PTCA International Theology Symposium

For Chang Jung Christian University and Serampore University

Theme: Commercial Tourism and Marginal Communities: Missiological and Theological Challenges
Date: 6-8 December, 2012 at SCEPTRE, Kolkata (Arrival 5th Dec, Dep. 8 Dec after dinner)

Objectives
a) Uncover the interconnection between environmental degradation through massive commercial tourism with
b) Unmask the interconnection between commercial tourism and its impact marginal communities such as women, children and indigenous communities
c) Evolve a prophetic missiological and theological education response on the issue

Activities: It will be a theological symposium – all the participants will be required to present a paper or make a panel presentation centered on the proposed theme with the view to evolve a missiological and theological response.


Background and rationale:
Our environment, worship places, sacred groves and shrines are being desecrated by profit, pleasure and enjoyment seeking tourism. In the name of eco-tourism, sacred music and dances are now turned into cabaret performances. Women and children are reduced to flesh market, nature to mere scenic object, beaches to mere sun-bath, culture to performance. The development of ecotourism is further causing wide-scale eviction of indigenous people from their ancestral lands leading to breakdown of traditional values, wisdom and identity. Today the continuity of indigenous people and other marginal communities and their spirituality, cultural and traditional way of life is at risk. The indigenous communities who continue to depend on the forest resources have much wisdom and resources to protect planet earth and just-tourism. Thus it is a missiological and theological challenge. It is imperative that the churches and theological fraternity make a critical prophetic stand on this issue.

Goals and objectives, including expected outcomes.

- To challenge and critique the nexus between the present profit-oriented paradigm of development, climate-justice and survival of marginalized communities;
- To help scholars and church leaders identity new forms of violence against indigenous people, women, children carried out by neo-liberal globalization and tourism industries;
- To rediscover new paradigm of God-world-human relationship based indigenous cultural traditions and wisdom;
- To conscientious church leaders and theological educators on the nexus of environment, marginalized communities and commercial tourism with knowledge, skills and action ground on justice; and
- To provide a new missiological and theological perspective to global churches and ecumenism.

Coordinators:

Dr. Huang Poho
Dr. Solomon Rongpi
Dr. Wati Longchar