FTESEA News
DELEGATION OF
CCC/TSPM THEOLOGICAL EDUCATORS VISITS NORTH AMERICA
At the invitation of FTESEA, a delegation of CCC/TSPM theological educators visited North America from April 11-22, 2012. They visited seminaries and met with theological educators in San Francisco, New York, and Toronto, with additional stops at Princeton Theological Seminary, Drew Theological School in New Jersey.
Photos from the visit
JOINT GLOBAL RESEARCH PROJECT ON THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN WORLD CHRISTIANITY: 2011-2012
FTESEA partner, the WCC-ETE, invites participation in this project:
You are invited to participate in a major new global research project on the state of theological education—current trends, ongoing challenges, and expectations for the future.
• The project is designed to gather data and perspectives on all forms of theological education in every Christian tradition from all parts of the world.
• Everyone interested in education for ministry or laity and preparation for research and teaching in theology is invited to participate by completing the survey.
• Empirical data will also be collected from all individual institutions of theological education and all associations of theological schools.
To do to the survey please click on
https://www.research.net/s/globalsurveyontheologicaleducation
Data can be entered from 1st of October 2011 onwards. Please take these 15 minutes to contribute to a global survey on theological education!
The project is designed and supported by the following institutions. Please feel free to contact any of us with questions or suggestions.
Center for the Study of Global Christianity |
Ecumenical Theological Education |
The Institute for Cross-Cultural Theological Education |
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary |
World Council of Churches |
McCormick Theological Seminary |
Dr. Todd Johnson
tjohnson@gordonconwell.edu |
Dr. Dietrich Werner
Dietrich.Werner@wcc-coe.org |
Dr. David Esterline
desterline@mccormick.edu |
A complete description of the project can be found at ETE website under: [http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/education-and-ecumenical-formation/ecumenical-theological-education-ete/wcc-programme-on-ecumenical-theological-education/global-theological-education-survey-2011-2012.html]
MS. WANG JIAWEI
TO PARTICIPATE IN AACC CONFERENCE AT NAIROBI
The Foundation for
Theological Education in South East Asia will sponsor Ms. Wang
Jiawei, a faculty member at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary,
to attend the All Africa Conference of Churches Third Theological
Institute. This is an effort to enrich theological reflection
and strengthen the friendship between the Church in China and
the churches in Africa. Sixty-five young theologians, including
fifteen from outside Africa, will participate in the Third Theological
Institute organized by AACC in December 2011 on the theme "Africa
towards Peace, Justice and Dignity." From Asia, in addition
to Ms. Wang Jiawei, two younger faculty members from South East
Asia selected by ATESEA and supported by FTESEA are expected to
participate in the AACC institute.
FTE TRUSTEE RHEA
WHITEHEAD
The FTESEA mourns the
passing of trustee Rhea Whitehead on the evening of June 14, 2011.
We have been informed that Rhea who has been suffering from cancer
died peacefully in her home.
Rhea Whitehead's life journey of global church involvement includes
urban industrial ministries in Hong Kong, serving as Asia Pacific
Area Executive for the Anglican and United Churches of Canada,
General Secretary of the Division of World Outreach, and, in retirement,
as teacher of feminist theologies and contemporary mission issues
in theological seminaries in the Philippines and China, as well
as being a Board member of the FTESEA.
Tributes
to Rhea Whitehead from FTESEA Board members
BIBLE MINISTRY EXHIBITION
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The Bible Ministry
Exhibition of the Protestant Church in China will take place
September - November 2011 in Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas,
and Charlotte.
For more information
see the Bible Ministry
Exhibition web site
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DR.. KAH-JIN JEFFREY
KUAN INSTALLED AS DEAN AT DREW
FTESEA Trustee Dr.
Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan was installed as first Asian American dean
of a United Methodist theological seminary on April 8, 2011. See:
http://www.drew.edu/news/2011/04/12/drew-theological-school-installs-new-dean
LOIS
KOYAMA
We were saddened to
learn that Mrs. Lois Koyama, wife of the late Kosuke Koyama, former
ATESEA Executive Director and Trustee of FTESEA, passed away April
13. She was 83. We remember the bereaved family in our prayers.
Please click here for tributes
to Mrs. Koyama from FTESEA Board members and partners.
FTESEA
VIDEO
In preparation for
the FTESEA's 75th Anniversary celebration, a video of interviews
with Board members and Executive Director H.S. Wilson has been
created. Click on the monitor icon to view the video full screen.:
NEW
HISTORY OF THE FTESEA AVAILABLE
A new history of the
FTESEA is now available: Supporting Asian Christianity’s
transition from mission to church : a history of the Foundation
for Theological Education in South East Asia edited by
Samuel C. Pearson. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., c2010).
