WOCATI SYMPOSIUM 12-19/1/ 2006

WOCATI consultation’s basic aims and plan

 

The World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions (WOCATI) is organizing a consultation on the theme “The mission of the Church and the role of theological education in it”, to be held in Thessaloniki, Greece January 13-18, 2006 (12 arrivals, 19 departures), sponsored by mission agencies and hosted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Greek Orthodox diocese of Neapolis, Thessaloniki. It will consist of the 9 EC members, plus 6 selected invitees from the wider WOCATI cconstituency, 2 from ETE, 1 from CWME, 2 from EMW and 1 from CWM, and local experts and young theologians.

The consultation’s primary aim is to promote the missional aspect of Theological Education, and to prepare 3 working papers for the 2007 WOCATI Assembly, and the wider network of the theological institutions.

As the WOCATI Executive Committee decided at Kingston, Jamaica, it is planned to have:

(a) “Presentations” at the beginning of the consultation (3 in all) to provide insights for the drafting of these working papers, in addition to any other input provided by the participants.

(b) “Hearings and Reports” sessions (6 in all), each one consisting of 2 short paper/oral presentations (maximum ten minutes long each), prepared by 2 participants (6x2=12). And

(c) “Meetings in groups”, the main task of which will be, as indicated above, the drafting of the 3 working papers for the forthcoming WOCATI Assembly.

The three plenary presentations will cover the three areas of the theme: Theological Education, Mission, and Church. One such presentation will be prepared by an EC member, one by an invitee from another WOCATI member association, and one by a  CWME/WCC missiologist.

All the EC members will be assigned specific tasks as follows: The President Dr. Petros Vassiliadis, and the Vice-President, Dr. Mansoon Kang will moderate all the plenaries. Dr. Tevita Banivanua will moderate Group 1, Rev. Bill Hopkinson will moderate Group 2, and Leonor Rojas will moderate Group 3. The other 3 members of the Executive will prepare some general ideas for the working papers: Dr. Kathleen Williams for the 1st, Dr. Daniel Aleshire for the 2nd, and Rev. Edison Kalengyo for the 3rd working paper, all to be of course finalized after the presentations and all other insights offered at the earlier stages of the symposium (see below the Monday 9:00 session).

The 1st Presentation on “Challenges and Prospects of Theological Education and their mission to the Church”, will be presented by Dr. Faith Lohrbough (ATS), the 2nd Presentation on “The Prophetic Pole of Theological Education”, will be presented by Dr. Hyacinth Boothe, and the  3rd Presentation on “Mission and the Unity of the Church, and its implication on Theological Education” by Dr. Jacques Matthey (CWME of WCC).

All the participants have been kindly asked to report at the “Hearings and Reports” sessions (see below the Saturday afternoon sessions) as follows:

A.                  “What do mission organizations and agencies expect from Theological Education”. The EMW and CWM representatives (Rev. H. Meissner and Rev. R. Hewitt) will jointly present it.

B.                  “What do the Churches expect from Theological Education”. Dr. Williams and Bishop Nifon of Tirgovista from East Europe will jointly present it.

C.                  “The history of PTE/ETE and the prospects of old Theological Institutions in dealing with Church mission”. Dr. E. Perselis (ETE) and Dr. G. Larcher (Western Europe) will jointly present it.

D.                  “Theological Education and religious plurality”. Dr. Muriel (ETE) and the Rev. D. Kourieh from ATIME (Middle East) will jointly present it.

E.                   “Report on the Latin American and African Theological Associations” Roberto (LA) and Rev. Kalengyo will jointly present it.

F.                   “Excellency and commitment in Theological Education and the hosting Institution’s initiatives”. Dr. K. Raiser and the local Dean (Dr. Ch. Economou) will jointly present it.

 

 

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PROVISIONAL PROGRAM

 

Thursday, Jan 12

 

            First arrivals at University Guest House (UGH)

            Dinner at University Dinning Hall (UDH)

 

Friday, Jan 13

 

Morning: Last arrivals – EC meeting (those already arrived for urgent matters only): at UGH

13:00: Lunch at UDH.

