The Official Newsletter of Asia Theological Association A Anews www.ataasia.com APRIL-JUNE 2010 “New Era, New Vision” Reaffirming ATA’s Founding Vision for a New Era: A Strategic Plan for 2010 By Benjamin Pwee, Associate Secretary, ATA n the late 1960s to early 1970s, Asia mobilizing resources among churches, Theological Association was founded to theological schools and theological Istrengthen the contextualization of the associations in Asia. Gospel in Asia, and to train local leaders for the Asian church through indigenous A Strategic Plan for the Future contextual theological reflection, construction and education. ATA invites all theological schools, churches, associations, corporate ATA’s early work centered on: organizations and individual believers to rally in support of this shared vision (a) contextualizing the Gospel as a for evangelical theology in Asia. Let us missiological necessity in Asia in response join hearts, hands and resources to help to the critical, urgent, contemporary issues ATA implement this strategic plan for the of the day; future. (b) championing an evangelical theology in Asia in response to other theologies of Contextualizing the Gospel the day; In the next three to five years we will (c) charting the way for local theological identify key critical contemporary issues ministries in Asia; commonly shared by churches in Asia. Mr. Benjamin Pwee (d) creating platforms to promote These will be studied and researched by fellowship and cooperation among joint taskforces to be set up in partnership schools and leaders, as well as funding evangelical theologians and theological with theological schools as frontline agencies. We will help resource and schools in Asia. theological research. mentor new or young theological schools and leaders in Asia through seminars, As ATA celebrates the 40th anniversary We will generate shared theological publications, educational consultancy and of God’s call to the work of theological reflection and dialogue among churches, other value-added services. reflection, construction and education in theological schools and theological Asia, we want to reaffirm our founding associations in Asia around these key Charting the Way vision for a new era. We will do this by: contemporary issues. Through ATA Thought We will strengthen the work and influence Papers we will consider the implications of national and local theological and • Contextualizing the Gospel in Asia. We for theological education and church church associations by supporting key will help the Church in Asia to identify, leadership in Asia. theological agenda. We will set up new reflect and respond to the urgent, critical or revitalize existing national and local contemporary issues facing it today. Championing Evangelical Theology theological and church associations, • Championing evangelical theology in We will organize and run annual theological schools and initiatives. We will Asia. We will help the Church in Asia to theological consultations on key develop new models, strategies, patterns develop an evangelical, biblical theology in contemporary issues, in partnership with and platforms for training future church, response to the contemporary theological regional and local Christian and theological lay and theological leaders in Asia; and we landscape. partners. Through these we will develop will partner with churches and theological • Charting the way for local theological continually relevant evangelical biblical schools, as well as funding agencies, to ministries in Asia to partner with national theology in Asia that can be published and identify, train, resource and groom these theological associations and other funding distributed as ATA monographs worldwide. future leaders for the Asian church. partners. In this way local church, lay and We will strengthen and raise the standard theological leadership will be developed. of theological education, accreditation Creating Platforms • Creating platforms for mutual fellowship and recognition in Asia by partnering with We will partner with national and local and collaboration. This means sharing and churches and well-established theological Continued on page 2 “NEW ERA, NEW VISION”... from page 1 ASIA THEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION church and theological associations, and global or regional quality education networks, 40th Anniversary and Triennial General Assembly to create platforms and opportunities for mutual fellowship and sharing. This will strengthen interaction, enhance scholarship, (2-6 August 2010, Cityview Hotel, Hong Kong) and promote academic excellence among theological schools. We will create a platform Theme: Asia in the 21st Century: New Era, New Vision for the sharing of needs and the mobilization of resources within Asia for the work and ministries of ATA and