The Alliance will hold its first global institute of theology in Accra, Ghana, from July 22 to August 15 2004. The institute is intended for theological students and pastors beginning their ministry. It will be organized in conjunction with the 24th general council and in close cooperation with Trinity Theological Seminary, Ghana.

The institute will

reflect theologically on the general council theme, "That All may have Life in Fullness" (John 10.10);
study contemporary theologies and missiologies in their interconfessional, intercultural and interreligious dimensions;
examine contextual perspectives on the Christian witness of the global Reformed family; and
strengthen global networks of sharing and reflection among theological students and faculty, church workers, theological institutions and churches.

The institute is intended for up to 80 women and men from all continents who are either a) students preparing for the Christian ministry at a theological school related to a WARC member church or b) pastors in their first years of ministry recommended by WARC member churches. In addition, there will be 15-20 auditing theological students from Ghana.

We will be meeting in Africa, a continent which has been marginalized in the process of globalization, and we will be learning what the churches of Africa have to say to the world situation and churches on other continents. We will organize ourselves as an international community of scholars, and our experiences and sharing will become the immediate context for what we do together.

The global institute of theology reflects four major concerns of the Alliance: to encourage theological reflection on the contextual significance of our common Reformation heritage; to promote the renewal of mission practices and missiology; to train new generations of ecumenically-minded Reformed leaders and to strengthen the participation of youth at all levels of the life and witness of our churches.

Exploring new frontiers in mission

Several aspects of today's world situation are immediately relevant to our study. These include the revival of religious fundamentalism; the crisis in the ecumenical movement and ecumenical missiology in particular; the challenge of interfaith dialogue and interreligious conflicts; the challenge of peacemaking in the context of the current "war on terrorism"; the urgent need for continuing to address issues of gender, race and class. Of particular concern to the Alliance is the covenanting process of addressing worldwide economic injustice and environmental destruction.

The global institute of theology will explore the results of a two-year study on the practice, understanding and renewal of mission among Alliance member churches and engage in a dialogue with "post-colonial" issues emerging in the missiologies currently practised in Asia and the Pacific islands, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Curriculum

All students will be required to take a core course on "Life in fullness: challenge to theology and mission" (for 2.0 credits) and one of four possible elective courses (for 2.0 credits) on "Confessing the faith today", "New directions in mission for the 21st century", "Theology and mission of the church in Africa", or "Explorations in intercultural theology".

Academic credit according to international standards will be granted by Trinity Theological Seminary, but other possibilities may also be negotiated. The language of instruction will be English.

Faculty and students

Institute of Theology staff Dr Philip L Wickeri, professor of world Christianity, San Francisco Theological Seminary (USA) will serve as dean of the institute of theology, and Dr Volker Kuester, professor of intercultural theology, Kampen Theological University (The Netherlands) as associate dean for academic affairs. Dr Jane Dempsey Douglass, professor emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary (USA), and Dr Milan Opocensky, professor emeritus, Charles University, Prague (Czech Republic) will serve as co-presidents of the institute.

They will be joined in the coordination team by Rev. Priscille Djomhoué, Faculty of Protestant Theology, Yaoundé (Cameroon), Dr Kim Yong-bock, chancellor of the Asia Pacific Graduate School for the Study of Life (Korea), Dr Joseph OY Mante (Ghana), dean of Trinity Theological Seminary, Accra (Ghana), and Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus (Brazil), department of theology, World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Up to ten other faculty members will join the institute from theological seminaries all over the world.

The Alliance asks theological institutions related to its member churches

to appoint up to three students to attend the institute and, if necessary, facilitate their participation;
to help facilitate the participation of Reformed students from the South; and
to pray for the work of the global institute of theology.

Further information

For further information on the institute and for application forms, visit our website, email us, or write to the department of theology at our international office.

Odair Pedroso Mateus