The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Bossey hosts an international conference on ‘Teaching Ecumenism in the Context of World Christianity’.

The conference will focus on what it means to teach ecumenism and World Christianity in the twenty-first century, and will bring together senior as well as emerging scholars of diverse disciplines within the field of theology and religious studies who have an interest in ecumenism and World Christianity. Speakers from a broad range of church traditions and regional contexts will engage on the topic together.

Overview

Ecumenism embodies the search for reconciliation and unity, the emancipation from oppression and the collaborative work for justice and peace. Ecumenical dialogues engage churches on ecclesiology, baptism, Eucharist and ministry and discuss questions of mutual recognition as well as common witness and service.

The shifting epicentre of Christianity towards the ’global South’ has increased the awareness of the diversity of Christianity and led to the emergence of world Christianity as an academic field. World Christianity pays specific attention to how diverse local expressions of Christianity shaped themselves in critical and creative tension and interaction with local religious and cultural realities.

Examining the changing roles of religion in fostering identity at the intersection of faith, politics and culture, not least from diaspora churches’ perspectives, is an important field.  Focus on mission as well as on interreligious dialogue have become integral, and often indispensable, to the study of world Christianity.

How does the classical understanding and teaching of ecumenism take into consideration the results of the study of world Christianity? Is there a difference, if not tension in perspective and focus between “ecumenism” and “world Christianity”? How does academic teaching today deal with the overlapping areas of ecumenical studies, ecumenical theology, world Christianity, mission studies, and interreligious studies? What are the fundamental methodological, epistemological and theological issues that could not be ignored in teaching ecumenism and world Christianity?

Plenary speakers: Kwabena ASAMOAH-GYADU, Raimundo César BARRETO, Christophe CHALAMET, Jude Lal FERNANDO, Unhey KIM, Tinyiko MALULEKE, Sr. Mary John MANANZAN, Odair Pedroso MATEUS, Philomena MWAURA, Eve Rebecca PARKER, Dorothea SATTLER, Miguel DE LA TORRE, Ge WEN, Emma WILD-WOOD, Julija VIDOVIC.

Conference registration (open until 1 June 2021)

Plenary speakers (pdf)

Short paper sessions (pdf)

Conference agenda - Teaching Ecumenism in the Context of World Christianity (pdf)

Conference flyer, Teaching Ecumenism in the Context of World Christianity (pdf)