Theological News On-Line

Issue 27 April 2004	'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 at rolf.hille@albrecht-bengel-haus.de

In this issue:

•  Open Theism
•  Environmental Stewardship Project Update
•  Pakistan Bible Correspondence Institute Reports Good Year
•  2004 Lausanne Forum Strategy Process Underway

Open Theism

Brad Green, Union University, provided a regular column on books for the printed version of WEA Theological News. This article was published in his series last year:

The previous contributor to this column briefly reviewed several books in the open theism debate some time ago. But the persistence of the debate and the growing number of publications justifies another column devoted to this issue.

While the theology of open theism has been voiced by various persons during the modern era, the most significant 'opening salvo' in the current debate is most certainly The Openness of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,1994). Five chapters by five scholars North American evangelical scholars present an overview of the case for open theism. Richard Rice, John Sanders, Clark H. Pinnock, William Hasker, and David Basinger write on biblical, historical, systematic, philosophical, and practical issues.

Contributors to The Openness of God have written elsewhere on this issue. David Basinger has written The Case for Freewill Theism: A Philosophical Assessment (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996). John Sanders' most significant work in this area is his book, The God Who Risks: A Theology of Providence (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998). Besides The Openness of God, Pinnock has authored The Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001); with Robert C. Brow, Unbounded Love: A Good News Theology for the Twenty-first Century (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994). Richard Rice has authored God's Foreknowledge and Man's Free Will (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1985). Gregory A. Boyd, of Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, has written God of the Possible: A Biblical Introduction to the Open View of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2000).

Other volumes such as Letters from a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles with His Father's Questions About Christianity (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor, 1994), also espouses certain open theism tenets. One recent volume is essentially an edited compilation of a lengthy e-mail discussion between Christopher A. Hall (more of a traditionalist), and John Sanders (an open theist). Their volume is Does God Have a Future?: A Debate on Divine Providence (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2003).

One of the earlier formal responses to open theism from a more traditional standpoint is the contribution of Gerald Bray, The Personal God: Is the Classical Understanding of God Tenable? (Carlisle, UK: Paternoster Press, 1998). At only seventy-six pages, Bray's volume is the beginning of a response to open theism. Bray suggests that the classical understanding of God has within it the resources to mount an orthodox response to open theism. Bray spends time wrestling with the issue of religious language, and suggests that open theism proffers an inadequate understanding of the way religious language works. See also Bray's The Doctrine of God. Contours of Christian Theology Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993). John Frame, who teaches theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, has authored, No Other God: A Response to Open Theism (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 2001). Frame attempts to mount an attack on open theism from a Calvinistic perspective. His own doctrine of God is fleshed out in much more detail in his The Doctrine of God. A Theology of Lordship (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 2002).

Bruce Ware of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky) has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of open theism. He has authored two volumes, God's Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), and the more concise and streamlined, Their God is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2003). Forthcoming is Ware's God's Greater Glory (Wheaton, IL: Crossway). Millard J. Erickson, North American evangelical theologian has authored God the Father Almighty: A Contemporary Exploration of the Divine Attributes (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1998). This is not a full-length treatise on open theism, but his chapter, 'Free Will Theism,' is one of the best short summaries and critiques of open theism available. A recent issue of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (vol. 45, no. 2, June 2002) is devoted to the issue of open theism (eight of the nine articles follow this theme). Ware, Pinnock, Sanders, and Boyd engage in a series of five point-counterpoint articles, and three additional thematic articles are included. A forthcoming book by A.J. Conyers of Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary on the immutability of God, written from a more classical perspective, promises to shed light on this debate.

For the person who might be new to the debate: for the open theism perspective, The Openness of God is perhaps still the best one-volume introduction to the open theism debate, perhaps followed by Boyd's The God of the Possible; for the traditional perspective, the Erickson chapter from God the Father Almighty is a great place to start, followed by Bray's The Personal God, Frame's No Other God, and Ware's God's Lesser Glory.

Environmental Stewardship Project Update

Dr. Ken Gnanakan, Vice-Chair of the WEA TC, who has been leading a project on Environmental Stewardship for some time, reports that first phase of the project involving the writing of the book has almost concluded. Some appropriate case studies and practical work assignments are being incorporated. Once this is done, 1000 copies for India, and 2000 copies for other developing world countries will be printed.

