This is a collection of documents related to the Ecumenical Theological Education (ETE) programme of the World Council of Churches. ETE 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. It works regionally to engage and strengthen the ecumenical focus of theological educators and students, and relates closely to associations of theological schools and ecumenical institutes through the use of regional consultants and staff. Through networking, the project looks at accreditation and quality standards to encourage the development of contextual, ecumenical, holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to learning in theological education and ministerial formation. ETE 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.

Recent Submissions

  • Religious education and ecumenical formation in post-confessional settings : what are essentials for theological education of religious teachers and pastors?

    Werner, Dietrich (2023-10-25)
    The article sheds some light on the significance of the international discourses on ecumenical formation for the conceptual debates about the future of religious education in increasingly diverse environments, i.e. the deliberate attempts to enter knowledge and reflections about past and currents trends in World Christianity into the framework of religious education at state schools, as seen from both a German as well as a globally sensitized perspectives. The article originally was contributed to a German-Finnish meeting of specialists on religious education at the University of Göttingen on 25th October 2023.
  • Handbook of Theological Education in Africa

    Phiri, Isabel Apawo; Werner, Dietrich (Regnum Books International, 2013)
    "Behind this first ever published Handbook of Theological Education in Africa is a three year process of intense conceptualization, strategic network-building and editorial work. First, following the World Council of Churches (WCC) initiative for publishing the Handbook of Theological Education in World Christianity and suggestions from several African partners, a group related to the process for revitalizing associations of theological institutions in Africa which was linked to the AACC Theology department (Dr. Simon Dossou, AACC, Prof. James Amanze, University of Botswana, Prof. Isabel Apawo Phiri, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Dr. Dietrich Werner, WCC) met in Gaborone, Botswana between 12-14 August 2010. They developed the first plan for the publication of a major Handbook of Theological Education in Africa. From the beginning, it was envisaged that this book would provide a major contribution to, and would be made available for, the All Africa Conference of Churches Jubilee Assembly in June 2013 in Kampala, Uganda, as well as for the WCC assembly taking place in Busan, South Korea, in 2013." (excerpt from the editorial, page xxvii).
  • Kawhhran Ṭuantlangnak Thuanthu (A History of Ecumenical Movement)

    Tin Hre, Lal (Lal Tin Hre ; Cherry Yeih Publication-02144 ; Printed Myanmar Baptist Convention Press, 2017)
  • Eclesiologia ecumênica: possibilidades e limites = Ecumenical ecclesiology: possibilities and limits

    von Sinner, Rudolf (Editora da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (EDIPUCRS), 2011-01-01)
    O autor discorre sobre a possibilidade e os limites de uma eclesiologia ecumênica, considerando-a possível apenas se o ponto de partida for o sacramento do Batismo e não uma eclesiologia de cunho sacramental, baseada no Bispo consagrado na sucessão apostólica, como professam as Igrejas Católica e Ortodoxa. Ele inicia expondo a relação entre a compreensão da Igreja Evangélica como uma verdadeira Igreja e sua relação com o ecumenismo. A seguir, mostra que a Igreja Católica superou o exclusivismo eclesiológico ao adotar uma postura inclusiva. Também reconhece no Batismo o vínculo básico de unidade entre as Igrejas. Por fim, conclui expondo doze teses como elementos possíveis de uma eclesiologia ecumênica, a partir das quais seria possível propor uma eclesiologia ecumênica
  • Ethik für das Leben : 100 Jahre Ökumenische Wirtschafts- und Sozialethik

    Princeton Theological Seminary Library; Raiser, Konrad; Stierle, Wolfram; Werner, Dietrich; Heider, Martin (Rotherburg : Ernst Lange - Institut fur ökumenische Studien, 1996-01-01)
    Es gehörte von Beginn an zu den zentralen Anliegen der ökumenischen Bewegung, die soziale und politische Verantwortung der Kirchen weltweit wahrzunehmen. Dieses Anliegen dokumentiert die Quellenedition „Ethik für das Leben"; sie gibt einen repräsentativen Überblick über fast hundert Jahre ökumenischen Sozialdenkens. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der neueren Entwicklung und der Dokumentation des Konziliaren Prozesses.
  • Major challenges for African Women Theologians — World Council of Churches

    WCC Programmes, 2008-06-06
    Keynote adress by Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri
  • Institutional Repositories (IRs) for Content Management in Bangalore Theological Libraries

    Sellan, Yesan; Sornam, S. Ally; Naik, Jayarama (Dharamaram Vidya Kshetram, 2014)
    Abstract: This paper attempts to study the possibilities of establishing Institutional Repositories (IRs) in select Bangalore theological libraries. Open Access Repositories play an important role in dissemination of scholarly works. The benefit of IRs is huge, it helps preserve and disseminate the knowledge. Institutional repositories Theological institutions in India are yet to make their invaluable historical, cultural and resources accessible in open access repositories. Implementation of IRs at UTC and SAIACS open up the opportunity for theological community to be part of the global community of scholars and share their scholarly productivity. The success of IRs demands the cooperation and support of the heads of the institutions and a change of attitude of the faculty towards IRs as a potential place for making their scholarship visible and available to others. National and regional theological organizations, library associations and other theological fraternity should come forward to support this new initiative for the benefit of everyone.
  • Theological and Missional Formation In the Context of ‘New Christianity’ (PartII)

