Theological News On-Line

Issue 20 September 2003 (Please note: there was no TN On-line for August 2003)	'Promoting Biblical Truth by Networking Theologians'

Published by Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance

Editor: David Parker dparker@pacific.net.au
email distribution: Dr.Paul C. Murdoch Murdoch@ead.de

Welcome to WEA Theological News On-Line - this is the on-line version of our printed quarterly, WEA Theological News (ISSN 0260-3705). WEA TN On-Line is issued approximately monthly. The content of the printed and on-line versions overlap but are not identical. We also publish Evangelical Review of Theology. For more information, visit our website www.worldevangelical.org/tcpubs.html#ert

We welcome news reports on theological matters for both versions - they can cover theological institutions, conferences, publications, faculty, trends and developments, etc. of interest to evangelical theologians around the world.

For more information on the work of the Theological Commission, contact the Executive Chair, Dr Rolf Hille on r.hille@bengelhaus.de

In this issue:

•  WEA Theological Commission takes the initiative at annual meeting in UK
•  Biblical Foundations for Theological Education
•  ICETE 12th International Consultation
•  Global Christian Campaign against Poverty

WEA Theological Commission takes the initiative at annual meeting in UK

The WEA Theological Commission met August 15-18, 2003 for its annual business meeting at The Wycliffe Centre, near High Wycombe, UK. The meeting was held prior to the 12th Consultation of its partner organisation, ICETE in which members participated, especially in the 'Theology of Theological Education' track. Since its recent re-organisation, the Theological Commission, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2004, consists of seven members from Europe, UK, USA, Canada, Asia, and Australia. There are vacancies for members from East Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Secretary-General of the World Evangelical Alliance, Mr Gary Edmonds, attended TC business meetings for the first time since his appointment to the post in 2002. In addition, two representatives from the Korean Evangelical Theological Society, Dr Young Tae Han (Seoul Theological University, President) and Dr Jae Sung Kim ( Hapdong Theological Seminary, co-secretary) were present as guests. As a result of this visit, Dr Jae Sung Kim has been appointed as a member of the TC with the full support of KETS.

Reports presented to the TC by its Chair, Dr Rolf Hille, and Director of Publications, Dr David Parker, indicated considerable activity and progress during the year, despite several difficulties, and very limited funding. Plans were developed for on-going programs and for several new initiatives.

Perhaps the most important of these was the new unit set up under the leadership of Dr David Hilborn to prepare short statements on issue of urgent concern facing evangelicals around the world. Called the 'Rapid Response Unit', this group will draw on the expertise of people in various countries when major, immediate, theological matters of relevance to evangelicals on the global scale surface, especially in response to requests from the WEA constituency or its leadership. Matters of concern should be addressed to the WEA International Office in the first instance. Offers and nominations of names of people with suitable expertise, interest and ability in this kind of work are invited. (Please contact Dr Hilborn direct at the UK Evangelical Alliance acute@eauk.org)

Dr Ken Gnanakan reported good progress on the Environmental Stewardship program that has been in hand for some time. It is expected to be finalised in the next few months with the publication of a study guide book.

It was also decided that Dr Gnanakan would work with the Secretary-General of the WEA, Mr Gary Edmonds, to develop some large scale study projects which would be integrated with other parts of the WEA constituency to meet pressing needs around the world. The TC plans to make initial submissions from its perspective which would then, under the leadership of Mr Edmonds, be coordinated with other groups. Mr Edmonds will also coordinate the considerable fund raising efforts needed for such projects.

Other ideas for study projects were also discussed and will be developed as opportunities become available. One of these is the concept of position papers on key issues of concern to be prepared by TC members and other interested people and be published in the TC's journal, Evangelical Review of Theology. The Editor, Dr David Parker, invites expressions of interest from readers for this venture.

Dr David Parker was appointed as Director of Administration in addition to his existing work with the TC publications. It is hoped that this appointment will enhance the work of the TC and relieve some of the load on the TC Chair, Dr Rolf Hille who serves a dual role as Executive Chair in the absence of a full time Executive Director. This position is vacant for reasons of funding and personnel. Dr Parker will represent the TC at a theological consultation in South Africa in Nov 2003 sponsored by ACTEA.

