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.
Alum Charles Farhadian’s Book on Conversion Released
We have just received notice that Charles Farhadian's "Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion", which was co-authored with Lewis R. Rambo, has been released. According to the book's listing on the Amazon website, it "offers a comprehensive exploration of the dynamics of religious conversion, which for centuries has profoundly shaped societies, cultures, and individuals throughout the world. Scholars from a wide array of religions and disciplines interpret both the varieties of conversion experiences and the processes that inform this personal and communal phenomenon."
Costas Consultation on Christians in the Middle East inspires ecumenical solidarity
The 2014 Costas Consultation on March 28 focused on Christians in the Middle East, and attracted many students, faculty, and interested lay people from diverse traditions associated with the Boston Theological Institute (BTI) of ten theological institutions in the greater Boston area. The consultation included a panel of student papers, the viewing and discussion of a film about Christians in Iraq, “Displaced in their Homeland,” and two key speakers. Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Harvard University researcher, and former Vice-Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, gave a lecture identifying and challenging five key myths about Christians in the Middle East (the myths of pluralism in the Ottoman Empire, the Middle East as the "Muslim World," Christians as foreign invaders, Ecumenical Solidarity, and Israel as a protector state for Christians) that when taken together, perpetuate the oppression and persecution of Christian communities in the region. The keynote address was giving by Bishop Elias Toumeh, Antiochian Orthodox Bishop of Pyrgou. Bishop Toumeh gave a heartfelt address on the struggle of Christians in Syria, and the importance of sacrificial leadership; the Bishop also looked at the positive opportunities that Christians have to minister in a time of conflict, such as serving as hostage negotiators. You may read a fuller account of the Bishop Toumeh's address in an article by the The Pilot, "Syrian Bishop Finds in Solidarity Boston."
Many CGCM associates participated in the event; student Daryl Ireland was a key coordinator of the Consultation. Another student, Gina Zurlo, presented one of the student papers centered on a demographic perspective of Christianity in the Middle East. Gina has shared her presentation with us here (costas middle east). The Consultation was an important opportunity, not only to educate the community about ancient Christians in the region and their plight for survival and religious freedom, but also to hear from people living in areas of conflict, and the forging of ecumenical support across nations and traditions.
Post Doctoral Research Opportunity
A year in Geneva
The Post Doctoral Research Program of the
Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue
Thanks to the support of the Levant Foundation, FIIRD is pleased
to announce the call for the Post Doctoral Program:
Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue.
Support for four fellows will be provided for the 2014-2015 academic year.
The program aims to set up a research group to deepen the understanding
among persons of different religions and to bring forth leaders to respond
to intercultural and interreligious challenges.
For more information, please see the attached
Call for Candidates:
Post-doctoral Fellowships in
Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue 2014-2015
Une année à Genève
Le Post Doctorat de la
Fondation pour la recherche et le dialogue interreligieux et interculturels
Grâce au soutien de la Levant Foundation, la FIIRD se réjouit d'annoncer l'appel à candidatures du programme post doctoral :
Recherche et dialogue interreligieux et interculturels
Quatre bourses de recherche seront attribuées pour l'année universitaire 2014-2015.
Ce programme vise à constituer une cellule de recherche à même d’approfondir
la compréhension entre personnes de religions différentes et à former
des cadres susceptibles de répondre aux défis interculturels et interreligieux.
Pour plus d'informations, voir
L'Appel à candidatures:
Bourses de recherche (Post-doctoral Fellowships)
pour le dialogue interreligieux et interculturel 2014-2015
--
Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural
Research and Dialogue
10, rue Albert-Gos
CH-1206 Geneva
Switzerland
Tel-Gsm +41 76 639 52 69
Fax +41 22 909 83 41
Dr. Robert moderates panel on spirituality in the African diaspora
On Thursday March 27th, CGCM's Director Dr. Dana Robert moderated a panel on ‘Christianity and Spirituality in the African Diaspora,’ presented by the Association of Black Seminarians. Dr. Robert opened her remarks by highlighting some of the history of Boston University's School of Theology and Africa, a relationship that richly intersects civil rights and human rights, many through mission connections of African Americans in Africa. The School of Theology also has a history of faculty teaching and researching Africa, as well as people with ongoing ministries in the continent.
The panelists were diverse and included pastor and doctoral student Rev. Derek Muwina, ethicist Dr. Peter Paris, and African historian Dr. John Thornton. Rev. Muwina addressed some of the challenges that Christians should address going forward, such as the inclusion and recognition of women, so that churches can embrace the full dignity of all its members. Dr. Paris pointed to African indigenous religions as a potential resource for constructing a holistic and contextualized African theology. Dr. Thorton shared his research that shows Africans from the Congo were active in introducing African Catholic Christianity to Diaspora communities in the New World. The panel was attended by faculty, students, and members of the community, and a lively discussion followed. This was a successful start to hopefully more discussions in the School of Theology about religion in the African Diaspora.
