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Theological education: significant meeting of East Asian Anglican
theological educators

Posted On : November 14, 2008 11:29 AM | Posted By : Admin ACO
Related Categories: ACO - Theological

ACNS: http://aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2008/11/14/ACNS4540

A gathering of East Asian Anglican theological educators has taken place
at Trinity Theological College, Singapore, 11-13 November 2008.
Co-sponsored by TEAC (Theological Education in the Anglican Communion)
and CSCA (the Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia), the meeting
gathered together a group of ten official representative theological
educators and those involved in Diocesan and Provincial ministry
formation work from the Anglican Churches of Hong Kong, Japan, Korea,
Myanmar, the Philippines, South-East Asia, and Taiwan. It was the first
such gathering of East Asian Anglican theological educators since the
early 1990s. Participants were grateful for the hospitable way in which
they were welcomed by Archbishop John Chew of South East Asia and by Dr
Ngoei Foong Nghian, Principal of Trinity Theological College.

We thank Archbishop John Chew for presenting a keynote address on
"Theological Education and Mission in East Asia: What can we do
together". Bishop Rennis Ponniah of Singapore, Mrs Clare Amos and Dean
Michael Hiroya of Central Theological College, Japan led the morning
devotions.

This meeting offered a first opportunity to offer a regional input to
recommendations of TEAC and the Global South Anglican Theological
Formation and Education Task Force on ministerial formation. A large
portion of the Conference was devoted to examining the formation
processes and resources among Anglican churches in the region.

The conference opened up the opportunities for renewed cooperation among
Anglican theological educators in East Asia. Particular attention was
paid to exploring ways that Anglican distinctives might be appropriately
represented in theological education. Discussion at the meeting made
clear that that those present believed that theological education was
not simply a preserve of the clergy. The need for appropriate training
of lay ministers such as catechists was given particular attention. It
was also made clear that all Anglican lay people should have the
opportunity to access good quality theological education that would
equip and enable them fully to live out their Christian discipleship
within the life of their churches and societies.

As sponsors of the gathering, we, representing CSCA and TEAC, have
committed ourselves to working as requested with participants and their
churches to help to take forward the ideas that were put forward at the
consultation.

Clare Amos, Director of Theological Studies, Anglican Communion

Michael Poon, Director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in
Asia.

For more information contact either Clare Amos at clare.amos@aco.org or
Michael Poon at mncpoon@ttc.edu.sg

For a photograph from the meeting please visit:
http://aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2008/11/14/ACNS4540

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