Meeting Notes (minutes)

PTCA PROGRAMME COMMITTEE MEEETING ON
Future Planning for PTCA
at Sabah Theological Seminary, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Held on 15-16 January, 2012

Member Present:

Dr. Archie Lee (Hong Kong), Chairperson
Dr. Huang Poho (Taiwan), Dean
Dr.Wati Longchar (India), Secretary
Dr. Wong Wai Ching (Hong Kong), Member
Dr. Daniel Namebura (Indonesia), Member
Dr. Thu En YU (Malaysia), Member
Dr. Jeffrey KJ Kuan (USA), Consultant
Dr. Dietrich Werner (Geneva), ETE-WCC
Dr. HS Wilson (USA/India), FTE

Apology:
Dr. Hisako Kinukawa (Japan)
Dr. Yeong Mee Lee (Korea)

The meeting started at 2:30 with a prayer and word of welcome from Rev. Dr. Thu En Yu, the President of STS, Kota Kinabalu who hosted the meeting.

Dr. Huang Po ho welcomed the members to this important future planning committee meeting and thanked the members for shouldering the expenses of their own ticket and the Sabah Theological Seminary for the kind hospitality.


Dr. Huang Po ho presented a paper, “Doing Theologies in Asian Ways with Asian Resources: Recollection and Reorientation of PTCA in the New Era for Asian Theological Education”. The paper highlighted historical development, programme emphasis and the contribution of PTCA during the last 30 years. In addition, Po ho drew the attention to three new initiatives which could be considered for strengthening theological education and PTCA work in Asia:
1. Mapping Theological Education in Asia in the Changing Context under the initiative of ETE/WCC and FTESEA. There is possibility of taking lead by PTCA in this research project.
2. The Asian Forum for Theological Education (AFTE) initiated by ETE-WCC. This network attempts to bring both ecumenical and evangelicals under one theological umbrella for mutual exchange and cooperation. An exploration may be sought to make PTCA a research wing of this forum.
3. It is noted that Theological education in Asia is gradually accepted/integrated in the university system. The challenge for Asian theological educator is to create a new model of theological education assessable to public resources which have potential of enhancing cross disciplinary learning while not duplicating the weakness of the European sisters and brothers facing is an urgent task. PTCA has a role to play in shaping theological education in this direction.

Vision: The members reaffirmed that the uniqueness of PTCA is a theological movement, but not an institutions. It was started to serve the theological education networks to help younger theologians in doing theology with Asia resources by organizing workshops and institutes. The unique role of PTCA is to help scholars engage in developing distinct Asian theological methodology. Since it is a theological movement, it should not come under the control of any theological institution, but it should continue to collaborate with theological institutions and research centres in Asia for strengthening Asian theologies to contribute new theological thinking in global Christianity.
Impact: What are the tangible PTCA’s impacts in Asia? With a distinct vision to promote doing theology with Asian resources, PTCA, besides organizing many theological workshops, gave birth to the Forum for Asian Theological Librarians (ForATL) in May, 1991 to encourage libraries of Asian seminaries to build up holdings of Asian theological literatures. With the help of ForATL, PTCA could develop Asia-wide network of theological libraries and have published union listing, a Directory of Asian Theological Libraries, guidelines, indexes, and bibliographies for publication. Now the ForATL is initiating digitization of libraries. PTCA workshop papers have been published as follows: 13 Bulletins, 13 Occasional papers, 11 volumes of JTCA, 2 PTCA Study Series (new lunched programme). Besides, number of national and sub-regional papers had been published both in English and regional languages. There are more than PTCA 400 alumnae across Asia and many them are theological educators. PTCA did motivated many younger theologians to do theology with Asian resources and we see this very clearly reflected in many writings of Asian scholars. Many pioneers of Asian theologians, to name a few, Shoki Coe, Koyama, C.S. Song, MM Thomas, Takakina, Kim Young Bock, K.C. Abraham, J.R. Chandran, S.J. Samartha, John England, etc have been closely associated with the movement. PTCA alumnae contributions are acknowledged worldwide.
Relevance of PTCA: Is PTCA still relevant? Where are we? Whom should PTCA serve? With whom should PTCA work and in what way? Where will the support come from? How do we raise support locally and internationally? Where and how do we situate future role of PTCA?
The members recognized that PTCA role has been diminished due to financial constrains and change of global funding policies. Having discussed some of those issues and concerns, the members unanimously affirmed that PTCA as an Asia-wide theological movement is still relevant and can play a greater role in the following areas:
- Promote publications in the area of doing theology with Asian resources (PTCA study series has been initiated in this direction)
- Promote a joint theological lectureship exchange in Asia-Europe/USA for mutual theological enrichment.
- Initiate joint doctoral methodology seminar with participation of all major associations of theological schools in Asia
- Organize regional and national theological workshops on Asian theologies
- Build bridges between PTCA networks and AANATE network of Asian theological educators in different parts of the world.
To regain the strength of PTCA, the members proposed to explore partnership and support from the following:

