News of the extended network of faculty, alumni, students, visiting researchers, and mission partners is regularly updated, and some of the big ideas or major events in Global Christianity are covered in the CGCM News.
The International Missionary Council (IMC) Centenary Conference Public Sessions, November 16-18, 2021
THE IMC CENTENARY CONFERENCE 2021
The global ecumenical online conference will last for three days, Nov.16-18, and feature three public webinars and eight regional sessions.
The public lectures/sessions are as follows:
Public Session #1 - November 16th, 7:45 am - 8:15 am EST. Lecture by Marina Ngursangzeli Behera, "From the Margins of the IMC," followed by a Q&A.
Public Session #2 - November 17th, 9:30 am - 10:45 am EST. Lecture by Dana Robert, "What happened in Lake Mohonk and its outcome," followed by a Q&A.
Public Session #3 - November 18th, 10:30 am - 12:15 pm EST. Panel Discussion, "The past, present and future of cooperation in mission of World Christianity" with participants Heather Robinson (CWME), Dianet Martinez Valdez (WSCF), Paul (Sinwoong) Kim (Korea/diaspora), Mary Wanjiku Kihuha (Kenya/Africa), and Valdir Steurnagel (observer/ "rapporteur").
To attend these sessions, use the same Zoom link to register and attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvduGqqzspG9TVxUlreigXp_Tg23LX_AKD.
Dana Robert to Give Public Lecture for International Missionary Council Centenary Conference, November 17th
Dana Robert will deliver an online lecture on November 17, 2021, at 9:30, am (EST) for the IMC Centenary Conference hosted by the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland.
Her talk, "What happened in Lake Mohonk and its outcome," is one of three webinars open to public attendance over the three-day conference. The conference will include presentations on missional collaboration studies from eight world regions.
The founding of the International Missionary Council at Lake Mohonk one hundred years ago was a significant event in global mission collaboration. Dr. Robert's lecture and the broader conference will offer historical reflection and contemporary insight into the IMC, its international work, and its legacy a century later. This lecture will be a public webinar followed by a time of Q&A, both open to the public.
To register, follow the Zoom link and enter the webinar by 9:30 am (EST).
For more information about the IMC Centenary Conference, see the WCC article here and the CGCM IMC Study Process page here.
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.)
Rady Roldan-Figueroa Interviewed on His New Book, The Martyrs of Japan
Dr. Rady Roldan-Figueroa recently gave a video interview on the topic of his new book, The Martyrs of Japan.
In the interview, Dr. Roldan-Figueroa, Faculty Associate of the CGCM, shared some significant findings of his interdisciplinary research focusing on the missionary work of three religious orders in Japan.
The book contributes to undercurrents in seventeenth-century history characterized by the period's global Jesuit, Franciscan, and Descalsed mission work. Dr. Roldan-Figueroa analyzed 380 books printed during the period and thereby explores the histories of publishers and publishing houses in Italy and Spain. He also explores the global connections and spiritual influence of this corpus of "travel" literature. One of the book's contributions is the reclassification of the literature on Japanese Christian martyrdom and persecution to religious/spiritual literature. Dr. Roldan-Figuero argues that the proliferation and influence of such literature were held a spiritual and religious purpose for the communities who printed it, received it, and passed it on.
The introductory chapter offers an overview of sixteenth-century Christianity in Japan. The rest of the book focuses on the roles, uses, and receptions of the body of literature produced between 1591-1700 that detailed Japanese persecution, prosecution, and martyrdom. The bibliography will prove valuable for scholars and students of the history of Japanese Christianity. Dr. Roldan-Figueroa uses several approaches in his research: history of missions, history of publication, a new approach to institutional history, and questions of how to classify the literature under study.
For a more detailed summary of the book, view the interview and hear Dr. Roldan-Figueroa explain some of the research discoveries, main arguments, and scholarly contributions held together in The Martyrs of Japan.
To buy a copy of the book, visit the publisher's page here.
The Reverend Jack Amick (STH ’06) and UMCOR’s Global Migration Program
The Reverend Jack Amick, STH alumn, is featured in a recent article announcing $10 million in grants for the work of Global Ministries and UMCOR.
The director of UMCOR's Global Migration Program, Rev. Jack Amick ('06), describes its primary goal to "support the church in its efforts to provide welcome to refugees and migrants of all types, regardless of where they are on the migration journey."
For more information about the grant announcements, to learn more about Global Ministries, UMCOR, and Rev. Amick, read the article here.
Anicka Fast (’20), Bruce Yoder (’16) and Unlikely Friends Mentioned by the Mennonite Mission Network
The Mennonite Mission Network's recent blog post mentions Anicka Fast ('20) and Bruce Yoder ('16), STH Alumni and former advisees of Dr. Dana Robert. Fast's research and Yoder's participation with the Congolese church and Mennonite mission are noted.
Through the post, blog author, Linda Hollinger-Janzen, reflects on Anicka's dissertation research, her current assignment in Burkina-Faso teaching African church history, and her chapter in Dana Robert's Festschrift, Unlikely Friends.
Hollinger-Janzen's reflections offer insight into historical Mennonite mission relationships in French-speaking Africa and present-day applications of friendship in mission through the lives of two STH alumni.
Read the blog post, "Expatriate women and house workers helped dismantle Mennonite segregation in Congo" by Linda Hollinger-Janzen, here.
CGCM Congratulates Former Visiting Researcher Jesse Ciccotti
The CGCM offers hearty congratulations to former Visiting Researcher Jesse Ciccotti on his new position.
At the start of the 2021-2022 school year, Dr. Ciccotti took up a post at Colorado Christian University as Assistant Dean of Spiritual Formation. In addition to his dean role, he will be teaching courses in Philosophy, Global Studies, and Theology.
Congratulations to you, Dr. Ciccotti, and all the best to you and to your colleagues and students at Colorado Christian University.
“A Rite for All Souls” 50th-Anniversary Commemoration
The Boston Globe has featured Mark Harvey (STH '71, GRS '83), Peter Bloom (CAS '71), and the music of the Mark Harvey Group in an article published on Oct.25, 2021. See the Boston Globe article here.
Harvey, a School of Theology alumnus, is known for his work as the director of the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and his work on jazz as sacred music.
His ministry through music is another example of the Boston University School of Theology's rich heritage in global hymnody and sacred music. For more information on the upcoming BU STH Hymnody Mini-Conference, see this news item.
To attend the free virtual event, "A Rite for All Souls" 50th-anniversary commemoration, held on Oct. 28, 7 p.m., register at www.eventbrite.com/e/50th-anniversary-of-a-rite-for-all-souls-zoom-conversation-and-video-tickets-187825500127