See the Eerdman's
catalog for more information.
NEW
LOGO FOR FTESEA SOUGHT
The Board of Trustees
of the Foundation for Theological Education in South East Asia
(FTESEA) is calling for proposals for a logo for FTESEA and would
like to encourage interested individuals or groups to submit their
proposals not later than March 15, 2011. The logo selected by
the Board of Trustees will be awarded a prize of US$500.
The FTESEA is a foundation
that has been supporting theological education in China and South
East Asia since 1937. The logo should reflect the Mission, Vision
and Priority for the ministry of FTESEA as noted on its website:
www.ftesea.org The names and links to the web sites of the partners
and some information about the ministry of FTESEA are also found
in the FTESEA website.
The following themes should be reflected in the logo:
Christian ministry
Theological Education in China and South East Asia
Partnership in theological education between theological institutions
and educators in Asia and North America
Timeline:
The proposal for the logo, an e-copy and a hard (paper) copy,
should reach the Executive Director by March 15, 2011 at the following
address:
Dr. H.S. Wilson
140 West Highland Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
FTE BOARD MEETING
HELD IN PHILADELPHIA
The 2010 annual meeting
of the FTESEA Board of Trustees was held
at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia on October 4-5,
2010. The Trustees were joined by FTE partners Rev. Dr. Chen Yilu
(CCC-NJUTS), Rev. Dr. Lin Manhong (NJUTS), Rev. Dr. Limuel Equina
(ATESEA) and Rev, Dr. Dietrich Werner (ETE-WCC).
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During the opening
reception, Dr. Philip Krey, President of LTSP, released
a new book documenting the history of FTE: SUPPORTING
ASIAN CHRISTIANITY'S TRANSITION FROM MISSION TO CHURCH,
A History of the Foundation for Theological Education in
South East Asia. Samuel C. Pearson, Editor (Eerdmans,
2010).
Rev. Dr. Dietrich
Werner, coordinator of Ecumenical Theological Education
for the World Council of Churches, presented a public lecture
entitled "Theological Education in the changing context
of World Christianity - an unfinished agenda: Global and
ecumenical perspectives from the Edinburgh 2010 process
and beyond" The text of
his lecture is available online.
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The Board has elected
the following new Board of Trustees as from Jan 1, 2011 and we
welcome them to the FTE fellowship:
Dr. James Vijayakumar (UCC/Disciples)
Ms. Rebecca Asedillio (United Methodist)
Mr. Andrew Yamamoto (RCA)
Dr. Jeffrey Kuan (member at large)
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75th
ANNIVERSARY OF FTESEA TO BE CELEBRATED IN 2012
At its 2009 annual meeting,
the FTESEA Board of Trustees began planning for the celebration
of FTESEA's 75th anniversary in 2012. The Board has requested
FTESEA partners Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, China Christian
Council, ATESEA, ETE/WCC and Ecumenical Institute Bossey to organize
seminars to reflect on their partnership with FTESEA in the past
several decades. A concluding consultation and celebration will
be held in USA in 2012 to reflect on the findings of consultations/seminars
organized by the FTESEA partners and plan future partnership engagements
in theological education in China and South East Asia.
It was also suggested the FTESEA prepare a Memorial book with
photographs and brief write ups on selected significant accomplishments
to be highlighted as part of the celebration.
We would like to invite all the FTESEA community members to extend
their cooperation in all the above suggested programs. Please
send photographs, write ups and suggestions to the Executive Director
Dr. H.S. Wilson to make the reflection and celebration a learning
and motivating experience for all concerned.
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LIBRARIAN TRAINING
FUNDS AVAILABLE
Librarian training
is an important priority for the Foundation for Theological Education
in South East Asia. At its 2009 annual meeting, the FTESEA voted
to set aside $5,000 each year for support of scholarships and
training workshops for individuals working at theological libraries
in China and South East Asia.
Applicants for scholarship
and workshop funds should be associated with one of the CCC related
seminaries or ATESEA member schools. Scholarship funds will be
granted with the proviso that the individual agrees to continue
working at his/her home institution for at least two years following
completion of the supported course(s). To apply for scholarship
support, the individual's sponsoring institution should contact
Dr. H.S. Wilson, Executive Director of the FTESEA, to obtain a
grant request form (ftewilson@gmail.com).
As funds permit, the FTESEA will also provide support for archives
and library workshops, with preference given to events that are
collaborative across regions and institutions. The librarian training
programs and workshops supported by this initiative must take
place in Asia.
