BOOK REVIEWS OF PTCA SERIES

by John England

Four recent books which will be of wide-spread interest to theological scholars and educators, have recently been published by the Programme for Theology & Cultures in Asia (PTCA). Readers may remember the earlier series of PTCA volumes, including the 'Missiology Book of the Year' 1993, Doing Theology with Asian Resources.


Theology of Subjects - Towards a New Minjung Theology. PTCA Series No.1, by Kwon Jin Kwan. Tainan: Programme for Theology & Cultures in Asia, 2011. viii, 235 pp.


The development and impact of minjung Theology in Korean society since 1990 is here re-examined, in the context of continuing minjung suffering, and the injustices and severe insecurities resulting from 'global neo-liberal market capitalism'.

In three sections the book outlines (Part One), a New Minjung Theology based on 'Social Movement'. Kwon suggests that minjung theology can be seen as an overarching theological movement incorporating different theological movements which all contribute to increase the subject-hood of minjung in history and society.

(Part Two) Presents 'Encountering Minjung' – which is symbol of Jesus – vis-a-vis neoliberalism. Minjung is presented as 'multitude', the 'Inmin' (or 'proletariat') and the 'subaltern'. The author considers these terms express the most important experiences of minjung: the diversity of many groups and classes; people who agree with the state or political leader; and the 'double marginality and powerlessness of the minjung. A chapter on 'peace without scape-goating' concludes this Part.

(Part Three) 'The Holy Spirit and suffering Minjung as the Subjects of History'. Here the Spirit is first of all a Spirit of truth and justice, who makes of oppressed people 'historical agents with their own just agenda'. Because the Spirit is the source of creativity in every historical situation, minjung can become builders of of a new society, a new world.

This volume provides a very useful update on recent minjung theology, especially as it includes some detail of the present socio-economic-political contexts in Korea for minjung struggle and identity. Kwon includes also some discussion of current North Korean realities, along with the imbalances in international policies regarding nuclear weapons. Chapter 5, on The Minjung as 'Historical Symbol of Jesus', is particularly helpful, dealing with minjung from 'socio-scientific, political, Biblical and theological perspectives. Kwon concludes here by claiming that minjung 'participate in the destiny of Jesus, who is both 'suffering Messiah' and 'God's wisdom'. There are notes throughout, an Introduction and a Select Bibliography.

Theological Education in World Christianity - Ecumenical Perspectives and Future Priorities. PTCA Series No. 2, by Dietrich Werner .Tainan: PTCA, 2011. xiii, 285 pp.

Selected lectures, presentations and reports from the International Programme of Ecumenical Theological Education (ETE) are here brought together as a documentary survey and resource book on major themes in international ecumenical debate.

The three parts of this volume provide (I) Theological Perspectives on Theological Education: including Contextuality, Ecumenicity, Global Solidarity and Standards of Quality. Part II considers Contextual Facets: including the Future of African Theological Education; a New Asian Ecumenism and Theological Education; Theological Education in European and in Orthodox Contexts; and the Marginalization of Theology. Part III, Common Ecumenical Priorities, covers Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century, with findings from the Edinburgh 2010 and Birmingham Processes, and concludes with 'The Unfinished Agenda for Ecumenical Theological Education and the Future of World Christianity'.

Particular emphasis is placed throughout upon theological education in the global south; upon shared ecumenical priorities; and upon practical steps that can be taken in order to strengthen 'contextualization, inter-contextuality, ecumenicity' and self-support. Amongst many papers that will be of value to readers, chapters of particular interest to colleagues in our region will be 'A New Asian Ecumenism' and 'Revitalizing Collaboration in Ecumenical Theological Education in Asian Christianity', both in Part II. In the latter, Werner pictures theological education that has gone beyond denominational self-centredness, elitism, self-isolation in multi-faith contexts, and 'miscommunication with living churches'. (These and other moves appear as part of the 'Unfinished Agenda' in the final chapter). For these ends theological education must clearly move out of many structures of thought and method that confine it in both the teaching and living of contextual and ecumenical theology. Here it would have been helpful if the author had included examples of some of the creative ways in which some of our seminaries and centres in the Asian region are already accomplishing these changes.

It is possible to see that a smaller, more focused collection of papers would have improved the volume's impact, but there are valuable broad perspectives gathered here from many parts of the globe. And principles are articulated for ecumenical theological education which would support and/or largely renew our programmes wherever we may be.