1) Explore a PTCA alumnae meeting. Currently, PTCA has more than 400 alumnae all over Asia. Some of the alumnae could be requested to act as contact person in their respective countries to initiative national programme. They can be requested to explore resources for such activities locally and common activities.
2) PTCA can enter into a memorandum understanding with the institutions like ATESEA, Chung Chi College, Hong Kong; Chang Jung Christian University, Taiwan; MIT, Yangon; ATEM, PERSETIA, Drew University, SCEPTRE, Kolkata; Sabah Theological Seminary, Malaysia; Hanshin University, Korea, etc. and collaborate workshop, lectureship and seminars in doing Asian theology.
3) The ecumenical partners like FTE, ETE-WCC and EMW can be requested to support for the next three year’s activities. If possible, PTCA should explore a joint staff with ETE-WCC to revitalize PTCA and ETE activities in Asia.
4) Explore to locate PTCA as the research wing of AFTE which is in the initial stage of formation.

The members also expressed that the PTCA should focus on three major areas in the next coming three years:

1) Promote young Asian scholars by facilitating theological networks,
2) Promote theological dialogue with the marginalized group, especially indigenous communities;
3) Promote distinct Asian theologies in world Christianity by organizing workshops and seminars.
Future Plan of Actions: With the distinct vision of doing theology with Asian resources, PTCA as a theological movement continues to strive to contribute Asian theology in global Christianity, networking and equipping younger Asian scholars, initiating more theological seminars/workshops to uplift the marginalized traditions theologically to contribute towards global search for peace and justice.
It is desirable that PTCA continues to stay as a theological movement, free from institutional constituent’s structure, to continual work towards strengthening the regional theological organizations. This will enable PTCA to play its prophetic role.
The sustainability of PTCA is an important concern. The members recognize the importance of working with theological institutions for future sustainability. Considering the changing theological scenario, it would be worthwhile exploring whether PTCA could become the academic wing of the AFTE maintaining its independent movement character. The matter can be discussed in AFTE meeting in August in Indonesia this year. If the members of AFTE constituents agree, the PTCA can write a concrete proposal for the next three years to be shared with ecumenical partners like FTE, ETE-WCC and EMW for support and partnership.
PTCA explores to work through partner network Institutes for various Programmes. PTCA can offer programme and consultancy by identifying interested institutions, alumni, and associations, e.g. ATESEA, ATU, ATA, PERSETIA, ATEM and individual schools (Hanshin, STS, CJCU, SCEPTRE, Drew, MIT, LTSP, Nanjing)

It is suggested that PTCA creates a consultancy group committed to help the consultations in different institutions through identifying ecumenical partners and resources such as ETE-WCC, FTE, UB, AANATE to promote network of younger theologians, ecumenical exchange lecture, theological workshops on marginalized traditions and interfaith relations.

PTCA can explore a research academy to continue theological research in doing theology with Asian resources by collaborating with ecumenical partners like ETE-WCC, FTE, EMW

Focusing on unique Asian spirituality especially the marginalized traditions, theology of life on ecology, ethics on justice and peace, and interfaith relation issues, the PTCA should continue to widen its activities by collaborating with various justice movements and civil societies around the world.

The PTCA continues to promote Asia-wide collaboration of Ph.D/D.Th programme through workshops and seminars in doing Asian theologies.
Operational Plan
1) Ecumenical partners like FTE and EMW who are committed to promote theological education and scholarship can be invited to collaborate with PTCA and commit themselves to support at least for 3 years’ activities. A comprehensive proposal may be presented to FTE and EMW. While submitting the proposal to FTE, ATESEA can be requested to help in the process.
2) After discussion with the AFTE leadership on the possibility of PTCA playing the role of the research wing with AFTE structure, a comprehensive project proposal for the next three years be prepared and presented to EMW.
3) Explore with the WCC leadership for a theological conversation (madang) during WCC Assembly in Bussan on Programme for Theology and Cultures in Asia. Or, PTCA could organize a major theological conference to commemorate the 30th years of PTCA work – and this could be organized next year either in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
4) Louis Foundation could be approached for annual lectureship programme.
5) Request Po ho to devote certain amount of time during his sabbatical year to help shape PTCA work. If necessary, PTCA can pay honorarium.
6) A suggestion to explore a joint consultancy work with ETE-WCC to promote ETE and PTCA work in Asia or a joint appointment in a theological college was suggested. Po ho, Wati and Dietrich are entrusted to explore the possibility.

The meeting closed with a prayer led by Rev. Dr. Archie CC Lee.