15:00-17:00: EC continues at the Theological School.

17:30: Courtesy visit of the EC to our Host, the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Prof. John Antonopoulos.

18:00: Official Opening of the Symposium at Senate’s Hall – 1st Presentation

19:30: Dinner offered by the Rector or at UDH.

 

Saturday, Jan 14

(all consecutive sessions at the Theological School)

08:30: Morning devotion

09:00: 2nd Presentation - Discussion

10:30: Coffee break

11:00: 3rd Presentation – Discussion

13:00: Lunch offered by the Church

15:00: Hearings and Reports A – B – C

16:30: Coffee break

17:00: Hearings and Reports  D – E – F

19:00: Dinner offered by the Church – Meeting with women theologians

 

Sunday Jan 15

 

Morning Church visits:

 

09:00 All participants have been invited by H.E. Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, to the Orthodox Divine Liturgy at St. John’s Orthodox Cathedral

 

11:00 Breakfast with our host Bishop at the Bishop’s Palace.

 

13:00: Lunch with our host Bishop at the Chortiatis Monastery at the outskirts of Thessaloniki

 

15:00: Biblical Thessaloniki City tour, conducted by Dr. K. Charalambidis.

 

18:30: Symposium (in Greek) organized by former Greek ETE commissioners (Dr. S, Agouridis) and young theologians, followed by Dinner offered by the Church – Meeting with Greek young theologians.

 

 

 

Monday, Jan 16

 

08:30: Morning devotion

09:00: Presentation of the 3 1-page-general ideas for the working papers – Discussion

10:00-12:30: Meeting in groups (I)

12:30: Meeting with the Dean and Faculty followed by Lunch at  13:30 in UDH.

15:00: Meeting in groups (II)

16:30: Coffee break

17:00: Meeting in groups (III)

19:00: Dinner at UDH

20:30: First drafting of the 3 working documents.

 

Tuesday, Jan 17

 

08:30: Morning devotion

09:00: Last Meeting in groups (IV) – EC meeting

10:30: Coffee break

11:00: Presentation of the working paper No 1 – Discussion

13:00: Lunch at UDH

15:00: Presentation of the working paper No 2 – Discussion

16:30: Coffee break

17:00: Presentation of the working paper No 3 – Discussion

19:00: Dinner offered by the Church and cultural evening with folk dances.

 

Wednesday, Jan 18

All day excursion: ON THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST PAUL

 

On our way to the biblical sites: a cultural orientation on Greece and its religious status – a short presentation of the Church of Greece – an archeological introduction and a theological reflection on St. Paul’s mission in Macedonia Visit to the biblical site of Beroia (St. Paul’s bema) with a theological reflection on St. Paul’s visit to the city – and an archeological introduction to Vergina (the Ancient Macedonian Empire’s capital and Alexander the Great’s city). Lunch with the Metropolitan of the apostolic diocese of Beroia. In the afternoon visit and sightseeing of other Macedonian cities  Edessa and/or Philippi. Return to Thessaloniki.

 

Thursday, Jan 19

Departures

 

NB: Each group will consist  of participants if possible from at least 5 different WOCATI areas, one sponsor and one ETE/WCC participant as follows:

GROUP 1: Banivanua (moderator PAC), Williams (drafter AUS), Vassiliadis (EE), Larcher (WE), Nifon  (EE), Jacques (CWME), Raiser (EMW) + 2 Locals

GROUP 2: Hopkinson (moderator WE), Aleshire (drafter NA), Boothe (CAR), Pereyra (LA), Daniel (ME), Perselis (ETE), Herbert (EMW) + 2 Locals.

GROUP 3: Leonor (moderator LA), Edison (drafter AF), Namsoon (AS), Faith (ATS/NA), Martey (AFR), Muriel (ETE), Hewitt (CWM) + 2 Locals.