroad, a students’ and teachers’ activities during the events which culminated on 17 November 1989. *========================================================================================= * The Hussite Theological Faculty of the Charles University *========================================================================================= At the peak of the Velvet Revolution, on 1 December 1989, the prefect of the Hussite Czech Theological Faculty Jan Schwarz submitted an application to the academician Zdeněk Češka, Charles University, in which he applied for incorporation of the Hussite Faculty into Char This started negotiations which ended up with the formation of Act No. 163/1990 Coll. acco the Catholic, Protestant and Hussite Theological Faculties were incorporated to Charles Un Struggling for the freedom of nation, church and science was how the Hussite Theological F Charles University was established. Professor Zdeněk Kučera (born in 1930) was elected the Faculty. He also introduced a new form of studies with other disciplines being taught at t along with theology. In this way the Faculty prepared not only clergyman, but also other s (religionists, philosophers and ethicists, social and charity workers). The Faculty also s programmes focused on Eastern Christianity and Judaism, and separate Old Catholic and Orth programmes.