The first meeting of the Global Forum of Theological Educators (GFTE) was held on May 16-20, 2016 in Dorfweil, Germany.
INFEMIT shares great enthusiasm for this significant gathering, which provided a platform for the major Christian traditions – Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Independent – to share and learn from one another.
Networking Team members, Munther Isaac (Palestine), Corneliu Constantineanu (Romania), Ruth Padilla DeBorst (Costa Rica), Wonsuk Ma and Paul Bendor-Samuel (OCMS), each attended this meeting. They gave short presentations on topics ranging from theology for ministry, Pentecostal gifts and un-gifts, and integrating theology and life.
Presentations were all followed by round table discussions, which were the central piece of the meeting. These round tables allowed participants to discuss challenges in the Church and the world today alongside people from various regions and from each Christian family.
Participants were united by their shared tasks: which include “building up new leadership for the mission of the church, strengthening the sense of unity between Christians, giving witness to justice with peace in the world, and supporting all aspects of theological education.”
Read the full Concluding Message.
This meeting represents the launch of a significant global forum, and we at INFEMIT celebrate the relationships and conversations that began in Dorfweil and will continue to grow in the years ahead.
*Participants have proposed another gathering to be held in the next 2-3 years.
Read also: Munther Isaac’s Presentation: How Theological Education Forms People For Ministry – A Palestinian Christian Perspective.