The TC also made plans for further meetings and consultations. Next year, it will meet in conjunction with the Lausanne Pattaya 2004 Forum for World Evangelization (Sept 28 - Oct 6), and also participate in this event. For the 2005 meeting, the TC has accepted an invitation of Korea Evangelical Theological Society to participate in a theological consultation in Seoul. Plans are to be developed for a major theological consultation to be sponsored by the Theological Consultation in 2006.

For more information, contact TC Director of Administration or TC Chair.

Biblical foundations for Theological Education

The WEA Theological Commission and ICETE worked together on an intensive study track at the 12th ICETE Consultation held in UK, Aug 18-22, 2003, to reflect on the biblical and theological foundations for theological education. It consisted of three study sessions with two major review papers and a plenary session on the last evening of the Consultation. The track, was co-hosted by Dr Rolf Hille, TC Chair and Dr Larry McKinney ICETE chair. The outcome was a decision to set up a Task Force to produce a comprehensive series of papers to be published in Evangelical Review of Theology which would provide the basis for a further discussion session at a subsequent ICETE Consultation.

Initial impetus for the Track arose from the ICETE Manifesto on the Renewal of Theological Education which calls for 'a thorough-going theology of theological education' and the need to 'seek, elaborate and possess a biblical theology of theological education.' Two years ago the ICETE Executive recognised the need to revitalise its earlier Task Force in this area and decided on a track devoted to the topic at the 2003 Consultation.

Attended by a strong contingent of ICETE and TC participants, the Track met each afternoon. Discussion centred around a review of a paper previously prepared by Dr Dieumeme Noelliste, 'Toward a Theology of Theological Education' with a response by the author. A second focus for discussion was a paper by Dr Brian Edgar of Melbourne, Australia, reviewing the theological education debate as presented in Between Athens and Berlin by David Kelsey. Dr Edgar proposed significant enhancements and corrections to the models set up by Kelsey which generated considerable discussion. Dr Ron Diprose of Italy, Secretary of European Evangelical Accrediting Association, also contributed a paper on the theology of evangelical theological education. After a comprehensive analysis and review of the material presented and discussion by Dr David Hilborn (UK), it was decided that more work was required. A number of topics which arose in the discussion were noted and potential paper writers were nominated. It is expected that the papers will occupy a special issue of Evangelical Review of Theology and will become the basis for further discussion at the next ICETE Consultation.

In one of the final plenary sessions of the ICETE Consultation, the TC presented the findings of Track and Chair, Dr Rolf Hille delivered a powerful address on 'Energising Theological Education' by the creative, incarnate, written and transforming Word of God.

For more information on this Track, contact Dr Brian Edgar, or Dr Larry McKinney.

ICETE's 12th International Consultation on Theological Education - Tackles mega-shifts in global education

The 12th International Consultation on Theological Education sponsored by ICETE (International Council for Evangelical Theological Education, under the auspices of the World Evangelical Alliance) held at The Wycliffe Centre, near High Wycombe, UK, August 18-22, 2003, attracted more than 140 participants. All parts of the world were well represented, with most coming from Africa.

The program featured several visiting speakers, other ICETE related presenters, practical sessions, reports of member bodies and associated seminaries and a special joint track with the WEA Theological Commission on 'The Theology of Theological Education.' Dr John R.W. Stott was a special guest at the opening session and brought a greeting and prayer. In the first paper focusing on the 'evangelical theological education in global context', Dr Miroslav Volf of Yale University Divinity School said that 'the most important challenge for theology that claims to be evangelical' was 'the place of God in theological education and, more broadly, in doing theology.'

Many of the processes and implications of globalization were expertly presented in a comprehensive paper by Dr Wadi Haddad, of Lebanon, formerly of the World Bank and UNESCO and now president of Knowledge Enterprise Inc. His presentation covered the globalization of economics, knowledge, culture, the increasing demands for education generally and the rapid changes in tertiary education on the global scene. His plenary session was followed up by popular practical sessions aimed as assisting institutions in coping with the new and emerging educational developments.