Christian Healing and Women Leaders in Madagascar
Michele Sigg, PhD student and Project Manager for the Dictionary of African Christian Biography, has recently published an article entitled "Carrying Living Water for the Healing of God's People: Women Leaders in the Fifohazana Revival and the Reformed Church in Madagascar," in the journal Studies in World Christianity, Volume 20 (April 2014), pp. 19-38. Well done Michele! You can read the abstract below, and link to the article here.
Abstract: For over one hundred years the Fifohazana Revival has played a key role in the spread of Christianity in Madagascar. The Fifohazana is an indigenous Christian movement that seeks to serve Malagasy society through the preaching of the Gospel and a holistic ministry of healing in community.
This article summarises the findings of a study that explored the role of women leaders as holistic healers in the Fifohazana revival movement and the Reformed Church (FJKM) in Madagascar. Based on interviews with four women ministering in the Fifohazana or the Reformed Church, including a rising leader in the revival movement, this study highlights the importance of women leaders as radical disciples and subversive apostles in the Fifohazana revival movement and in the Reformed Church. As such, these women have been instrumental in bringing renewal into the church through the work of the Holy Spirit in the holistic healing ministry of the Fifohazana.
Panel on Christianity and Spirituality in the African Diaspora, March 27th
The Association of Black Seminarians presents a panel on 'Christianity and Spirituality in the African Diaspora.' The Panelists are Dr. Peter Paris, Dr. John Thornton and Rev. Derek Muwina. CGCM director Dr. Dana Robert will be the moderator.
Date and Time: March 27th at 5:30-7:15
Place: CAS B 36
Athyal Elected NEMAAR Vice-President
Dr. Jesudas Athyal, a Visiting Researcher at the CCGM, has been elected vice-president of the New England-Maritimes region of the American Academy of Religion. He is the Editor of the recently completed Religion in Southeast Asia: An Encyclopedia, and Associate Editor, Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity (2 volumes), on the 2000 years of Christianity in South Asia that was published in 2011.
Conference Invitation: Can the Native Christian Speak? Discerning the Voices of Indigenous Christians
Emory University's Chandler School of Theology extends an invitation to all interested in a one day conference: Can the Native Christian Speak? Discerning the Voices of Indigenous Christians in Missionary and Colonial Archives, Wednesday, May 28, 2014, 8:45am – 5pm
Location: Emory Conference Center Hotel, 1615 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322
$10 to attend.
This one-day conference will gather together historians of World Christianity to discuss one of the great difficulties in their work, which is a lack of historical materials produced by non-European Christians. Much of what we know about past Christian communities in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania comes from work produced by foreigners, especially missionaries and colonial officials. The scholars will discuss both the problems and possibilities of working with western archives, with their particular silences and voices. The panel presentations will lay the foundations for a published volume of essays on this topic, edited by Candler’s Arun W. Jones, the Hankey Associate Professor of World Evangelism.
Conference Schedule - Emory Conference Center Hotel:
7:30 – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast
8:45 – 9:00 a.m. Welcome and introductions
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. ASIA: Papers by Adrian Hermann, Mrinalini Sebastian, Haruko Ward
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Public discussion of papers on Asian Christianity
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA: Papers by Jay Carney, Paul Kollman, Dianne Diakité
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Public discussion of papers on African Christianity
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. THE AMERICAS: Papers by Kenneth Mills, Christopher Vecsey, Yanna Yannakakis
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Public discussion of papers on Christianity in the Americas
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Break
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. RESPONSES: Gyanendra Pandey, Dana Robert
4:00 – 4:30 p.m. Public discussion of all papers and responses
4:30 p.m. Adjournment
For questions or more information, contact Arun Jones at arun.w.jones@emory.edu or at 404-727-108
The 2014 BTI Costas Consultation in Global Mission will be held March 28th!
The 2014 BTI Costas Consultation in Global Mission is approaching! All are invited to attend on March 28th, 2014, 1pm-8pm. The theme is the Persecution of Christians in the middle East, with keynote speaker Bishop Elias Toume of Wadi Al Nassara, local Bishop in Homs, Syria, and Professor at the University of Balamand, Lebanon, as well as a special lecture by Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Harvard University, and former Vice-Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. The program also includes a film about Christians in Iraq, "Displaced in their Homeland," student papers, and dinner. See attachment for program details.
Location: Hellenic College Holy Cross, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445.
For further questions or information, call Fr. Luke Veronis 774-230-6985; or email Daryl Ireland direland3@gmail.com.
Call for Papers: ‘Missionaries, Materials and the Making of the Modern World’
Cambridge University has issued a call for papers for a conference on the theme 'Missionaries, Materials and the Making of the Modern World' in Cambridge, 15-17 September, 2014. See attached flyer for details (CfP-MissionsMaterialsModernWorld). For more information contact Dr. Chris Wingfield cw543@cam.ac.uk, Senior Curator (Archaeology) Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology,University of Cambridge. To submit an abstract email, ga343@cam.ac.uk.