its member schools. We will do this by developing a pool of key strategic financing partners, a fund for support, assistance and subsidies, and a network of strong partnerships between well- established and needier schools, for ministry, missions and resources. An Invitation to Partnership During our 40th anniversary year, we at ATA wholeheartedly invite every church, theological school, theological and church association, mission and parachurch organization, and lay Christian believer in Asia to partner with us in this God-given task of raising up future leaders for the Church through theological reflection, construction and education. We invite you to: • join us at our 40th Anniversary General Assembly in Hong Kong, 2-6 August 2010 • re-affirm your support and partnership with us at ATA in writing • pledge and commit to the regular financial support of ATA and of our needier member schools • take part in our new regional taskforces and many consultations, seminars, activities and events TOPICS FOR INTEREST GROUPS: Effective Kingdom Collaboration •Mr. Phil Butler Writing for Publication •Mrs. Julie Belding Learning Assessment •Dr. Allan Harkness Crisis Counselling •Dr. Linda Bubod Marketplace Ministry •Dr. Andrew Liuson Integrating Peace Studies in the Seminary •Dr. Karl Dortzbach Holistic Child Development Programming in Seminaries •Dr. Dan Brewster *Venue: CGST (Aug. 3) 2 ATA news Apr-Jun 2010 NEWS UPDATES • NEWS UPDATES • NEWS UPDATES • NEWS UPDATES • NEWS UPDATES ASIA THEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Direction program. VET Officers Visit Nepal MGST is offering 40th Anniversary and Triennial General Assembly the following Theological College programs: Master (2-6 August 2010, Cityview Hotel, Hong Kong) of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master Theme: Asia in the 21st Century: New Era, New Vision of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Theology. The Bishop of the Methodist Church, Rev. Enoch Kuey, serves as Board The VET with MGST board members. Chairman. The President is Dr. Chun-An Wang and the Academic Dean is Dr. James Wu. MGST is presently located inside the King’s Community in Taipei. It also operates the Wesleyan Counseling Center located in Kuang The VET presenting the report to the NTC leaders. Fu South Road in Taipei. The Counseling Center has an impressive facility providing telephone counseling, individual and group The Visiting Evaluation Team (VET) consisting of Dr. Narendra John, counseling, social events and pastoral care for senior citizens as ATA Accreditation Secretary; Dr. Theresa Lua, ATA Asst. Accreditation well as special seminars and workshops. The Center also serves as Secretary and AGST Dean; and Dr. Dasan Jeyaraj, Principal, laboratory for the Counseling students of MGST. International College of Cultural Studies (ICCS), visited the Nepal Theological College (NTC) in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 6-8, 2010. ATA’s VET Visits Asia Life Nepal Theological College, formerly called Discipleship Training Center, University in Korea was established by the Assemblies of God of Nepal Fellowship in 1978. At first it was only offering a three-month training program but as the number of AG churches grew, the need for more pastors and leaders led to the one-year Certificate of Theology which was later on expanded to a two-year Diploma of Theology program. In 1998 a land was purchased and the construction of the new facilities began in 1999. In 2007, the three-year B.Th. program was added. Presently, Mr. Bal Krishna Sharma is the Principal and Mr. Amar Pandey is the Academic Dean/Registrar of NTC. Dr. Theresa Lua with the ALU faculty. Dr. Theresa Lua, Accreditation Team Visits MGST in together with Dr. Seock-Tae Sohn, Taipei, Taiwan President, Reformed Theological Seminary, The Methodist and Dr. Ezra Sang- Graduate School of Beop Shim, Dean Theology of Planning and (MGST) in Development, Chong- Taipei, Taiwan shin University, was visited by visited the Asia Life Dr. Theresa University (ALU) in Lua together The VET interviewing ALU President, Dr. Yeol-Soo Eim Dae-jeon, Korea on and board member, Mr. Park Yoon Jong. with Dr. Akio May 13-15, 2010. Hashimoto, ALU was established in 1972 by its chairwoman, Rev. Seen Ok Ahn. It ATA Board was originally named Korean Foursquare Bible College but became Chairman; and Gospel Theological Seminary in 1998. On December 1997 the school Dr. Timothy Wu, The VET with the MGST faculty. obtained government accreditation and in 2001 its name was OT Professor, changed to Asia Life University. Holy Light Theological Seminary last April 27-29, 2010. MGST was established by the Methodist Church in Taiwan. It started operating The M.Div. program started in 1998, the Th.M. program in 1999, the in 1999. Although it is a denominational seminary, the student