wfn.org | Theologian Daryl Balia to Address Church World Service Gathering

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Theologian Daryl Balia to Address CWS Faith Gathering

August 25, 2008--Daryl Balia, Th.D. will be a keynote speaker at a 
Church World Service forum for reflection about the theological 
underpinnings, strategies for and conduct of the cooperative work of 
the faith community, scheduled for Oct. 20-21 in South Bend, Ind."

The event, "Hope and Change in a Fragile World," will bring together 
clergy and laypersons to discuss the challenges and opportunities for 
mission cooperation in the 21st century.

An ordained minister of The United Methodist Church, Dr. 
Balia  currently serves as international director of Edinburgh 2010 
(http://www.edinburgh2010.org/), an upcoming ecumenical initiative to 
reflect on a century of mission.

He views the Church World Service gathering 

(http://churchworldservice.org/pdf_files/MRWPConvocationFlyer.pdf)as 
a positive addition to that and other discussions about mission and 
interfaith cooperation.

"Our collective future has to be negotiated in open conversations so 
that we escape the complacency of self and discover ourselves again 
in the larger context of life," he says.

Balia taught missiology for ten years and holds degrees in theology 
and public administration, which he studied in his native South 
Africa, Germany and the United States.

Prominent leaders from the global ecumenical community will join 
Church World Service board members, heads of communion, heads of 
mission boards and denominational staff at the October 20-21 CWS 
event in South Bend.

Clergy and laypersons involved in or interested in mission, youth and 
young adults, and people of faith with humanitarian interests also 
are encouraged to attend.

Registration information is at 

http://www.churchworldservice.org/pdf_files/MRWPConvocationFlyer.pdf

Media Contacts

Lesley Crosson, (212) 870-2676, lcrosson@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net