News
Fourteen participants representing the theological faculties as well as networks and associations of institutions of higher theological education in Europe gathered for the constitutive meeting of the Coordinating Committee for the Graz Process. The meeting took place from 26-28 May 2011 in Graz, Austria.
The Churches in Dialogue Commission (CiD) of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Catholic Theological Faculty of Graz University jointly organised this meeting which was mandated in July 2010 by the 3rd Consultation of Theological Faculties in Europe.
A Coordinating Committee of 15 people was established with the mandate to stimulate and bring forward the Graz process, to implement its objectives, to prepare Europe-wide consultations and to facilitate regional issue-related meetings. Among the main objectives and tasks of the Graz Process as Forum of Theological Higher Education and Research in Europe (ForTHERE) are:
- “Implementing the tasks of ecumenical cooperation in theological education and research according to the Charta Oecumenica and networking between institutions of theological education in Europe;
- Strengthening the ecumenical dimension of theology and theological education;
- Promoting the visibility of theological education and research in Europe and lobbying for the future of theology and religious studies within European universities”.
Prof. Dr Viorel Ionita, CiD director and interim general secretary of CEC, stated: “This meeting in Graz was very important for re-shaping the Graz Process and clarifying its tasks and objectives in the complex landscape of theological education in Europe. The Coordinating Committee confirmed the role of CEC in this process which is meant to promote cooperation between theological faculties and churches in Europe”.
The meeting was hosted by the Catholic Theological Faculty of Graz University through the faculty’s dean, Prof. Dr Hans-Ferdinand Angel.
The WCC is involved in the Graz process through its Ecumenical Theological Education programme.
