Doing Theologies in Asian Ways with Asian Resources

- Recollection and Reorientation of PTCA in the New Era for Asian Theological Education -
Program Committee Meeting and Consultation, PTCA
STS, Sabah, Malaysia
Jan. 15-17, 2012
by Huang Po Ho, Dean of PTCA

Introduction

The attempt to formulate theologies and to implement theological education in Asia can be dated back to the arrival and establishment of Christians of Oriental Orthodox tradition and multiplied with successive Christian sojourn to Asia of Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian missions from Europe and North America. Theological education as institutes of professional higher education has been operating in many of Asian countries for more than a century. Because of the Christian mission legacy, theological education systems implemented in Asia were/are mostly modeled after theological schools from western countries in all their structures, disciplines and curricula. Over the years, despite of many challenges and arguments for new form of theological education and many conferences which have been held to urge that transformation be made for traditional models of theological education, there is still ongoing search for appropriate theological education to meet the contemporary ministerial and societal challenges voiced both by theological faculties and students and church leadership.

Encouraged by the internal conditions of the church mission developments and the external challenges caused by the international power remapping, an identity awareness of being “Asian” Christian was begun to emerge in Asian Christian communities after Second World War. Theological educators in Asia came together to form associations for theological schools to encourage personnel exchanges, resources sharing, and shaping solidarity for theological development in Asia. Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) was formed in 1957 and increased its members from 16 in the beginning to 102 at its apex. Asian Theological Association (ATA) was formed in 1970 and has 128 accredited members and 64 associated members. Both associations are committed to the idea of “train Asian in Asia” while ATESEA has stressed on contextual orientation for theological construction.

It was in the midst of this background, that the Programme for Theologies and Cultures (PTCA) was given birth as a theological movement to the service of contextual theological formation and theological education in Asia.

The Creation of A Theological Movement in Asia

PTCA Inter-regional Doctoral Students Colloquium

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Inter-regional Doctoral Students Colloquium on
“Redeeming God’s Creation: Asian Ecumenical Response to Ecological Crisis"
Organized by PTCA in collaboration with ATESEA, SATHRI, CCA & NCCI
at SCEPTRE Centre, Kolkata
Dates: 7-11 December, 2010

7th December : Arrival of Participants

First Day – 8th December – Wednesday
08:00-08:30 : Breakfast
09:00-10:00 : Devotion & Inaugural address by Rt. Rev. Dr. Julios Mar Gregorios
Leader: Dr. M.T. Cherian
10:00-10:30 : Welcome, Introduction and Orientation - Dr. Huang Poho
10:30-11:00 : Tea Break
11:00-12:30 : Theme address “Redeeming God’s Creation:
Asian Ecumenical Response to Ecological Crisis”
By Dr. Sungkook Park
Moderator: Dr. Wati Longchar
02:30-04:30 : Understanding Ecological Crisis Today
- Ecumenical Response to Climate Justice – Rev. Christopher Raj
- Water Resource Crisis & the Poor – Mr. Philip Peacock
Moderator: Lima Longkumer
04:30-05:00 : Tea Break
05:00-06:00 : Understanding Ecological Crisis Today
- Globalization, Development & Eco-justice – Dr. Sunil Caleb
Moderator: Senti Aier
06:00-07:00 : Indigenous Filipino Earth-Based Spirituality
By Lope Robin
Moderator: Murmu Esmael
08:30-9:30 : Doctoral Students’ Meeting

Second Day – 9th December – Thursday

Inter Sub-regional Doctoral Students Colloquim in Asia

Background: The Programme for Theology and Cultures in Asia (PTCA) was founded in 1983, having Professor Choan-seng Song from Taiwan as the first Dean. The PTCA is not an organization nor an institution but a theological movement, and committed to:
• Helping equip theologians and church leaders in a theological reorientation for their various ministries;
• Recovering our own cultural and spiritual resources in Asian countries and making these available for the doing of living theologies in Asia;
• Promoting creative, indigenous theological writing within the concrete experiences and heritages of the Asia arena;
• Facilitating active theological interactions within Asia and between Asia and other parts of the world.
Since its inception, the PTCA has been working for the constructions and re-construction of theologies that reflect Asian resources, contexts and experiences mainly by organizing Regional Theological Seminar-Workshop, National Workshop, Theological Consultation and by publishing JTCA. The primary focus of the movement is “Doing Theologies with Asian Resources in Asian context”.

