'Discerning the Obedience of Faith'
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David Parker ‘Discerning the Obedience of Faith’ Faith’ of the Obedience ‘Discerning Parker David The Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (formerly World Evangelical Fellowship) was established in 1974, but its origins go back to David Parker 1968 when the inspiration of Scripture was under intense discussion in a meeting of the WEF in Lausanne, Switzerland. This book tells the story of how at that meeting, New Zealand missionary theologian, Bruce J Nicholls (then working in India), gave a stimulating paper on theological issues involved in the growth of Christian witness in Asia, which resulted in the recognition of a need for organised efforts to promote theological reflection. After a pilot program, the TC was formed and went on to harness the best ‘Discerning the evangelical theological life around the world to develop higher standards of theological education, provide direction on key issues through many con- ferences, books and journals, and to help the WEA present the evangelical voice on important platforms. This volume marks forty years of activity and Obedience of Faith’ shows how the Theological Commission, under its vision of ‘discerning the obedience of faith’, makes a unique contribution to evangelical life and wit- ness around the world. A Short History of the World Evangelical David Parker, BD (London), MA, PhD (University Alliance Theological Commission of Queensland) is Executive Editor of Evangelical Review of Theology and a former Executive Direc- tor of the WEA Theological Commission. He has been involved with the Theological Commission for nearly thirty years. Dr Parker is a former Academic Dean of the Bi- ble College of Queensland (now Brisbane School of Theology) and Adjunct Lecturer at Malyon Col- lege, The Queensland Baptist College of Minis- tries in Brisbane. He is also a member of the Baptist World Alliance Heritage and Identity Commission. World of Theology Series 3 Series Theology of World ISBN 978-3-86269-088-6 sponsored by: ISSN 1436-0292 (World of Theology Series) Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft VKW (Culture and Science Publ.) World of Theology Series 3 Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher David Parker ‘Discerning the Obedience of Faith’ World of Theology Series Published by the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance Volume 8 Vol 1 Thomas K. Johnson: The First Step in Missions Training: How our Neighbors are Wrestling with God’s General Revelation Vol 2 Thomas K. Johnson: Christian Ethics in Secular Cultures Vol 3 David Parker: Discerning the Obedience of Faith: A Short Histo- ry of the World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission Vol 4 Thomas Schirrmacher (Ed.): William Carey: Theologian – Lin- guist – Social Reformer Vol 5 Thomas Schirrmacher: Advocate of Love – Martin Bucer as Theologian and Pastor Vol 6 Thomas Schirrmacher: Culture of Shame / Culture of Guilt Vol 7 Thomas Schirrmacher: The Koran and the Bible Vol 8 Thomas Schirrmacher (Ed.): The Humanisation of Slavery in the Old Testament David Parker ‘Discerning the Obedience of Faith’ A Short History of the World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft Culture and Science Publ. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher Bonn 2014 Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbib- liothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available in the Inter- net at http://dnb.d-nb.de 1st edition 2005 2nd updated edition 2014 © David Parker 2005, 2014 [An earlier version of this work was published in Evangelical Review of Theology Vol 28 Nos 2-4 (2004) pp. 100-118, 196-219, 292-314, and is used here by permission] © Copyright 2014 by Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft (Culture and Science Publ.) Prof. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher Friedrichstraße 38, D-53111 Bonn Fax +49 / 228 / 9650389 www.vkwonline.de / [email protected] ISSN 1436-0292 ISBN 978-3-86269-088-6 Printed in Germany coverdesign and manufacturing: BoD Verlagsservice Beese, Friedensallee 44, 22765 Hamburg www.rvbeese.de / [email protected] Publishing Distribution Center: IC-Medienhaus D-71087 Holzgerlingen, Tel. 07031/7414-177 Fax -119 www.icmedienhaus.de catalog for book stores: www.vkwonline.de/gesamtprospekt Private costumers: in any book store or at www.vkwonline.com Contents Preface .................................................................................................................. 9 Preface for 2nd Edition ................................................................................ 10 Abbreviations .................................................................................................... 11 Chapter I Confirming and Defending the Gospel ......................................... 13 Background ...................................................................................................... 13 Formation ......................................................................................................... 15 London 1975 ..................................................................................................... 16 Consultations ................................................................................................... 19 Third World Theologians ............................................................................... 22 Task Forces, Study Units and publications ................................................. 23 Periodicals ........................................................................................................ 25 Theological Education .................................................................................... 25 Chapter II Creating a Space for Theology ..................................................... 27 Climax of the first decade .............................................................................. 27 Wheaton ‘83 ..................................................................................................... 28 End of an era .................................................................................................... 29 Singapore 1986 ................................................................................................ 32 Bruce Nicholls’ achievement and legacy .................................................... 34 Discerning the Obedience of Faith ............................................................... 36 Chapter III A Servant and Prophetic Voice ................................................... 37 New leadership – Sunand Sumithra ............................................................ 37 TC and ICAA ..................................................................................................... 38 Study program advances ............................................................................... 40 Consultations and contacts ........................................................................... 43 The vision fades ............................................................................................... 45 Chapter IV Reaching for the World ............................................................... 51 Bong Ro called in ............................................................................................. 51 ‘Theological Issues of the 90s’ ....................................................................... 52 Study Units, Electronic Networking and Scholarships ............................ 53 Korean base for the TC ................................................................................... 55 The fire ............................................................................................................. 56 Study Units at work ........................................................................................ 56 Changes and challenges ................................................................................. 57 TC goes ‘Down Under’ .................................................................................... 58 6 ‘Discerning the Obedience of Faith’ ICAA ................................................................................................................... 59 ‘The Uniqueness of Christ’ ............................................................................ 61 Ethics and environment ................................................................................ 63 Chapter V Serving the Church ........................................................................ 65 Change of focus ............................................................................................... 65 Publications and consultations .................................................................... 67 TC at twenty years .......................................................................................... 69 Pace slackens ................................................................................................... 71 New focus at Prague ....................................................................................... 73 ‘Faith and Hope for the Future’ .................................................................... 74 Chapter VI Networking Theologians ............................................................. 79 Revisioning at Pasadena 1996 ....................................................................... 79 Abbotsford 1997 .............................................................................................. 80 Tuebingen 1998 ..............................................................................................