Thursday, November 13, marked yet another milestone in HLT’s history.
Linda Aadne has completed her doctoral dissertation in Amsterdam, giving HLT another PhD graduate among our ranks.
The School of Leadership and Theology congratulates Linda Aadne on the successful defense of her dissertation at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where she defended her thesis titled:
“Theologies and Practices of Believers’ Baptism in the Baptist Union of Norway: A Historical, Contextual and Contemporary Study.”
In her dissertation, Aadne examines how theological, historical, and cultural factors have shaped contemporary practices of believers’ baptism within the Baptist Union of Norway. The study provides a broad overview of developments from 1950 to the present, discussing ecumenical processes, local membership debates, and recent theological impulses related to so-called “Baptist sacramentalism.”
Through a combination of historical sources, statistical data, and qualitative interviews, Aadne sheds light on how understandings of baptism influence identity and belonging within a diverse church community.
“HLT is proud of Linda’s important work,” says Roald Zeiffert, Head of Research at HLT. “The dissertation strengthens the school’s academic competence in a key theological area and represents a significant contribution both to the Baptist Union and to the wider church family in Norway.”
Aadne has completed her doctoral degree in parallel with her work at HLT, and her research aligns closely with the school’s focus on theology in context, where academic reflection meets the life and practice of the church.