Participants of Fundamentalism and Theological Education International Conference

PTCA South East Asia Consultation
Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan
April 1-4, 2010

Fundamentalism and Theological Education International Conference

name Organization/Position
1 Dr. Archie Lee
李熾昌 Prof., Chinese University, Hong Kong
2 Dr. Wati Longchar Director, SCEPTRE, India
3 Dr.Thu En Yu, principal, Sabah Theological Seminary, Malaysia
4 Dr. Waiching Wong Prof. CUHK, Hong Kong
5 Dr. Daniel Nuhamura Prof. Satya Wacana& EX. Director, Persetial Indonesia
6 Dr. Yeong Mee Lee Prof. of Hanshin U./Korea
7 Dr. C.S. Song
宋泉盛 Prof. CJCU, Taiwan
8 Dr. Thomas H.C Lee
李弘棋 Dean of college of Humanities and Social Sciences, NCTU Taiwan
9 Dr. Chou Chuan Chiang
周傳姜 Dean of Research and Development, CJCU, Taiwan
10 Dr. Liu Ya Hui
劉雅惠 Director of Nursing Department, CCH Lu-Tung Branch /Taiwan
11 Dr. Tsai yen zen
蔡彥仁 Prof. NCCU, Taiwan (宗研所所長)
12 Dr. Bengchu Lin
林明珠 Prof., Department of Phiosophy and Religion/CJCU, Taiwan
13 Dr. Yen ru Lin
林彥如 Prof., Department of Phiosophy and Religion/CJCU, Taiwan
14 Dr. Jane Wei jen Liang
梁唯真 Researcher, NCKU (06)2757575#52113
15 Dr. Huang, Po Ho
黃伯和 Prof. & Vice President, CJCU, Taiwan

PTCA Officials

Dean: Dr. Huang Po Ho (Taiwan)
mail: 396 Chang Jung Rd., sec. 1, Kway Jen, Tainan, 71101, Taiwan

email: cjcupekho@gmail.com

Program Committee Members:
Dr. Archie Lee (Chair)
Dr. Wati Longchar (secretary, India)
Dr. Thu En Yu (Malaysia)
Dr. Hisako Kinukawa (Japan)
Dr. Waiching Wong (Hong Kong)
Dr. Yeong Mee Lee (Korea)
Dr. Daniel Nuhamara (Indonesia)
JTCA Editor: (Journal for Theologies and Cultures in Asia)
Dr. Wati Longchar
Email: director@sathri-ssc.org

Consultants:
Dr. Jeffrey Kah-Jin Kuan (USA)

PTCA Sub-regional Consultation held in Taiwan

Dear Friends and Participants,

Welcome to this PTCA consultation on “Fundamentalism and Theological Education, host by Chang Jung Christian University and sponsored by ETE-WCC and National Science Council of Taiwan.

In order to brief you the nature of this consultation and the objectives we are looking for, I attach here the original project proposal of this meeting for your reference, I am looking forward to meeting you and to enjoy the intellectual sharing and exchanges, and as well fellowship and common commitment created from this gathering.

Huang Po Ho

A Project Proposal

Project: Consultation on (a) Religious Fundamentalism and Theological Education, and (b) Strengthening Theological Networks in Asia

Background: The Programme for Theology and Culture in Asia (PTCA) was founded in 1983, having Professor Choan-seng Song from Taiwan as the first Dean. The PTCA is not an organization nor an institution but a theological movement, and committed to:

• Helping equip theologians and church leaders in a theological reorientation for their various ministries;
• Recovering our own cultural and spiritual resources in Asian countries and making these available for the doing of living theologies in Asia;
• Promoting creative, indigenous theological writing within the concrete experiences and heritages of the Asia arena;
• Facilitating active theological interactions within Asia and between Asia and other parts of the world.

