wfn.org | [GOAA] International Conference on Violence and Christian

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

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Greg Filias (207) 363-4067
Date: June, 2005

World-Renowned Theologians to Converge in Boston in the Fall of 2005 for an
International Conference on Violence and Christian Spirituality

Brookline - Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, in cooperation
with the World Council of Churches and the Boston Theological Institute,
will host an international conference on Violence and Christian
Spirituality from October 27 to 29, 2005 on the college campus in
Brookline, Massachusetts.

Guest speakers will include Dr. Marc Gopin, Director of the Center for
World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason
University; and Dr. Ioannis Petrou, Professor of Social Ethics at the
University of Thessalonike's School of Theology, among other notable
theologians and academicians. In opening remarks, the General Secretary of
the World Council of Churches, Dr. Sam Kobia, will present the ecumenical
challenge of the Christian churches to participate in the building of a
culture of justice and peace by overcoming violence. The Keynote Address
will be presented by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, who will
address how Christian spirituality advances a culture of justice and peace.

Of particular significance will be Friday evening's lecture entitled
"Ecumenical Perspectives on Religious Freedom and Human Rights, by Dr. John
Witte, Jr., Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Study of Religion
at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Witte is a noted specialist in legal
history and religious liberty and has published 100 professional articles
and twelve books. He is also the Director of the Law and Religion Program
at Emory.

Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Clapsis, Dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of
Theology, stating his purpose behind this conference remarked,"Violence is
a universal scourge that tears at the fabric of communities and threatens
life. According to the Report of the World Health Organization on Violence
and Health, almost two million people worldwide lose their lives to
violence. But violence is often predictable and preventable. The Christian
churches, because of their commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ, must
contribute their spiritual tradition in the common effort of humanity to
overcome violence by building a culture of justice and peace. The
conference will study the multiple and complex aspects of violence and
retrieve those aspects of Orthodox Christian spiritual life that contribute
towards the building of a culture of peace."

"By hosting the conference here at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of
Theology, we as a center of theological study will also be seen as a center
for serious theological reflection," added the Rev. Fr. Nicholas
Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross.

Distinguished scholars from nearby Harvard University, Boston College and
Boston University will contribute to the weekend's program. They will
include David Little from Harvard Divinity School, David Hollenbach from
Boston College, and Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou from Boston University.

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology is the only Greek Orthodox
seminary and graduate center for Orthodox higher education in American.
Home of the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center, Holy
Cross shares its campus with Hellenic College, the only fully accredited
Christian Orthodox undergraduate liberal arts college in America. The
schools are located at 50 Goddard Avenue in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Violence and Christian Spirituality

An International conference sponsored by Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School
of Theology
In cooperation with the World Council of Churches and the Boston
Theological Institute

October 27-29, 2005

Thursday
4:00 p.m. -Registration
5:00 p.m. -Vespers
6:00 p.m.  -Dinner
7:00 p.m      -Welcome and Remarks
Rev. Fr. Nicholas C. Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College and Holy
Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Greetings - "Overcoming Violence: An Ecumenical Christian Task"
Dr. Sam Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
7:30 p.m. - Keynote Address - "A Christian Spirituality of Peace and
Justice in a Violent World"
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, Lic. Th., Th.D., Ph.D.

Friday
8:00 a.m. - Matins
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast

Session I:
9:15 a.m. - "Religion, Violence and Peacemaking"
Marc Gopin, James H. Laue, Professor of World Religions, Diplomacy and
Conflict Resolution. Director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy
and Conflict Resolution.  Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.
George Mason University, Arlington, VA
9:45 a.m. -"Religious Fundamentalisms and Interfaith Dialogue"
Dr. Tarek Mitri, Inter-Religious Relations and Dialogue, World Council of
Churches
10:05 a.m.    -"Peace, Human Development, and Overcoming Violence"
Dr. Ioannis Petrou, Professor of Social Ethics, School of Theology,
University of Thessalonike
10:25 a.m. -"Witnessing the Peace of God in a Violent World"
Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, Associate General Secretary for International
		 Affairs and Peace.  National Council of Churches, USA
10:45 a.m. - Break
11:00 a.m. -  Discussion
12:30 p.m.  -  Lunch

Session II:
2:00 p.m. - "Christian Anthropology for a Culture of Peace"
Dr. Thanasis N. Papathanasiou, Editor of Synaxis
2:20 p.m. - "Violence and the Freudian 'Death Instinct' from a Christian
		 Orthodox Point View"
Rev. Dr. Adamantios Avgoustides, University of Athens, Greece
2.40  p.m.-  "Domestic Violence ? Violence against Women: A Panel
		 Discussion"
· Rev. Dr. Diane C. Kessler, Executive Director of the Massachusetts
Council of Churhes.
· Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
· Dr. Philip Mamalakis, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology Holy Cross
Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
3:45 p.m. -  Break
4:00 p.m. -  Discussion
5:00 p.m. -  Vespers
5:30 p.m. -   Dinner
7:00 p.m. -   An Evening Address
"Ecumenical Perspectives on Religion Freedom and Human Rights"
Dr.  John Witte, Jr.,  Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law and Ethics
Director of the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion, Emory
University, Atlanta, GA.
Responses:
· David Little, T.J. Dermont Dunphy Professor of the Practice in Religion,
Ethnicity, and International Conflict and Director of the Center for the
Study of Values in Public Life, Harvard Divinity School.
· David Hollenbach, S.J., The Margaret O'Brien Flatey Chair in Catholic
Theology, Boston College.
· Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Associate Director, Institute on Religion and
World Affairs, Boston University.

Saturday

Session III:
8:00 a.m. - Matins
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - "Nonviolence in the Orthodox Tradition"
Very Rev. Dr. George Tsetsis, Ecumenical Patriarchate
9:20 a.m. - "Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Patristic Tradition"
Rev. Dr. George Dragas, Professor of Patristics, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology
9:50 a.m. - "Building an Identity of Forgiveness and Reconciliation"
Dr. Rodney L. Petersen, Executive Director of the Boston Theological
	      Institute
10:10 a.m.- "A Trinitarian Approach to Ecumenical Peace-Church
		 Ecclesiology"
Rev. Dr. Fernando Enns, Professor of Systematic Theology
Ecumenical Institute,	  University of Heidelberg, Germany
10:40 a.m. -  Break
11:00 a.m. - Discussion
12:00 p.m. - Lunch

Session IV:
2:00.p.m. - "The Cosmic and Social Dimensions of Christian Spiritual Life"
Rev. Dr. Thomas FitzGerald, Professor of Church History, Holy Cross
Greek Orthodox School of Theology
2:20 p.m. - "Discerning the Spirit of God in an Ambivalent World"
Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Clapsis, Professor of Systematic Theology
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
2:40 p.m. -"Praying and experiencing God's Justice and Peace  in the
	       Liturgy"
Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis Calivas, Professor Emeritus of Liturgics Holy Cross
	       Greek Orthodox School of Theology
3:00 p.m. - "Suffering and Spiritual Life: The Making of a Compassionate
		 Human Being"
Professor Lucien Richard, Boston University
3:20 p.m. - Break
3:30 p.m. - Discussion
4:00 p.m. - "The Saints: An Embodied Presence of God's Peace"
Dr. James Skedros, Associate Professor of Early Christianity and Byzantine
		 History, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
4:15 p.m. - "The Spirit of Compassion in the Canonical Tradition of the
		 Church"
Dr. Lewis Patsavos, Professor of Canon Law, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
		 School of Theology
4:30 p.m. - Discussion and Listener's Report

5:15 p.m. - Great Vespers
7:30 p.m. - Reception and Dinner

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