Theological News On-Line

Issue 32    October 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:

•  Progress at 30 year mark for Theological Commission
•  Theological Commission Contributes to Forum on World Evangelization as Lausanne Movement plans for Future Growth
•  Environmental Study book now available
•  Conference to Celebrate Pandita Ramabai

Progress at 30 year mark for Theological Commission

The WEA Theological Commission marked the thirtieth anniversary of its formation with a planning and strategy meeting in Bangkok characterised by plans for progress and development and the enlargement of its membership and scope. A short history of the TC has been published during 2004 in the Commission's journal, Evangelical Review of Theology.

Three new members were appointed to expand the representation of the TC. They are Dr Carver Yu of China Graduate School of Theology, Hong Kong replacing Dr Wilson Chow who has stood down, Dr Claus Schwambach of Brazil and Rev Per Pederson of Armenia. (Profiles of the new members will be published in later editions of TN). This increase in membership is in line with a previous plans to fill vacancies in TC membership. Further appointments are being considered from Africa and other localities.

In a further important development, the TC decided to introduce new categories of involvement which will allow theologians and organizations to be actively linked with the Commission. Theologians will be able to become Associates and institutions such as theological associations, churches, missions and seminaries will be invited to become Affiliates. Both Associates and Affiliates will pay a subscription fee which will bring them the TC journal and newsletter and they will be able to participate in TC activities and contribute to its programs.

The TC also considered new study projects to cover the topics in bio-ethics, and Christianity and other faiths, and the uniqueness of Christ. A project on the theology of theological education is due to be completed early in 2005. The environmental stewardship study headed by TC Vice-Chair, Dr Ken Gnanakan, has just been completed. The 134 page booklet on this topic was launched at the Bangkok meeting and is now available from TBT PO Box 9529 Bangalore, India (see separate story below).

Reports presented to the meeting indicated that the re-issuing of the CD-ROM of TC materials has been successful. Steps were also taken to develop the internal structure of the TC allowing for smoother administration and greater focus by its members on theological reflection. The WEA was represented at the meetings by Vice-Chairman of the International Council, Mr Wong Kim Kong, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia, who was able to shed considerable light on developments in the WEA.

Funding continues to be a serious problem for the TC, but it is hoped that the new initiatives adopted at the 2004 meeting will lead to an improvement. Plans were developed for the next major function of the Theological Commission which will be a joint consultation in September 2005 with the Korea Evangelical Theological Society on the topic, 'The task of evangelical theology for the church for the 21st century.'

One of the most significant parts of the Bangkok 2004 TC gathering was a joint session with the Lausanne movement's Theology Working Group (TWG) which was meeting at the same venue. The Lausanne TWG, which has been dormant for some time, has been revived and is focusing on the impact of varying ways of interpreting Scripture for the task of evangelism. Both the TC and the TWG shared perspectives on their work and showed interest in working together in the future, as they have done from time to time in the past. Members of both groups went on to participate fully in the 2004 Forum on World Evangelization held at Pattaya, Thailand (see separate story below).

Theological Commission Contributes to Forum on World Evangelization as Lausanne Movement plans for Future Growth

Members of the WEA Theological Commission were active participants in the 2004 Forum on World Evangelization held at Pattaya, Thailand, under the sponsorship of the Lausanne Committee in partnership with the Great Commission Roundtable. As a result of an invitation by the organizers, TC members were among the leadership teams and panels of several Issue Groups (IG) through which the work of the Forum was conducted. They were involved in studying reconciliation, bioethics, and emerging forms of the church.

The biggest contribution was made to the IG on the uniqueness of Christ which was convened by TC Executive Chair, Dr Rolf Hille. In its report, this IG stressed the importance of making Christology a matter of public discussion because of the challenge that contemporary worldviews pose for the basic message that Jesus is the unique, supreme and universal Saviour of the world. The report to the Forum plenary of the IG on reconciliation, which included panellists from many conflicted areas of the world, produced a sustained standing ovation. The Bioethics group reported a breakthrough on relating the difficult and complex issues which it studied with evangelism and pastoral care. Overall, TC members found that doing theology in a group setting with input from people in many different contexts with a focus on its relevance to evangelization was a stimulating experience.

Members of the TC sister body, ICETE, participated in the Forum IG on theological education. The emphasis was on the missiological character of the theological and pastoral training.

Official statistics indicated that the Forum drew 1517 participants from 115 countries, almost 60% of whom came from the majority world; less than one third were aged 50 years and above, but less than a quarter were women. Marking thirty years since the original Lausanne conference, it was also fifteen years after the previous major event (Lausanne II at Manila, 1989). The Lausanne movement had met in the same location in 1980 and some regarded the 2004 Forum as Pattaya II rather than Lausanne III.

