Alumni
Alumnus Jean Luc Enyegue (’18) to Speak at the Jesuit Studies Café
February 17 | 9:20am–10am | U.S. Eastern
Jean Luc Enyegue, S.J.
The Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa
During the Spring Season, the Jesuit Studies Café will host conversations with the directors and archivists of Jesuit Archives and Research Centers around the world. Our first café presenter will be Jean Luc Enyegue, S.J., the director of The Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa.
The Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa (JHIA) is an institute geared to preserving memory and promoting historical knowledge. It was started in 2010 as an idea of the Superior General of the Jesuits, Most Rev. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., to encourage the study of his Order’s largely unexplored involvement in the evangelization of Africa.
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“Homogeneity and Hybridity: Revisiting HUP” ~ 2022 Ralph D. Winter Lectures, March 3-5
The 2022 Ralph D. Winter Lectures (March 3-5) will focus on "Homogeneity and Hybridity: Revisiting HUP."
The homogeneous unit principle (HUP) was an influential and controversial aspect of the church growth missiology of Donald McGavran, highlighted by a Consultation moderated by John Stott and sponsored by Lausanne in 1977.
Today multiculturalism and hybridity appear ascendant, particularly in megacities around the world. How do both homogeneity and hybridity impact the birth and growth of fellowships of Jesus followers, and of movements to Jesus which were the core concern of HUP theory? Click the link for the schedule of speakers and papers. Virtual and in-person options are available.
Alumna Ruth Padilla DeBorst ('16) will speak on "The Church: An Intercultural Poem" on March 4 at 4:30 pm PST.
Bishop Ian Douglas (’93) to Retire
Bishop Ian Douglas ('93) plans to retire from the Connecticut Episcopal Diocese in the fall of 2022.
An announcement was posted on the Episcopal News Site last Spring detailing Bishop Douglas' service in the diocese since his ordination as bishop in 2010.
Bishop Douglas shared this announcement in a video message and in a letter.
Alumnus Michel Chambon’s New Article
Michel Chambon's ('19) new article, "Catholicism's Overlooked Importance in Asia," was recently published online.
Be sure to check it out and learn about how Catholicism has influenced Asian identity.
Adopting for God
Soojin Chung ('18) recently published, Adopting for God: The Mission to Change America through Transnational Adoption. The book explores the role missionaries played in the transnational adoption movement. Among other things, the book reveals how both evangelical and ecumenical Christians challenged Americans to redefine traditional familial values and rethink race matters. By questioning the perspective that equates missionary humanitarianism with unmitigated cultural imperialism, this book offers a more nuanced picture of the rise of an important twentieth-century movement: the evangelization of adoption and the awakening of a new type of Christian mission.
Ruth Padilla DeBorst (’16) joins Western Theological Seminary
Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst will be joining the faculty of Western Theological Seminary beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year to serve as the Richard C. Oudersluys Associate Professor of World Christianity.
Dr. Padilla DeBorst is a renowned practitioner, teacher, and speaker with decades of experience in ministry throughout Latin America through organizations such as the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), and Latin American Theological Fellowship. She has served the worldwide church through World Vision International, Resonate Global Mission (of the Christian Reformed Church of North America), and the International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation (INFEMIT), among others.
She has served on boards and councils ranging from the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization Latin America, A Rocha International, and the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies to the International Justice Mission and the American Society of Missiology.
Dr. Padilla DeBorst has also served as president of the Centro de Estudios Interdisciplinarios (CETI), dedicated to providing theological education to pastors and lay Christians throughout Latin America. In addition to her academic leadership, she has taught numerous courses through CETI as well as for theological schools throughout North America.
She earned her Ph.D from the School of Theology with concentrations in missiology and social ethics.
Essamuah (’03) Meets with the Pope
Casely Essamuah recently met with the pope. Essamuah is the secretary of the Global Christian Forum, which is a unique gathering of global Christian churches and organizations bringing together all the major streams of world Christianity. The GCF is an open space where all Christians can meet to nurture unity by fostering mutual respect and understanding as well as by addressing together common challenges.
You Must Remember This
Recently, Anicka Fast ('20) was interviewed by the Mennonite Missionary Network for a podcast on "You Must Remember This." Drawing on her dissertation, Fast reflects on how the stories of mission become the history of mission. She shares about why some stories get preserved and remembered, while others become forgotten. Plus, Rod Hollinger-Janzen gives insight into how AIMM (Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission) worked with Fast to unearth forgotten narratives from a century ago.
Alumna Ruth Padilla DeBorst (’16): “Fleeing the hot spots: Climate change, migration and mission”
On November 16, 2021, BU STH alumna Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst ('16) delivered the Alexander Duff Lecture as part of COP26, entitled “Fleeing the hot spots: Climate change, migration, and mission.”
Her lecture is available on YouTube here and was followed by responses from two World Christianity Ph.D. students, Nuam Hatzaw and Alec Simpson, and a time of discussion.
The Alexander Duff Lecture was sponsored by the Church of Scotland and co-hosted by the Centre for the Study of World Christianity and the Centre for Theology and Public Issues (New College, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh).
CGCM Alumna, Laura Chevalier (STH ’20), Speaks About Her Mission Journey at Houghton College
Laura Chevalier ('20), a CGCM alumna, was asked to speak at her alma mater, Houghton College, for their "New Vision" week on the topic, "God can use anyone in mission."
The idea was to encourage students to recognize that they play a part in God's mission no matter what they are studying. During the chapel service on Wednesday, Oct. 27, Laura shared her personal story in mission (pre-recorded) alongside three of her friends from Houghton College. To hear Laura's journey in mission, listen to and download the audio file here.
Then on Friday, Oct. 29, she spoke in chapel, and that talk is viewable on YouTube here. (The host introduces Laura around minute 13:50.)