Theological News On-Line

Issue 21 October 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:

•  Personal: Surgery for Dorothea Hille; sudden death of Bible College of NZ Principal
•  Rapid Response Unit formed by WEA Theological Commission
•  Consultation on theological education and HIV-AIDS
•  Large gathering of Jewish Evangelism leaders
•  Evangelical Review of Theology - Kingdom, Church and World - annual index issue

Personal

Surgery: Readers of WEA Theological News On-Line are invited to prayerfully support the chair of the WEA Theological Commission, Dr Rolf Hille and his wife, Dorothea. Dorothea has recently undergone serious neuro-surgery and is currently recuperating at their home in Tuebingen. Rolf and Dorothea are grateful that the cancerous tissue could be removed completely. The long and intensive surgery has extracted its toll on Dorothea and she will need a longer convalescence period before she will recover fully from the pain and discomfort. They covet your prayers. r.hille@bengelhaus.de

Death of College Principal: Brian Hathaway, Principal of Bible College of New Zealand, Auckland, died suddenly in West Auckland on October 5th. He was universally respected both in NZ and overseas as an outstanding Christian leader. At the funeral service attended by about 1000 friends, family and Christian leaders, Principal of Carey College (Baptist), Paul Windsor, said that while Brian was a friend, teacher, mentor and leader, he should first be remembered as a disciple of Jesus. (Brian attended the recent ICETE Consultation in UK.) http://www.bcnz.ac.nz/home.htm 

Rapid Response Unit for Theological Commission - help wanted 

When it met in the UK in August, the WEA Theological Commission (TC) undertook to create a 'Rapid Response Unit'. In consultation with WEA General Secretary Gary Edmonds, it was agreed that a formal mechanism needed to be put in place which would allow the WEA to comment quickly, from a sound theological base, on major news stories of international significance. The Unit will be directed by Rev Dr David Hilborn, who is Head of Theology at the Evangelical Alliance UK and who for the last six years has run its Theological Commission. In this role, he has overseen publication of a number of theological reports, and has worked closely with the EAUK Press and Media department, which is much in demand as a source of evangelical comment and information in Britain. 

Theologians typically take months or years to research, deliberate and write in the academic sphere, but the TC also recognizes that on certain occasions, more urgent input is required from them. The '9-11' attack on the twin towers and the recent war in Iraq would be obvious examples, but the rapid pace of events in the Anglican Communion on homosexuality this last summer also had global import, and warranted a global evangelical theological response. Hitherto, national alliances have often shared one another's press releases and statements ad hoc when issues have come to affect the world as a whole. While continuing to recognize the value of specific national and regional perspectives on global matters, the new Rapid Response Unit will seek to integrate and streamline WEA's contributions. 

At present, David Hilborn is gathering a pool of experts, who can be called upon at short notice to draft appropriate texts on behalf of WEA as and when matters of international concern arise. Most of the work done by the Rapid Response Unit will be conducted online, but administration will be based at the EAUK offices in London. 

If you have expertise which might benefit the Rapid Response Unit, or if you know of other theologians who would be able to help, please let David Hilborn know at acute@eauk.org 

Consultation on theological education and HIV-AIDS 

Preparations for the ACTEA's Southern Africa Regional Conference Nov 4-7 are nearing completion and registrations are high. The conference theme is "Theological Education in Context: Addressing the AIDS Reality", and it will be held at the African Enterprise Centre in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The consultation is jointly sponsored and arranged by ACTEA (the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa) and ESSA (the Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa). Principal of ESSA, Bill Houston, has announced that 'we have now almost reached our capacity that we are able to host at the Aids Conference.' Responses include participants from at least 17 countries. 

The conference is planned to be fully participatory with delegates invited to bring with them materials such as teaching resources, Bible studies, publications and audio-visual material for display and sharing. A key focus of the sessions will be opportunities to confer over experiences of dealing with the crisis in the context of theological education. As well sharing of resources, the aim of the conference is to explore how to prepare people to minister effectively and compassionately, what improvements are possible in present practice, and how the curriculum can reflect these concerns. 

For further information, contact essaseminary@mweb.co.za 

Largest gathering of Jewish evangelism leaders in this century 

The Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE) held its seventh international conference at the Finnish Bible Institute near Helsinki, Finland, August 7-12. The LCJE sponsored event was the largest ever since the establishment of the group in 1980 – drawing more than 200 participants from 18 countries. It was also intentional in its location. 

Tuvya Zaretsky, president of LCJE and a Jewish believer in Jesus, commented, "The venue for the conference was chosen because of its proximity to the former Soviet Union where we are encouraged to see indigenous leadership growing for our movement. In addition, Finland was chosen because of the Nordic region's historic concern for the spiritual and physical well being of the Jewish people." 

Over 300 pages of reports and papers were given as leaders were updated on trends in the Jewish community worldwide and innovations in the field of Jewish missions. They also adopted a conference statement (more on that below) entitled "Jesus and His People." 

Highlights of the statement include: 

• An affirmation of the love between Jewish and Arab believers in Jesus. The statement points out that Jesus is "both the road and the map to true shalom with God and one another." 
• An appreciation for addressing humanitarian concerns of the Jewish people, but a strong caution for those "who do not consider verbal proclamation of the gospel to Jewish people a necessary part of the Great Commission." 
• An acknowledgement of the "vibrant witness of Russian-speaking Jewish believers worldwide and the creative and courageous indigenous leadership they bring to our movement." 
• An acclamation that Jesus is God incarnate and that "there is salvation in no other Name." 

On this last point, Dr. Kai Kjaer-Hansen, international coordinator of LCJE and one of the organization's founders added, "If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, how can He possibly be the Messiah for the rest of us? He is either the Messiah of all, or he is not the Messiah at all!" 

Report by Theresa Newell, LCJE North America Coordinator in Lausanne Committee for World evangelization ENewsletter, September 2003 www.lausanne.org and http://www.lcje.net/ 

Evangelical Review of Theology - Kingdom, Church and World - annual index issue 

The October 2003 issue of Evangelical Review of Theology is now available. It contains the annual index. The theme for this issue is 'Kingdom, Church and World.' Articles include: 

• 'The Kingdom of God and the Church today' by Bertil Ekström (Brazil); 
• 'Cosmological and Biblical Eschatologies: Consonance or Dissonance?' by Johan Ferreira (Australia); 
• 'A Patristic Perspective on European Christianity in World Perspective' by Thomas C. Oden (USA) (a paper from the 2002 joint TC/FEET consultation); 
• 'Christian Unity vis-à-vis Roman Catholicism: A Critique of the Evangelicals and Catholics Together' dialogue by Leonardo De Chirico (Italy); 
• 'Globalization, Creation of Global Culture of Consumption and the Impact on the Church and its Mission' by Tom W. Sine, Jr. (USA) 

For more information on subscriptions, contact Paternoster Periodical jmudditt@aol.com 

WEA Theological News On-line

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