Since its inception, the PTCA has been working for the constructions and re-construction of theologies that reflect Asian resources, contexts and experiences mainly by organizing Regional Theological Seminar-Workshop, National Workshop, Theological Consultation and by publishing JTCA. The primary focus of the movement is “Doing Theologies with Asian Resources” and the target group is younger theologians especially those who are in the final stage of their doctoral programme or those who have just joined in teaching ministry.

The PTCA activities are facilitated by a team of theologians, known as Programme Committee, representing theological bodies from South Asia, South East and North East Asia. For the effective implementation of the programme and also to reduce cost but to ensure larger participation, the PTCA has reorganized its activities on sub-regional basis. Hence, this project proposal is presented for South East Asian region.

Rev. Dr. Huang Poho is co-coordinator of South East Asia region who is also the Dean of PTCA. He is requested to take the lead in organizing the consultation at School of Theology of Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan in January/February 2010 for the South East Asia region.

Rationale: Christians and ethnic minorities in South East Asian countries are facing many hardship and persecution. The continuing religious conflicts in Indonesia and Myanmar are a glaring example. Violence and senseless destructions are taking place in massive and organized manner in many countries because of the use and misuse of fundamentalists by politicians and those who enjoy power in society. Several churches, mosques, temples (including the orphanage) and religious institutions have become the targets and many precious lives have been lost. The growing religious fundamentalism (and also ethnic minority assertion) is threatening the very fabric of the society. It is a threat to social harmony, justice and human rights.

Fundamentalism regards diversity as a liability rather than as an asset. They assert a monolithic society over against pluri-form society. Tendency to suppress the minority by majority and minority resistance movement, and the aggressive efforts to increase the number by minority poses real threat to peace, democratic principle, social harmony and the very future of the people. This challenges us to re-examine the present practice of mission of the church, the theology of conversion and ecumenical and ministerial formation programme of the churches.

This demands new ways of doing theology, inter-religious theological education and institutional collaborations for ensuring quality theological education in Asia.

Objective:

• To appraise ecumenical and ministerial formation programme and explore inter-religious theological education programme;
• To explore inter-disciplinary theological learning within secular context for common good;
• To assess inter-faith relation and explore new ways of doing theology in secular context;
• To explore new ways of inter-faith engagement in secular context; and
• To strategize future collaboration of ecumenical and ministerial programme between ATESEA and BTESSC.

Fresh Beginning for Christian Theology

"A fresh 'begirining has been made. Let' us work together for a creative theological community in Asia!" With these words and with this call the consultation on"Doing Theology'with Cultures in ASia''. ,that inaugurated the Programme for Theology and Cultlires inAsia, heldat'KansaiSeminar House in Kyoto, July 7-11, concluded its week-long meeting. The' consultation was not just another ecumenical gathering; it was an intense theological interaction focused on doing Christian theology with cultural heritages of Asia. It was not merely' one,more.'international meeting; it.'wasan~n~depth .sean:h for the ways in which Christians iil Asia should be engaged ind()ing' Christian theology in the part of the world largely alien to' "Christian culture". Nor was it meant to be a theological conference preoccupied with concepts, ideas, and norms; it was engaged in c,reative. living theology for today and tomorrow in AS,ia. And it anticipated theological interacting between Asia and the rest of theyvorld, not in terms defined and shaped by theology in the West but with the fruits of theological 'labour done in Asia.

