Ecumenical theological educationTheological education and ministerial formation educate church and community leaders, theologians and theological educators, and influence the directions in which churches move, or do not move, in mission, evangelism, diakonia, koinonia, ministry and ecumenism. Many theological institutions and programmes, including interdenominational or united colleges and federations of theological institutions, have experienced the effects of an increase in denominationalism, which has drawn them away from serious ecumenical engagement. Often, they lack both an ecumenical orientation and the necessary capacity and skills to offer ecumenical formation. This project therefore promotes contextual ecumenical theological education and ministerial formation and encourages theological institutions, ecumenical institutes and associations to participate in the ecumenical movement locally and globally (see key documents of ETE). It works regionally to engage and strengthen the ecumenical focus of theological educators and students, and relates closely to associations of theological schools (see World Conference of Associations of Theological Schools, WOCATI) and ecumenical institutes through the use of regional consultants and staff. Through networking, the project looks at accreditation standards to encourage the development of contextual, ecumenical, holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to learning in theological education and ministerial formation. It supports exchange programmes of educators and students as well as mutual learning on areas related to teaching and research methodologies that promote ecumenical formation. In curriculum transformation, it uses an approach successfully developed for creating curricula relating to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa and Asia, and the theological discourse of people with disabilities.
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