An Introduction, Select Bibliography and full listing of world Associations of Theological Schools and Theological Educators, are included.

Training to be Ministers in Asia - Contextualizing Theological Education in Multi-faith Contexts. PTCA Series No. 3, ed. by Dietrich Werner. Tainan: PTCA, 2012. xxx, 326 pp.

This volume amplifies sections of the previous volume, giving detailed attention to surveys for each Asian country. 18 countries are listed, including some which are seldom covered in other studies; for example in the case of Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Cambodia and Mongolia. In each case survey articles have been written by local theological educators, many of whom are widely known in the region. The history and development of theological education in most countries are given and the focus is firmly upon the problems faced there.

Not all papers were written specifically for this volume so some unevenness of approach is to be expected. Specifically ecumenical dimensions of theological education are not always present but do receive treatment in the papers for Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Nepal, Northeast India, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. For some countries reference even to theological education itself is extremely brief, and for one country ecumenical education in secondary schools is the primary concern. There seem to be only two chapters which contain specific references to the context, training or role of women in theological education. (The absence of Korea and India, apart from the Northeast, is to be noted – along with countries of Austral-Asia, which are part of the CCA's region).

Issues for theological educators that appear throughout the volume include: increasing study of socio-cultural and political contexts; the very different historical development of theological education in different countries; the great diversity of institutions offering theological (or even 'pseudo-theological'!) education. Other issues covered include the place of music in the seminary; the development of theologies and methodologies for theological education; and for many schools, the severe limitation of financial resources.

This is a very valuable survey for the region however, and provides much information and reflection which is not easily otherwise obtained. There has not to my knowledge been published hitherto such a wide-ranging and localised survey for theological education in our region. An Editorial and Postlude are included, along with a listing of Asian Associations of Theological Schools and Educators.

Returning to Mother Earth Theology, Christian Witness and Theological Education, an Indigenous Perspective. PTCA Series No. 4, by Wati Longchar. Tainan: PTCA & Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2012. x, 315 pp.

This book is selected among Fifteen Outstanding Books of the year 2012 on Mission studies by International Bulletin of Missionary Research.

This volume places ecumenical theological and ministerial education firmly within 'the cultural setting of indigenous people. This involves a move from traditional anthropocentric, Euro-centric and hierarchical theologies to a 'creation-centered theology', this being crucial in order to 'protect [both] the earth and marginalized communities'.

In three sections, the author addresses Indigenous Spirituality and Christian Theology, Christian Witness and Mission, and Contextual issues in Theological Education.

For the first, indigenous experience and perspectives are presented on land-ownership struggles, ecological crises, and creation-centered spirituality and theology. This last is seen to require new understandings and expressions for 'God', 'the Holy Spirit', 'salvation', 'history and time', 'humanity', 'non-human creatures', 'the use of natural resources', and 'church and mission',

Part II re-examines mission practice – which must now emphasise the wholeness, diversity, and solidarity of humanity. It then explores 'Mission Beyond Edinburgh 2010'; the destructive results of global economic exploitation; 'collective resistance as Prophetic Witness and celebration of life; and relocation of the “Called to be One” for 'those in the margins'.

The third section advocates, within the development of theological education and ecumenical initiatives in Asia, special emphasis to be placed upon inter-faith issues, the impacts of commercial tourism, and the needs of those disabled or suffering from HIV and AIDS. Chapters in this volume on indigenous spirituality, an indigenous theological framework, and on creation as a central concept for these, are particularly valuable for other levels of theological work, not only in India but throughout the region. In this volume Longchar adds further constructive thought to his many articles and to two of his previous books: The Tribal Religious Traditions in North East India: an introduction (2000); and An Emerging Tribal/Indigenous Theology: Prospect for Doing Asian Theology (2002).

Most recently Longchar has collaborated with Hrangthan Chhungi, and M.M.Ekka, to edit Doing Indigenous Theology in Asia – Towards New Frontiers. (also from The SCEPTRE; NCCI; and GTC, 2012), which is notable for its inclusion of Adivasi, and Dalit, Myanmar and Northeast Indian, Liberation and Feminist inter-dialogue and critique.

[N.B. The book is obtainable from PTCA, Chang Jung University, No. 1 Changda  Rd, Guiren dist., Tainan, 71101, Taiwan; and from SCEPTRE, Shrachi Centre, 74B A.J.C.Bose Rd, Kolkata 700016, India. Contact: Wati Longchar (wlongchar@gmail.com]