The second phase of the project (aimed for January 2004) will involve the various national theological commissions or the Evangelical Alliances themselves who will be invited to organise study groups in their area. 50 to 100 copies of the book will be made available to the study coordinator assigned by the national alliance. A one year study will be planned and results will be submitted to a dedicated website that is to be developed. Where internet connectivity is poor, interaction will take place by means of normal mail channels. Findings from the project will be put together into a proposed action plan, with an agenda for environmental action for the church all over the world.

Those interested in participating in this project, contact Dr. Gnanakan on ken@gnanakan.com

Pakistan Bible Correspondence Institute Reports Good Year

The Pakistan Bible Correspondence Institute, based in Hyderabad, has reported a good year for 2003. A recent newsletter said: 'We thank God that during 2003 he has blessed this work of proclaiming his Word through correspondence courses. This is a result of your prayers too - thank you for praying. You will remember that at the beginning of 2003 there was a large debt with the P.B.C.I. Karachi Centre. At the time it was hard to see how this could be paid back. However, we are thankful to God that by the end of 2003 he had made it possible to fully repay this and had provided the finance to keep the work going.'

During the year they placed 5 advertisements in the Kawash newspaper (only one short of their goal), which resulted in many applications. The first course together with a New Testament was sent to 2,611 people. A certificate is sent on the successful completion of each course. Last year 568 certificates were sent out. On the completion of the third course we send a Jesus Video. Last year 80 videos were sent.

In February 2004 a weeklong consultation was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for those ministering in the Sindhi language. About 50 people from different countries participated, including one from the PBCI.

Goals for 2004 include 800 new students, 120 Jesus Video cassettes, 9 newspaper advertisements, 25 student meetings in different parts of the Sindh and promotional contacts with local churches and their leaders.

The Sindhi Centre PCBI may be contacted at Box #169 Hyderabad 71000 Sindh, Pakistan or sindhi@hotmail.com

2004 Lausanne Forum Strategy Process Underway

The 2004 Forum for World Evangelization is just a few months away. Forum Invitations and Communications Chair Lisa Tucker Spalt reports, the 2004 Forum Strategy process is underway: Invitation acceptances and registrations are being finalized by Issue Group (IG) leaders, as they engage in the strategy development process in preparation for the 2004 Forum. IG's are connecting an international network of strategic thinkers and reflective practitioners with a goal of developing an occasional paper that not only addresses key issues facing world evangelization but also provides strategic recommendations following the Forum. IG's also have access to an 11,000-article Knowledge Base to compliment their ministry experience.

IG COMMUNICATION Over the next few months of strategy development, the IG's will employ a variety of communication methods and web-based tools to assist their interaction. The Reconciliation and Future Leadership Issue Groups have both gathered participant steering committees to launch the strategy development process while groups such as Discipling Oral Learners have employed teleconferencing capabilities and web-based audio- conferences to facilitate their interaction. Internet-based discussion forums will build a sequence of contributions toward the production of a final draft of the IG-specific document.

The majority of the IG's are expected to facilitate discussion and document- sharing through email and egroups. The international make-up of the IG's requires leaders to use a variety of communications means ranging from face-to-face meetings to web-based technical tools to facilitate communication.

We're pleased to report that 21% of IG participants are from African countries, 22% from Asia, 6% from South America, 21% from Eastern and Western Europe and 30% from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Bridging cultural, geographic, technical and language barriers represents the greatest challenge to IG interaction, but also provides the greatest opportunity for learning, growing and experiencing more effective collaboration within the body of Christ.

Whatever the means of communication or the make-up of the group, participation in an IG offers a marvellous opportunity for collaborative learning and building an understanding of the issue through a cross-section of contributors.

FORUM OPERATIONS

As the IG's engage in the critical task of strategy development, the 2004 Forum Planning Committee is finalizing operational details. Forum Chair Dr. Roger Parrott met recently with the onsite operations team at Campus Crusade for Christ headquarters to finalize security protocol, volunteer coordination/recruitment and participant registration/support. Matthew Anderson, Deputy Chief of Staff, is directing a 13-member team from the Office of the President of Campus Crusade for Christ. This team will handle the critical operation needs of onsite registration as well as assisting with the office, the info booth, operational support for the IG's and working with the technical team on the plenary sessions.

Gary Barnes, Director of Forum Conference Operations, has been instrumental in hotel negotiations and diplomacy with the Thai church to host the Forum. Gary is overseeing the hotel registration process for all of the participants leading up to the Forum and will be focusing his attention on inviting volunteers from the Thai church to support the conference.

The Forum has also engaged the services of Crisis Consulting International to ensure the safety and security of all participants from arrival at the airport in Thailand to their departure following the conference.

Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization Newsletter, March 2004

communications@lausanne.org

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