This inaugural consultation recognised the creative theology d'one in the past, seeking to be rooted in Asian soil, but strongly felt the need for fresh beginnings for the future. Just as the political history of most countries in Asia, Christian theology had had a long colonial history. It has seldom become "flesh", that is, it has not penetrated below the surface of the histories, cultures and daily lives of women, men and children in Asia. It has ' often slavishly followed theologies brought to the shores of Asia by evangelists, missionaries and teachers from the West. Often it has been an imitation theology, translation theology, "discarnate" theology. Thinking Christians in Asia have been for sonie time acutely aware of this, embarrassed by it, agonizing over it. Changes have to be made. Breakthroughs have to be found. And ways must be designed for theology to wrestle with what Jesus means for Asian peoples, with what God has been doing in the countries of Asia with rich human and cultural resources. This is a fresh beginning in Christian theology, theology not dictated by western theology, but by what has been disclosed and yet to be disclosed in the Bible, by lived and living experiences of peoples and nations of Asia. ,

The main question is how to bring about this fundamental theological reorientation. In struggling with this question, the consultation proved to be a real turning-point for the development of Christian theology in Asia. The key to the question of how, the consultation concluded, was to be found in the "resources in Asia" - resources related to the lives of people, resources from cultures, religions, histories, in short, resources that reveal the struggles and aspirations of peoples and nations of Asia throughout the centuries. Such resources, abundant and varied, deeply rooted in Asian humanity, hold the key to cre3:tive living theology in Asia. To affirm these resources as integral parts not only of Asians but of Asian Christians is the beginning of Christian theology in Asia. Wrestling with these resources of our own biblically and theologically in critical ways must be centr~l to theological efforts today and in the coming days in Asia.

It is to fa:cilitak this doing of Christian theology with resources in Asia that the consultation gave birth to "THE PROGRAMME FOR THEOLOGY AND CULtuRES IN ASIA (PTCA)".lt established four basic thrusts for PICA in the coming years:

1. to help equip younger theologians and church leaders, women and men, lay and clergy, in a theological reorientation for their various ministries.

2. to recover our own cultural and spiritual resources in Asian countries and make these available for the doing of living theology in Asia.

3. to promote creative, indigenous theological writing within the concrete experiences and heritages of Asia area.

4. to facilitate active theological interactions within Asia and between Asia and other parts of the world.

To put these four basic thrusts into practice, the consultation also affirmed steps to be taken and actions to be followed such as: strengthening the network of theological efforts and partnership, stimulating imagination for new patterns and methods for doing theology locally, facilitating the emergency of theology from women's perspectives, bringing about theological expressions from minority groups, and discerning and drawing insights and aspirations from people in struggle. And of course annual seminar-workshops that began in 1983 will be continued, focusing on such areas of concern as symbols and images in Asian cultures, spiritual life, contextual preaching, the Bible and its authority, and so on.

The inaugural consultation thus marked a very significant signpost in the development of Christian theology in Asia. It also foresees genuine theological interactions within Asia, between south and north and between east and west. It was a consultation built on the intensive work of the preceding years, directed to urgent tasks of today and prepared to launch into the future with plans to be implemented. Contributing to the vision, direction and actions of the consultation were some fifty participants, mostly from Asia along with some from Africa, Europe and North America. Their enthusiasm, wisdom and commitment made it possible for PTCA to become a reality and for a new theological era in Asia to begin. .

The PTCA thus inaugurated at Kansai Seminar House will be a mobile programme reaching out to strategic places in Asia to carry out its plans and offer its services. It has already received strong support from some ecumenical bodies and partners. Directly involved in PTCA at this stage are the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, the School of Theology, Doshisha University, in Kyoto, and the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. PTCA is also· made possible by the cooperation of the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA), the Korean Association of Accredited Theological Schools (KAATS), Kansai Seminar House (Nippon Christian Academy) and Council for Mission Ecumenical Cooperation (NZ). Working relationships are being established with the Christian Conference of Asia, the Northeast Asia Association of Theological Schoois, the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of the Serampore College (India) and the AssoCiation of Christian Institutes of Social Concern in Asia !ACISCA). PI'CA also wishes to be related to the countries and churches in £he Pacific and other regions.

In inaugurating the Programme for Theology and Cultures· in Asia, the consultation expressed its commitment to "concentrated joint efforts for the formation of living theology and to the growth of a creative theological community in Asia" and beyond Asia.

Choan-seng Song

Professor of Theology

Pacific School . of Theology and

The South East Asia Graduate School,

Dean, Programme for Theology and . Cultures in Asia

July 15, 1987