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Report from the WARC Consultation of Reformed Theological Institutions June 18–22, 2007 In the first effort of its kind, heads of theological schools from every continent met at Princeton Theological Seminary in a dialogue between the “global North” and the “global South” about theological education. The consultation was sponsored by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). Participants included educators from WARC member churches in thirty-five countries. According to WARC general secretary Setri Nyomi, the consultation was “an important forum for leaders from around the world, and Princeton’s hosting the event demonstrates the Seminary’s vision and foresight for affecting the world for good.” Princeton Theological Seminary (USA), June 2007Called together by WARC, the participants in this first meeting of the heads of Reformed theological institutions from around the world affirm with joy the importance of coming together to explore the challenges and opportunities confronting theological education today. Centered in the confession of Jesus Christ, our conversations and exchanges strengthened the bonds that unite us and our common task of theological education that supports the mission and service of the Church and the ecumenical family. The following issues have been raised in group discussions and plenaries. Identity issues We are a covenant community seeking with our sister churches to proclaim and actualize the reconciling love of God for all creation. Guided by the basic Reformed convictions of sola gratia, sola fide and sola scriptura and true to the principle of ecclesia reformata est semper reformanda, we have sought to articulate what it means to be Reformed and ecumenical in a rapidly changing world. This commitment raised for us the following questions: How are we to understand the role of Reformed traditions in relation to Mission? How does being Reformed involve adherence to particular historical beliefs as well as a way of living in the world, a way of being Christian? Missional issues As a covenant community, we are called to share in the missio Dei. We have asked ourselves how we navigate our way through different models of interfaith relations. How can we take account of differences in contexts in which these relations have to be worked out? In what circumstances might conversion be an appropriate goal, and in what circumstances might living with each others’ differences be the most evangelical response? How do we promote missionary activity and evangelism that is respectful of local context and allows for the possibility of our own transformation, both personally and institutionally? What does it mean in each region of the world to be missional in the face of acute problems such as:
Ecclesial issues We celebrate our diverse patterns of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ and our unity of purpose in the service of the triune God. Reflecting on what this means for today, the following questions have arisen: How do we deal with the crisis of fragmentation in our denominations? How should we relate to other Christian movements, especially pentecostal and charismatic, in constructive ways? What do we regard as intrinsic to Reformed ecclesiology? What is the future of Reformed ecclesiology as the conciliar and connectional nature of the Church breaks down? How do we move beyond concern for institutional survival in our plans and strategies? At the same time, how might we address very real practical issues, such as the economic viability of our respective institutions? Doxological issues We affirm that we are called to honor God in worship and in all of life. We affirm the Reformed tradition’s emphasis on the Word of God in proclamation and sacrament. Our institutions are committed to the task of educating toward creative and compelling worship. Given the contrasting styles of inherited forms of Reformed worship, indigenous expressions of worship, and contemporary modes of worship, what is the future of distinctively Reformed styles of worship? Curricular issues Many of the issues we have considered have direct implications for our programs of study. Among these issues are: How do we move towards deeper integration of traditional biblical and theological disciplines with other fields of knowledge (especially the social sciences), formational requirements and indigenous realities (both concerns and methodologies)? How may the development of partnerships among our institutions generate a wider appreciation of theologies from around the world? How do we develop courses that serve multiple stakeholders and categories of student—e.g., ordinands, laity, Reformed, and ecumenical—and equip people for a plurality of ministry contexts? Ways Forward This meeting demonstrated the potential latent in such a gathering of WARC educational leaders. We are convinced this exercise would be worth repeating within the next 2–3 years with WARC serving as our coordinating agent in conjunction with a small steering group. The possibility of regional meetings should also be explored. We have started to build friendships, and we want to extend the sharing of our expertise, perspectives, and experience. We seek to expand our engagement in student exchange, faculty exchange, visiting scholars, research collaboration, and sharing bibliographical materials, all of which enrich theological education. We have also begun to explore the possibilities of electronic networking. Here WARC can be of great help. Conclusion We are resolved that through working together, listening to one another, and speaking out of different contexts, issues which are divisive elsewhere in the Christian world, may for us become places of mutual understanding and strength. All reports, presentations, and sermons from the consultation are copyright of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Used here by permission.
Copyright Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). All Rights Reserved.
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