Organisers of the 2004 Forum, who included Roger Parrott as Chair, and Robyn Claydon as Program Director with Paul Cedar as Executive Chair, emphasised the profound changes which had taken place in the world and the church since the earlier gatherings. These changes called for new responses from Evangelicals, focused in the theme, 'A new vision, a new heart and a renewed call.' Major emphasis was placed on Christianity in the non-western world, or the 'South Churches', and the least reached areas and people groups of the world.

The Forum placed little emphasis on plenary sessions but worked almost entirely through the 31 Issue Groups, the topics of which had been decided upon after extensive global consultation. They covered topics as diverse as globalisation, local churches, at-risk people, oral learners, business as mission, empowering women and men, and non-traditional families. The subjects for the IGs were supported by a number of reports from the World Enquiry which had been conducted over a two year period by Luis Bush for the Lausanne Committee in association with the School of World Mission of Fuller Theological Seminary.

Unlike previous Lausanne events, there was no major covenant or manifesto for formal adoption by participants, but a summary of the findings of the Issue Groups was compiled and circulated in the closing sessions of the seven day Forum. This summary indicated that serious attention had been given by participants to such topics as transformation of personal, church and community life, contextualization, the least reached people groups, mobilisation of the whole church for holistic evangelism and partnership at all levels.

A passion for world evangelization was strongly evident all through the Forum as groups and plenary speakers examined a multitude of aspects of the topic. Participants heard profound stories and reports of dynamic activity from all around the world. An entire plenary session was given to reports and prayer for the persecuted church.

It is planned that substantial reports from the IGs will be published soon as Lausanne Occasional Papers and also electronically. These documents will include information updates, analysis of the topics, biblical reflection, case studies and action points designed to help local churches implement strategies in their own contexts.

In the closing ceremony, leadership of the Lausanne movement was handed on to Rev. Doug Birdsall as Executive Chair (replacing Dr Paul Cedar) and Dr Ted Yamamori as International Director (replacing Dr David Claydon). In addition, nine Deputy Regional Directors were appointed to 'bring great vitality and wisdom to the Lausanne movement by bringing perspectives from every region of the globe to the concerns and opportunities of world evangelism.'

Responding to interest expressed by supporters, the Lausanne movement announced plans for a second Younger Leaders Conference to be held in 2006 and for a further major conference to be held in 2010 to commemorate the centenary of the historic 1910 Edinburgh Missionary Conference.

The WEA was not officially represented at the Forum but Secretary General, Gary Edmonds, sent a warmly worded greeting which was read at the opening ceremony. Mr Edmonds said, 'In the days that you will spend together, I am trusting that you will encounter the living Lord in fresh ways. Celebrate joyfully the life that you have with the Triune God through faith in Jesus. Our world needs humble leaders who have met with the God of all creation. In this period of history, the Lord has been adding rapidly to His church. It will be crucial for you to cultivate the oneness given to us through new life in Christ. Remember that the gospel will go no further than the depth of our love for one another.' He added, 'Let me urge you to seek solutions that will equip the local churches to rise to their highest calling. I am convinced that the local churches are the sustaining instruments of God for the transformation of our communities and nations. May God use this consultation to spread his glory over the entire world.'

Later in the Forum, Dr Bertil Ekström brought a greeting on behalf of the WEA Missions Commission. An informal meeting of WEA-related people, including those involved in national and regional fellowships and WEA Commission, reflected on the Forum, noting the close cooperation between the two global movements which was a prominent feature of evangelical action in several parts of the world. The Theological Commission reported on its recent joint-session with the Lausanne Theology Working Group and indicated that there was the hope of further cooperation in the future.

Environmental Stewardship Study Book Now Available

The book, Responsible Stewardship of God's Creation, which has been written by Dr. Ken Gnanakan of Bangalore India as a TC study project, is now available. The cost is US$5.00 and it may be ordered from 

Theological Book Trust 
PO Box 9529 
Bangalore, India 560095 

The book is a 'successful blend of spiritual, biblical, analytical, apologetic and practically oriented aspects' and is suitable for local church, individuals, action groups and students.

Conference to Celebrate Pandita Ramabai

A conference will be held 17-19 Jan 2005 to celebrate the life and work of Pandita Ramabai, her contribution to the nation and especially to communicate the reality that Christianity is Indian. It is being sponsored by the Mylapore Institute for Indigenous Studies, the Centre for Mission Studies of Union Biblical Seminary and Christianity in Asia of the University of Cambridge, UK. Organisers said, 'Today many see a contradiction between the terms "Indian" and "Christian". In such a climate the need to establish the truth is urgent. As Indian Christian we possess a rich heritage of leaders who combine both these notions in their life and work. Standing tall among them is Pandita Ramabai, a giant in fields as diverse as social reform, education, religion and childcare. Evident in her life is the desire to simultaneously remain loyal to her motherland and to Jesus Christ. Indeed in this forbearer we have one who was proud to be both Indian and Christian.' A teal of national and international scholars has been assembled to present papers and lead discussion.

For more information, contact 

Centre for Mission Studies 
PO Box 1425 
Bibvewadi, Pune 411 037 

cms@ubs.ac.in

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