Dr Andries can Aarde, Editor-in-Chief of HTS Theological Studies, recently hosted a celebration ceremony for the presentation of the "Festschrift Johan Buitendag LXX", on the occasion of Prof Johan Buitendag’s 70th birthday.

This special occasion took place on 22 November 2023 in the Merensky Library Auditorium on the Hatfield Campus of the University of Pretoria, and those present were invited to enjoy refreshments in the foyer of the Auditorium after the event.

Prof Kobus Krüger, the author of the tribute in the Festschrift, made a presentation honouring Prof Buitendag during the official proceedings, after which Prof Buitendag himself provided insights and reflections on the scholarly contributions made in his honour through peer-reviewed articles in the Festschrift.

These articles acknowledge his significant impact on academia, university administration, and the church, including contributions, wisdom and insights from the likes of Jürgen Moltmann, James Alfred Loader, Andreas May, Corneliu C. Simut, Daniel J. Pratt Morris-Chapman, S. Sergio Saleem Scatolini, Johan A. van Rooyen, John F. Haught, Kobus Krüger, Luco J. van den Brom, Nico Buitendag, Piotr Roszak, Rick Benjamins, Lisanne D. Winslow, Toine van den Hoogen, Ulrich H.J. Körtner, Traugott Jähnichen, Andreas Losch, Robert R. Vosloo, Syafa’atun Almirzanah, Andries van Aarde en Pieter de Villiers.

Over and above his more intellectual contributions to the academy and the church, Prof Buitendag served as the dean for the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria for many years, and the success of his tenure there can be measured both in the increased stature of the Faculty on the global stage by the time he retired, as well as by the impressive turn-out amongst his former colleagues, who attended the celebration in their numbers to honour the legacy of this scholar, gentleman and friend.

Read Prof Buitendag's speech here.