2027
Nairobi, Kenya
March 3-6, 2027
INVITATION
We invite scholars and practitioners who long to see churches embodying faithful witness to Jesus’s holistic gospel in the world today. Join us in exploring this theme together through:
The Stott-Bediako Forum
• March 3-6, 2027
• KCB Leadership Centre, Nairobi, Kenya (Stay tuned for a travel guide)
Optional outing on March 2nd for participants who wish to arrive early to gain a better understanding of the local context.
A Community of Praxis
• Before the forum: Individual and group reflections
• During the forum: Collective brainstorming and collaborative action planning
• After the forum: Online meet-ups for prayer, resource-sharing, and ongoing reflection
Click to sign up for one or both of the opportunities above.
DO THE CRISES OF OUR TIME REQUIRE NEW EXPRESSIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD?
Amid the particularly dark and disturbing realities of today, we dare to believe that the wine of the gospel still means good news for the world! Especially for the poor, oppressed, and marginalized. But we’re also convinced that to be good news today will require new wineskins. How can communities of God’s people respond bravely and creatively to the crises of our time? Through dialogue, stories, art, and worship, this forum seeks to animate our commitment to Christian community in its renewed and perhaps even radically new forms.
TOPICS TO CONSIDER
1. The state of the Church in the world
2. Fresh ecclesiological reflections
3. RENEWAL: Accompanying current communities
4. REDISCOVERY: Alternative and historic forms of Christian community
5. REIMAGINING: New wineskin communities
WHAT AND FOR WHOM IS THE STOTT-BEDIAKO FORUM
The annual Stott-Bediako Forum held by the International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation (INFEMIT), bears the names of John Stott and Kwame Bediako, two theologians who shared a vision for theological expressions rooted in and emerging from diverse contexts around the globe. They sought to bridge traditional divides, such as those between “Majority” and “Minority” worlds, men and women, academia and practitioners. Following their example, INFEMIT hosts the Stott-Bediako Forum as an open, public event that brings together scholars and practitioners to reflect and respond redemptively to issues of the gospel in the world today. We welcome practitioners, artists, scholars, students, missionaries, and others! The forum typically brings together people who represent a wide range of organizations, networks, and institutions, particularly from the hosting region.
2027 FORUM HOSTS AND PARTNERS
CONTRIBUTE TO THE FORUM
We welcome proposals for contributions to this Stott-Bediako Forum! We invite artists, theologians, church leaders and practitioners; young and senior leaders; and people from any region of the world to submit their proposals for consideration. (If you are unable to attend in person but have research or an experience to share, you are also welcome to submit)
At the core of INFEMIT’s identity is a commitment that theology is the practice of the whole Church; it takes on diverse forms and intertwines reflection and practice. Because of the topic of this forum, we especially welcome stories and case studies from local faith communities who are “doing” and “being” Church in renewed, new, and creative ways. We also encourage artistic submissions, which might include poetry, liturgy, multimedia, and visual arts.
Contributions should clearly connect to the general forum theme and one or more of the topics mentioned above. For further instructions and to submit a proposal, go to the following form.
PREPARE
Check back later for discussion and reflection questions that you can use to prepare for the forum individually and in small groups.
DONATE
You can help make this forum possible through your donations! For information about becoming a forum sponsor, email us. You can also make a one-time donation below to provide support to participants who are unable to cover their full costs.
