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Challenges and Opportunities in Theological Education in the 21St Century

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Challenges and Opportunities in Theological Education in the 21St Century Theological Education in World Christianity Joint Information Service of ETE/WCC & WOCATI November 2009 Theme of this issue: World Report on the Future of Theological Education in the 21st Century 2009 ETE/WCC Programme on Theological Education of the World Council of Churches The JOINT INFORMATION SERVICE OF ETE & WOCATI is produced by the staff of Ecumenical Theological Education Programme in cooperation with WOCATI. Free copies are available as long as copies are available. Whoever can make any financial contribution for this is warmly invited to do so. Thank you for your understanding. This information service is also available on the Website of ETE on http://www.wcc-coe.org (For any question, please contact Dietrich Werner [email protected] ). Challenges and Opportunities in Theological in the 21st Century – November 2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ Challenges and Opportunities in Theological Education in the 21st Century Pointers for a new international debate on Theological Education Full Version Edinburgh 2010 ‐ International study group on Theological Education World Study Report 2009 Study Group Members: Clare Amos, Steven Bevans, Nico Botha, Rob Brynjolfson, Daniel Chiquete, Jose Duque, David Esterline, Tharcisse Gatwa, Jet den Hollander, Afrie Songco Joye, Pantelis Kalaitzides, Atola Longkumer, Joshva Raja, Israel Selvanayagam, Randolph Tuner, Douwe Visser, Des van der Water, Henry Wilson. (see Footnote 2) Study Group Convenors: Namsoon Kang and Dietrich Werner Primary Author: Dietrich Werner, ETE/WCC, Bossey Ecumenical Institute Version Date: 14th October 2009 1 Challenges and Opportunities in Theological Education in the 21st Century – November 2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from ETE/WCC Staff Dietrich Werner………………………………………………………..………………..………..4 Note from the President from WOCATI, Namsoon Kang….……………………........……....7 CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY PREFACE I ) Foundations & Clarifications 1) Christianity as a religión committed to education empowering and informing Christian Mission – biblical and missiological insights………………….…………………......8 2) Theological Education and Ministerial Formation - clarification of terms ………………18 3) Theological Education empowering and informing Christian mission – biblical and missiological insights …………………........……………………........…...………..............22 4) Theological Education and the church in partnership – a relationship of service, ownership and critical distance.…………………………….……………………........……......24 5) Theological Education and different understandings of the Bible – the importance of Biblical hermeneutics in TE ……………………….......……………...……………....……..27 6) Theological education and the unity of the church – interdenominational cooperation and ecumenical learning in TE……………………….......………………………30 7) Diversity in theological education and the different forms of ministry in the church…...34 8) Theological education and a missionary spirituality – spiritual formation and missionary training in TE……………………….......……………...…………….......................37 9) Women in theological education - a continuing journey and struggle………....………….42 10) Theological Education in a religiously plural world – a common concern………....……47 11) The role of Theological Education in Christian Youth Leadership Formation – urgent needs and future priorities……………………….......……………...………....…....49 II) Changing Contexts (and Case Studies) for theological education 12) Changing contexts for theological education in the 21st century………....………....…...53 13) Interdenominational institutions of theological education – United Theological colleges – promises or failures? ……………….……………………........……..........................59 14) Migration and theological education - Theological training programs for migrant churches……………………….......……………...…………….........................................62 15) Reconstructing churches by reconstructing theological education – Nanjing Union Theological Seminary as a case study of theological education in China...………....………..67 2 Challenges and Opportunities in Theological in the 21st Century – November 2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ 16) Fragmentation and pluralization in Theological education – a case study on TE in Myanmar……………….……………………........……...........................................................70 17) New accreditation criteria and the quality of TE – a case study on theological education in Latin America and in other contexts…………………........…….........................72 18) Pentecostalism and theological education – a case study on the interrelation between Pentecostal movement, theological education and the ecumenical movement.........74 19) The role of regional centers (of excellence) in theological research and studies – a case study of SEAGST program and others……………………........…….........................76 20) ) Structural divides and potentials for cooperation in different networks of theological education – a case study on the interrelation between Serampore and ATA – related theological colleges in India........………...………....…..………...………......78 21) New Models of Distant Learning in Theological Education – Case Study on UNISA and other models……………………….......……………...………....……………..79 III) Affirmations and Recommendations 22) Christian mission and theological education..……….......……………...………....……81 23) Global and Regional Forum on theological education.......……………...………....……82 24) Bridging the divide in terms of unequal accessibility of theological education…….........82 25) Theological education between church and university settings..………...………....……83 26) Churches support and sense of ownership for institutions of theological education.…...84 27) New forms of global and regional solidarity in theological education..………...……….85 28) The relevance of theological education for the unity of the church..………...……….... 86 29) New models of online-education and e-learning in theological education..………...…. 86 30) Financial viability of theological education………….......……………...………....……87 31) Innovative models of engaging with persons of other faiths through theological education......................................……………………….......……………...………....…………89 32) Diversity of human languages and the dominance of English in global theological education………………………..……………………….......……………...………....……..90 IV) Resources 33) Selected new websites of important networks of theological education…...………....….91 34) Major regional associations of theological education..………...………....………………92 35) Selected Bibliography on Theological Education.................................................... 94 3 Challenges and Opportunities in Theological Education in the 21st Century – November 2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ Prof. Namsoon Kang, President of WOCATI Dr. Dietrich Werner, ETE/WCC Program Coordinator LETTER FROM ETE/WCC STAFF Dietrich WERNER Dear colleagues in theological education! This publication is about a new „World Report on Theological Education in the 21st century“ which is intended for circulation and discussion in regional associations of theological schools, in ecumenical theological teachers conferences, in boards of theological colleges and in church leadership circles interested in the future of theological education. The world study report was developed as part of the Edinburgh 2010 study process which brought together an international study group on theological education (group 6 of the 2010 mission study themes). It included representatives from institutions of theological education from major churches represented in the Edinburgh 2001 process (Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Reformed, Lutheran, 4 Challenges and Opportunities in Theological in the 21st Century – November 2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, see members’ list footnote 2). The group worked between November 2008 and August 2009 to produce this extended version of a world study on theological education. ETE office is publishing this report in cooperation with the World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions (WOCATI) which is one of WCC’s important partners working on issues of theological education on global scale. Among many other issues the report highlights a conviction which has been a key element in the understanding of ecumenical theological education which informs the mandate and objectives of the ETE-Program in WCC from its very beginning: “This study paper is convinced that theological education is the seedbed for the renewal of churches, their ministries and mission and their commitment to church unity in today’s world. If theological education systems are neglected or not given their due prominence in church leadership, in theological reflection and in funding, consequences might not be visible immediately, but quite certainly will become manifest after one or two decades in terms of theological competence of church leadership, holistic nature of the churches mission, capacities for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and for dialogue between churches and society. The transmission of the ecumenical memory and vision to future generations of pastors and church workers is a priority need in many WCC member Churches, its continuation is far
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