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Conference on Anglican Theological Education in East Asia

Organised by

the Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia, Singapore & the Theological Education for the Anglican Communion (TEAC)

11 to 13 November 2008, Trinity Theological College, Singapore

Introduction

This Conference aims to bring together 10-15 diocesan and seminary representatives who are responsible for theological education of Anglican clergy and laity in East Asia. The purpose is to assess theological education programmes and processes in the respective dioceses, and to explore ways churches in the region can cooperate in such tasks.

For the past five years, theological education has been a major concern in the Anglican Communion. The findings of TEAC, and the more recent Final Report of the Global South Anglican Theological Formation and Education Task Force (Anglican Catechism in Outline: A Common Home Between Us), underline this concern. This Meeting offers a first opportunity to offer a regional input to TEAC¡¯s recommendations on clerical and lay theological education, and on how the Anglican distinctive (the Anglican Way) can inform such processes.

Initial formation (for clergy and for baptismal/confirmation candidates) may well be a main discussion point. Theologically equipped laity and clergy are indispensable to effective ministry and mission in the region. Anglicans in East Asia after all share similar contexts. We live as tiny minorities within wider communities that are shaped by other religions and intellectual traditions. The region is marked with histories of intraregional colonialism. The Pacific War in the mid-twentieth century has defined our socio-political contexts. Since the end of the 1960s, the region has also emerged to be a powerful socioeconomic bloc in the world. Are there ways we can learn from one another and do together?

Participants

  • Conveners: Mrs Clare Amos (Director of Theological Studies, Anglican Communion), Rev. Canon Dr Michael Poon (CSCA Director & Asian Christianity Coordinator)
  • Hong Kong: Rev. Samson Fan (Lecturer, Minghua Theological College)
  • Japan: to be confirmed
  • Korea: to be confirmed
  • Kuching: Ven. Michael Buma Galami (Archdeacon, Kuching Diocese)
  • Myanmar: Bishop Saw Wilme (Diocese of Toungoo)
  • Philippines: The Very Rev. Patrick Tanhuanco (Dean, Saint Andrew's Theological Seminary)
  • Sabah: Ven. Moses Chin (Archdeacon)
  • Singapore: Archbishop John Chew, Bishop Rennis Ponniah (Assistant Bishop, Singapore), Rev. Dr Titus Chung
  • West Malaysia: Ven. Andrew Phang
  • Taiwan: The Very Rev. Samuel Y. C. Lin (Dean, St John's Cathedral)

    • Programme

    Day One Tuesday 11 November

    Who we are? What are the broader contexts?

    Morning

    Introduction

    What have we been doing?

    Afternoon

    Presentations

    Evening

    Presentations (continued)

    Day Two, Wednesday 12 November

    Morning

    Presentations (continued)

    What needs to be done?

    Afternoon

    Evening

    Day Three, Thursday 13 November

    What can we do together?

    Morning

    (Departure after lunch by 2:00 pm)

    Cost

    Registration fee: USD180 (accommodation and meals). Bursaries are available.

    Profiles of Participants

    Moses Chin is Rector of Good Shepherd Church, Sandakan, and Archdeacon of the Diocese of Sabah, Malaysia; He is chairman of the Diocesan Training Committee whose responsibility includes directing spiritual formation and lay training in the parishes. He expects to learn at the conference to be more effective. Moses is married to Lorraine, and they have three young children.

    Titus Chung is a member of the Theological Education Board of the Diocese of Singapore and priest of the St Andrew's Cathedral Mandarin Congregation. He was the vicar of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and the chaplain of the St Andrew's Secondary School before leaving for his doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh in 2005.

    Samson Fan is the Assistant General Secretary of the Diocese of Western Kowloon, Hong Kong. Samson has involved in theological education and he is also the faculty member of Ming Hua Theological College. He is one of the editors on the translation project of contemporary Anglican thoughts in Hong Kong Religious Education Centre. He has currently finished his Master thesis on Bishop Gore¡¯s Incarnational theology, and he is the vicar of St Thomas' Church.

    Michael Bumu Galami is the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Kuching. "My connection with theological education started in January 2005 at the invitation of the Bishop of Kuching. I help in the preparation of students before their admission to the theological institutions and subsequently monitoring the progress in their studies. I am also involved with the works on different levels of Christian Education. Through the Conference, I am looking forward to discovering new approaches to theological education which are relevant to our pluralistic society.

    Samuel Lin has been Dean of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral of the Diocese of Taiwan since 1997. ¡°A graduate of Tainan Theological College and Seminary, I was ordained to be Deacon in 1983, then Priest next year. In the Diocese, I have been President of Standing Committee, Chairman of Holy Orders Committee, as well as Dean and Lecturer of Trinity Theological Center for several years. I have also worked as General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Taiwan from 2005 to 2006. I hope through this chance I can learn and take back some useful programmes and real experience of theological education of other dioceses for us.¡±

    Andrew Phang is Vicar of Christ Church, Penang, and Archdeacon of Upper North Archdeaconry of the Diocese of West Malaysia. He is Assistant Bishop Designate, to be cosecrated on 27 November 2008. His Involvements In Theological Education includes teaching in the Discipleship Training School (run by the Diocesan Chinese Board), conducting Leadership Training Course (at Penang & Kelantan), and conducting Training on Anglicanism Course for lay pastors (for Upper North Archdeaconry). His expectation for the Conference: ¡°Seeking improvement on the current on-going Anglican Theological Education; exploring the possibility of a common indigenous Anglican Theological Training both for clergy and laity for this region.¡±

    Michael Poon is the Director and Asian Christianity Coordinator of the Study of Christianity in Asia at Trinity Theological College, Singapore. He also serves as honorary canon of Saint Andrew's Cathedral. He has been involved in leadership roles in theological and secular education for twenty years in Hong Kong and Macao before moving to Singapore in 2004. He chaired the Global South Anglican Theological Formation and Education Task Force that produced Anglican Catechism in Outline. He hopes this coming Conference provides an occasion for policy-makers in Anglican theological education across the region to build up networks in supporting one another in their common tasks.

    Patrick Tanhuanco earned his Doctor of Ministry from Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado, USA. For 20 years, he served as Board of Trustees and taught at several seminaries. Presently, he serves as Dean (Seminary President) of St. Andrew's Theological Seminary, Quezon City, Philippines, and teaches Christian Ministry. Expectation: ¡°Learn from one another and apply in my own context!¡±

    Saw Wilme is bishop of Toungoo Diocese from 1994, chairperson of Provincial Scholarship Committee, member of Borad of Governors of Holy Cross Theological College, a graduate of Holy Cross Theological College (1979) and Virginia Theological Seminary ( 1989 M.Div) and served as member of faculty, vice principal and principal of Holy Cross Theological College from 1979 to 1994), a member of Accreditation Team and Resource Commission of ATESEA from 1991 to 1994, president of Association of Theological Education in Myanmar from 2005-2007, principal of St. Peter's Bible School from 1996 to 2006.I expect to gain various methods from the conference to upgrade Theological Education in our context.

    Contact

    Please write to Dr Michael Poon for more information.