Course announcement: Renewal of African Christianity: Challenge for Central and Eastern Europe

Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies

Renewal of African Christianity: Challenge for Central and Eastern Europe

March 6-8, 2008

Introduction

The Central and Eastern European Institute of Mission Studies as part of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University in Budapest offers an open forum for study and discussion and deepening knowledge on missiology. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students, laity and pastors, aware of the immense challenges of God’s church in post-modern times are invited to contribute to the discussions and to invest time in learning from first-hand experiences of the non-Western world.

Never before were the experiences in Africa seen as an example for Europe. Nowadays the ecclesiastical centre of gravity has shifted, and Europe can learn from one of the most vital parts of Christianity: from Africa.

Renewal of African Christianity: the case of Ghana

Prof. Dr. Cephas Omenyo, is professor at the University of Ghana in Legon. He brings unique perspectives and experiences on the renewal of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to Budapest, in a three days conference.

The kind of Christianity that was introduced by Western Christian missionaries in the Sub Saharan African region in the early 19^th century for a long time remained an “alien” religion that was unable to grapple with typical African issues. Consequently it did not experience much growth, despite the fact that resources were put in place to facilitate growth. There is a new trend whereby African Christianity is undergoing a tremendous growth and renewal. There is growth in all dimensions of African Christianity, both within the historical, mainline, churches and the contemporary Pentecostal/Charismatic churches and movements. The course shall be devoted to a study of the phenomenon of growth by examining the following themes:

• The history of African Christianity
• Renewal in African Christianityv
• various emphasis of the renewal movements
• Challenges that the renewal is posing to the historic/mainline Christianity
• What world Christianity can learn from African Christianity

The course is planned as a three day course. During the three days the input from Dr. Omenyo will form the red thread. Nevertheless participants will have many opportunities to discuss the lectures and the implications for the situation in Central and Eastern Europe.

Participants

The course is open for pastors, laity and students who are waiting for renewal in their churches and new inspiration in their ministry. People who in their daily practice are confronted with many questions about the missionary calling of the Church in today’s world and society, who are wondering about the future of the church and are looking for new ideas.

Registration for the course preferably using the registration form on the CIMS website: http://www.kre.hu/

Tuition fee

Due to subsidies the tuition fee for this special event is kept low. Pastors, Christian workers, Post-graduate students will pay 7500 Ft; for undergraduate students special arrangements have been made. Full or partial scholarships are available. Send your requests to cims@kre.hu with a brief motivation letter why this course is important to you, and how much you can contribute yourself.

Registration is required before 4^st March, 2008.

Travel and subsistence

Participants will pay own costs for travel; if overnight stay and meals are needed CIMS staff can offer some reasonable suggestions (Mrs. Margit Szirmai, cims@kre.hu).

CIMS general information

The Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University was established in 2006. It is centrally located in downtown Budapest. CIMS mission library and resource centre contains a unique collection of more then 7000 books and major mission journals. More information will be provided by librarian Gabriella Maros (maros.gabriella@kre.hu)

Prof. Dr Cephas Omenyo

Cephas Narh Omenyo is currently the John A. Mackay Professor of World Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned his M.Phil. from the University of Ghana, Legon, and his Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, he is a member of that church’s General Assembly committees on church and society, constitutional review, and worship. A member of the Joint Consultative Group between the World Council of Churches and Pentecostals, and a member of the Reformed Commission of the Ongoing International Reformed-Pentecostal Dialogue, he is currently researching church-planting activities by churches in the Southern Hemisphere (focusing on Africa, and particularly on Ghana) in the Northern Hemisphere. He is co-editor of the revived Ghana Bulletin of Theology. He teaches courses in African Pentecostalism, the history of African Christianity, and the African experience of gospel and culture.

Major publications:

Pentecost outside Pentecostalism: A Study of the Development of Charismatic Renewal in the Mainline Church in Ghana (Zoetermeer, 2002)
The Ongoing Encounter between Christianity and African Culture: A Case Study of Girls’ Nubility Rite of the Krobos (Adwensa Publishers, 2001)

CIMS address:
Károli Gáspár Reformed University -- Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies, Kálvin tér 7.II, 1091 Budapest, 1461 Pf. 73, Email: cims@kre.hu, Tel. +36 1 216 2054/101

Course schedule
The course will take place on Thursday 6^th March 4pm-8 pm, Friday 7^th March 2-8 pm and Saturday 8^th March 9am-2 pm.

CIMS is using the picture of one of the main bridges in Budapest as symbol for its aims and goals. Bridge building between:

· East and West
· South and North
· Bible and Society
· Present and past
· Practice and theory
· Church and Society

Not as goal in itself but as servants.