WCC NEWS: Call for common charter on quality of theological education

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World Council of Churches - News

CALL FOR COMMON CHARTER ON QUALITY OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

For immediate release: 21 July 2011

A common charter reflecting the essential elements of quality in
theological education for schools of all denominational backgrounds was
proposed recently by representatives of the World Conference of
Associations of Theological Institutions (WOCATI) at a meeting in
Johannesburg, South Africa.

From 4 to 8 July 38 representatives of Protestant, Roman Catholic,
Orthodox, Evangelical, Pentecostal and African Independent Churches
gathered for the first in Africa to discuss issues of quality in
theological education on a global level.

The gathering was called “Challenges and Promises of Quality Assurance in
Theological Education: Ecumenical and Multi-Contextual Inquiries.”

The participants emphasized the strategic importance of African
associations of theological schools and the work of the All Africa
Conference of Churches (AACC (Link: 
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=b5c6f02c70b84cacb1a8
)) and other ecumenical bodies in enhancing theological education in
Africa.

Although there is no global agency to accredit institutions of theological
education with similar standards around the world, participants recognized
the need to develop some common understanding between all Christian
institutions of theological education on what constitutes quality
assurance and enhancement in theological education.

The group said that a balanced concept of quality in theological education
should include academic proficiency, spiritual formation and pastoral
competencies and that multiple forms of oppression and discrimination
based on gender, race, ethnicity, colour, class, caste, ability, sexuality
and religion should be explicitly addressed in the quality standards
applied in various contexts.

It was agreed that these criteria could be reflected in a common charter
which could be shared with associations of theological schools from all
denominational backgrounds.

During the meeting the group expressed gratitude for the support and
continued accompaniment of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical
Theological Education programme and recommended that WOCATI
representatives be included among the delegates at the next WCC Assembly
in 2013 and in the future working structures of the WCC.

Academic presentations and lectures that were presented from the different
regions and associations of theological schools and denominational
networks will be made available soon on WOCATI’s website
(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=738764538c7e47d4cd97 ).

More information on the WCC's Ecumenical Theological Education programme
(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=23c9f2dd788b1ff62056 )

WOCATI 2011 Consultation Communiqué (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=a50a7358399b15eccac4 )


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.



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