Dr Alister McGrath, Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford and Principal of Wycliffe Hall, urged consultation participants to develop a vision for theological education in relation to the liberal arts. He emphasized the strategic need to present a vision to the next generation of the Christian worldview and a holistic Christian spirituality.

In response to these opening papers which set theological education in a wide perspective, two prominent leaders of the ICETE movement addressed some of their practical implications. Dr Larry McKinney, Executive Director of the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (North America) and previously President of Providence College and Seminary (Canada), discussed issues involved in 'Implementing our own Agenda.' Referring to past commitments such as biblical teaching, the Great Commission, holiness of life and ministry formation, he noted that there were several present realities to be taken into account, especially dramatic changes taking place in ministry training and higher education (mobility of people, institutions and course material), and the composition and characteristics of the student body. He therefore called for a range of measures in response including contextualisation, creativity and accountability in course content and delivery, and a focus on the needs and ministry of the church when deciding on program, services and resources and theological grounding for the educational task.

The Director of ICETE, Dr Dieumeme Noelliste, President of Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, surveyed the relationship between the theological education sector and the wider movement in recent years. He concluded that there had been a 'benign neglect' of theological education by global evangelicalism which had been matched by 'nonchalance' on the part of theological education. He was therefore making a 'lament and an appeal' in the hope that there could be a higher level of 'mutual engagement' in the future.

There was very little time for questions in the packed program of the Consultation. However, nominated panels representing a broad cross section of the participants responded to many of the issues raised by these papers as they focused on theological education in the context of general higher education within its global perspective and under the pressure of rapid and far-reaching change. Practical sessions each afternoon of the conference provided further popular avenues for reflection and implementation of new insights. Some service organizations such as Langham Partnership and Overseas Council also presented their ministries.

Reports presented during the consultation by ICETE's eight continental member networks of theological schools indicated a wide range of activities and initiatives and at the same time revealed a large variety of contexts and issues of concern, extending from wholesale changes in the accreditation regime in North America and problems of political and social instability in Africa to rapid growth in Eurasia. Consultation delegates were also updated on the developments in Europe under the Bologna process which is reorganising and regulating the structures of education in that area with significant implications and possibilities for theological institutions. Several institutions from different parts of the world presented details of developments in their own areas indicating strong growth especially in graduate schools of theology, contextualisation and variety in methods of delivery of education.

ICETE itself, now 23 years old with more than 700 institutions in its networks in almost 100 countries, announced a new mission statement and a Council of Reference. Director, Dr Dieumeme Noelliste, reported that since the last consultation in Ware UK in 2000, the organization has been rebuilding itself, and now was looking to an enhanced profile and wider recognition. It had also broadened its membership to include associates and affiliates. For more information, contact ICETE Administrator Dr Paul Bowers, or chair, Dr Larry McKinney.

Global Christian Campaign Against Poverty

The Micah Challenge-a global evangelical campaign against poverty will be launched at the Micah Network consultation, Globalisation and The Poor from September 22-27, 2003 in Mexico. It has developed out of the vision of two Christian organisations, the Micah Network and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA). The campaign aims to mobilise a global Christian voice in support of efforts to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) to halve world poverty by 2015, and to go beyond this to call on the evangelical church worldwide to recommit itself to the poor.

The Micah network brings together 220 grass roots relief, community and justice ministries throughout the world, and the WEA brings 160 million evangelical Christians world-wide. Steve Bradbury the Chair of the Micah Network and Director of TEAR Australia, said recently: "It is an audaciously ambitious campaign, and our willingness to embark upon it rests in our confidence that God has been guiding us to do so. But we also believe that the work of the members of our network already demonstrates a substantial evangelical Christian
commitment to poor and oppressed communities, and that this gives our campaign great credibility."

For more information, and access to copies of Justice, Mercy and Humility- Integral Mission and the Poor, edited by Tim Chester with contributions from C Rene Padilla, Tom Sine and Elaine Storkey go to www.micahnetwork.org or email:
michael.smitheram@tearfund.org

WEA Theological News On-line

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