    Ma, Wonsuk (2013)
    "The radical shift opens up unprecedented possibilities for new theological paradigm and theologisation process. This will affect mission thinking and practices significantly.(...)"
  • A Statement of the Presbyterian Church of Korea on the Risks of Nuclear Power Plants

    Presbyterian Church of Korea (2013)
    "(...) The complete denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula can only be possible with the denuclearization of North Korea in the first place. This means a crucial task for the Korean churches in order to change the world into a safer place free from nuclear threats, and to leave for the next generation a restored and reunited life community with overwhelming peace of God."
  • A Millennial Shift of Global Christianity: A Brief Overview

    Ma, Wonsuk (2013)
    "These latest global shifts took place in the present generation, and the gap in the South-North divide will continue to grow. As the theory of the millennial shift appears to be validated, the churches in the South as well as the North face tremendous challenges and opportunities, requiring enormous adjustments of our assumptions and practices, both in being a church and in doing mission."
  • Holistic, interactive character formation for just peacemaking

    Stassen, Glen H. (Pickwick Publications, 2013)
    This chapter (1 ; pages 3-15) was part of the key-note-lectures of the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) during the 10th WCC Assembly in Busan, South Korea. - `From all corners of the world, both in cities and in the remote countryside, the cry for “just peace” rings out loud and strong. But, as many note in this book, the cry for just peace isn’t enough, for just peace requires active faith, working hands, and willing hearts. Gathered in this volume are essays written from a wide variety of perspectives, religious traditions, nationalities, and ages (from a sixteen-year-old high school student to an eighty-four-year-old senior professor) that seek to offer insight toward answering one question: How are “just peacemaking,” faith formation, and discipleship connected within a twenty-first-century context?`
  • Key Findings of Christianity in Its Global Context, 1970–2020

    Bellofatto, Gina A.; Johnson, Todd M. (Jennings, J. Nelson, 2013)
    Christianity in Its Global Context, 1970–2020: Society, Religion, and Mission illustrates that fundamental shifts in the demographics of global Christianity and religion are continuing into the twenty-first century.
  • Roman Catholic Perspectives on Mission

    Bevans, Stephen (2013)
    Part I (of this lecture) offers a brief history of Catholic Mission in the last century. This historical perspective provides a context for Part II, which will lay out six perspectives of Catholic Mission.
  • Reconciliation as an Ecumenical Key Mandate: Is Forgiveness Possible?

    Petersen, Rodney L. (2013)
    One of the monuments one is encouraged to visit upon arrival in Seoul is the Statue of Brothers, symbolic of the quest for reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. Reconciliation is a key human mandate as brothers and sisters who have been locked in fratricidal or sororal conflict – Cain and Abel, Sarah and Hagar – and in our own histories, have worked to overcome the trauma of division in the interests of co-existence, cooperation, and even communion. Reconciliation is a key ecumenical mandate. It is grounded in the work of repair, lies at the heart of Christian faith, and is central to the ecumenical agenda of the World Council of Churches (WCC). Christians understand this work to be imaged in the Triune God and made real for us through the Spirit in Jesus Christ. Such reconciliation places value on individuality but also on relationships as parts are woven together into something new which is neither hegemonic nor imperialistic but grounded in God’s vision for humanity.
  • Reconciliation as an Ecumenical Key Mandate: Is Forgiveness Possible?

    Petersen, Rodney L. (2013)
    One of the monuments one is encouraged to visit upon arrival in Seoul is the Statue of Brothers, symbolic of the quest for reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. Reconciliation is a key human mandate as brothers and sisters who have been locked in fratricidal or sororal conflict – Cain and Abel, Sarah and Hagar – and in our own histories, have worked to overcome the trauma of division in the interests of co-existence, cooperation, and even communion. Reconciliation is a key ecumenical mandate. It is grounded in the work of repair, lies at the heart of Christian faith, and is central to the ecumenical agenda of the World Council of Churches (WCC). Christians understand this work to be imaged in the Triune God and made real for us through the Spirit in Jesus Christ. Such reconciliation places value on individuality but also on relationships as parts are woven together into something new which is neither hegemonic nor imperialistic but grounded in God’s vision for humanity.
  • Oikonomia Convivencia – Theological Task for the future of World Christianity in Asian Perspective

    Kim, Yong-Bock (2013)
    The lecture is a critical examination of our technocratic civilization: How could we live a just and healthy life, how could we live in justice and peace with our environment according to Gods will and Jesus testimony of a new life - a new heaven and a new earth. Finally describing, what can we learn from the asian context and through a "fresh bible reading in convergence of the Scriptures".
  • Contemporary Christianity and Culture in Korea: from the perspective of Cultural Engagement

    Sung Bihn, Yim (2013)
    Why should we concern ourselves with culture? It is because we share and meet each other through a limited time and space called Korean society and its culture. In this viewpoint the importance of culture in the missional as well as communicative level is crucial.
  • “Unity of the church in changing ecclesial landscapes of World Christianity– Theological (and personal) perspectives from the Korea Evangelical Fellowship”

    Kim, Myung Hyuk (2013)
    The lecture is a critical examination of World Churches, the Korean Churches and of every human being. It describes the need to strive for reconciliation, peace, and unity through the grace of Gods "mercy and love" - not only in the outside but also in oneself.
  • New Contours of Ecumenism in the Twenty-First Century

    Kinnamon, Michael (2013)
    This is a critical examination of the ecumenical movement and its current situation/status. It highlights the complexities, the troubles as well as the need and hope for a vital ecumenical perspective.

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