Book honour for Baptist college principal 

The Revd Dr Stephen Finamore, who leads Bristol Baptist College, has been presented with a Festschrift, a set of essays written in his honour 

 
The collection is called Attending to the Margins, and embraces ‘something of the scope of Steve’s diverse interests, from biblical studies to Girard, and from Baptistic theologies to Wimbledon AFC.’
 
The book was edited by Helen Paynter and Peter Hatton, with contributions from current colleagues Tim Welch, Stuart Murray Williams and (from Trinity College) Jamie Davies. Other contributors included former colleagues Ernest Lucas and Sian Murray-Williams, Baptists beyond the Bristol college, such as Rob Ellis and Paul Fiddes, and several of his doctoral students.
 
It was presented to him at a meeting of the Baptist Colleges, held at Regent's Park College, Oxford..
 
Helen, Tutor in Biblical Studies and Coordinator of Theological Education, and Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at the College, said, ‘My former colleague Peter Hatton and I wanted to honour Steve in this his final academic year before retirement. Although – as he always reminds us – he hasn’t published extensively, this reflects his deep commitment to the ministry he is called to, which has prevented him from giving his time to other things.
 
‘But the simple numbers of published articles in no way reflects the richness of his contribution to Baptist life and thought. In addition to the many dozens of ministers and youth and families workers who have been sent out to the churches under Steve’s leadership of the College, many more theological thinkers have been trained and commissioned to serve.’
 
She explained that when she and Peter were considering what unites Steve’s various concerns and passions, the word ‘margins’ seemed most appropriate.
 
‘His work for community projects in both London and Peru were with people who were deeply marginalised. Steve is a principled Baptist who trains Baptist ministers, and Baptists have always, from proud conviction, occupied a place at the margins of power. Steve’s interest in the work of René Girard draws attention to the forces in every society which marginalise and scapegoat those who do not wholly belong.’
 
She added, ‘The collection of essays also reflects something of Steve’s diverse interests, from Girard to biblical studies; from Baptist ecclesiology to Wimbledon AFC. They reflect in small part the diversity of people who have appreciated his ministry over the years – from former and current colleagues, to former and current students.’
 
Steve commented that while he has contributed to publications to honour friends in Baptist networks who have made a significant contribution to theological thinking, ‘it never occurred that one would be presented to me.’
 
'I found myself a little overwhelmed by the generosity of my friends and all the kindness I was shown,’ he said.
 
‘I know from first hand experience, as both an editor and a contributor, the time and energy it takes to produce a publication of this kind and so I am very grateful to everyone who wrote, the council of Bristol Baptist College, who helped with some of the expenses, and most of all to Helen Paynter and Peter Hatton whose idea this was and who edited the volume as well as writing for it.
 
'Everyone did an amazing job of keeping the presentation a secret from me and I’m not very good at dealing with surprises. Once I’d got over all the fuss being made of me, I was left with a sense of wonder that people could offer me such a thoughtful gift.
 
‘The whole experience gave me a brief, fresh glimpse of the grace of God to the undeserving and that made the occasion even more special.'
 

Attending to the Margins - Essays in Honour of Stephen Finamore is available here