If you have questions,
please contact Dr. H.S. Wilson or Martha Smalley, chair of the
FTESEA Library Development Task Group (martha.smalley@yale.edu).
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BOOK EDITED BY DR.
MARVIN D. HOFF
The following book
edited by Honorary Trustee Marvin D. Hoff has recently been published:
Chinese Theological
Education: 1979 to 2006. Hoff, Marvin D. (ed). Grand Rapids:
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009. (hardcover). $49.00.
Marvin D. Hoff, the
former Executive Director of the Foundation for Theological Education
in South East Asia, has recently published Chinese Theological
Education: 1979 to 2006.
The book offers insight
into the emergence of the Christian church after Mao's Cultural
Revolution. While reports of Communist oppression have dominated
American perceptions of church and state in China, this is an
increasingly dangerous view as China changes. Dr. Marvin D. Hoff,
as executive director for the Foundation for Theological Education
in Southeast Asia, traveled at least annually to China for the
period covered by this book. The original reports of his encounters
with Chinese Christians, especially those involved in theological
education, are a historic record of the church's growth-and growing
freedom. Interspersed with Hoff's account are reports and essays
by Chinese and other Asian Christians. Introductory essays are
provided by Charles W. Forman of Yale Divinity School, Daniel
H. Bays of Calvin College and Donald J. Bruggink of Western Theological
Seminary.
The book can be ordered
from: Dr. Marvin D. Hoff, 21236 Barth Pond Lane, Crest Hill, IL
60403. The cost is $25 prepaid with an additional $6 for mailing
costs to the USA.
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Now available:
BOOK BY REV. DR.
AIMING WANG
Church in China:
Faith, Ethics, Structure
The Heritage of the Reformation for the Future of the Church in
China
Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt am Main, New York, Oxford,
Wien, 2009. 590 pp.
European University Studies: Series 23, Theology. Vol. 890
ISBN 978-3-03911-814-4 pb.
Click
here for
an order form.
Aiming Wang is Dean
and Vice President of the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary and
Vice Director of the Committee of Theological Education of the
China Christian Council. In 2008, he received his doctoral degree
in Systematic Theology/Ethics at the University of Basel, Switzerland
and his doctor honoris causafrom the University of Neuchâtel,
Switzerland.
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HONORARY TRUSTEE
KOSUKE KOYAMA
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The FTESEA mourns
the passing of Honorary Trustee Kosuke Koyama.
For details,
please see the press
release from Union Theological Seminary.
Please
click here for tributes to Prof. Koyama from FTESEA
Board members and partners.
Prof. Koyama
was a pioneer Asian theologian. During his decades of ministry
as theological educator and ecumenical leader Koyama mentored
and inspired a large number of students, ministers, theologians
and theological educators all over the globe. His legacy
will continue through them and many others who have benefited
from his writings and lectures.
H.S. Wilson
Executive Director. FTESEA
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LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT
TASK GROUP NEWS
During March 2009,
Vice-Chair Martha Smalley visited Nanjing Union Theological Seminary
and East China Seminary, and attended the Forum of Asian Theological
Librarians consultation held at Trinity Theological College, Singapore.
She visited the library at the new campus of NJUTS, which is expected
to be in full operation by the end of March, and talked about
the library program with Librarian Rev. Wang Peng and Vice President
Gao Ying. In Shangai, she talked with Rev. Bao Jia Yuan about
a possible librarian training workshop in China and visited the
library of East China Seminary.
The Forum of Asian
Theological Librarians consultation was attended by over forty
librarians, who came from China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand,
as well as representatives from library associations in the U.S.
U.K., Australia, and Europe. There were workshops on Library Automation,
Web Design, and Digital Librarianship led by ForATL members. Martha
presented a workshop on Archives Management.
See photos in the Photo
section.
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APPEAL FOR BOOKS
TO THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS OF FTESEA PARTNERS
September 10, 2008
Greetings to all the
well wishers of FTESEA. Here is a request from the Executive Committee
Task Group on Library Development.
Recognizing the need
to strengthen library collections at theological schools of FTESEA
partners, the FTESEA requests donations of theological books and
periodicals from faculty members and pastors in North America
(retired or in service), which could be shipped to seminaries
of FTESEA partners via the Theological Book Network's "Designated
shipment" program:
http://www.theologicalbooknetwork.org/designated.htm.
We would like to ask
you to share this information through your network with those
who are likely to be interested in sending their used books to
libraries in China and South East Asia theological seminaries.
Please contact Executive
Direction H. S. Wilson for more information: ftewilson@gmail.com
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