Mission from the Margins: Theology and Indigenous Spirituality, Bossey, 13-17 July 201
The main objective of the seminar is to explore how indigenous spiritualties and cosmologies can offer an alternative framework for theologies of mission from the margin. A framework which is not anthropocentric and androcentric, but more cosmic centred and rooted in the inter-relatedness of all humans and creations. The relationship between indigenous spiritualties will be approached as a pressing issue in north-south dialogue within the Church and Christian NGOs.
The seminar will be structured under the following questions:
1. What will be the future of indigenous spiritualties? Is it to be expected that they will disappear, given the trend towards globalization? Or will there be a revival of indigenous spiritualties, given the resurgence of the local orientations?
2. If there is a resurgence of indigenous spiritualties, what does it mean for the relationship between mission and indigenous spiritualties all over the world?
3. If Indigenous spiritualties are sources for mission theologies from the margin arising out of particular local contexts, what does this mean for dialogue between the missiologist and theologians from the North and the South? And what does it mean for Western staff of Christian NGOs working in the South?
The above questions will be dealt with the objective of developing mission theologies which aim at de-linking from oppressive structures and systems, and the empowerment of those at the margins.
The primary target group for this seminar are church leaders, theologians, missiologists, staff of Christian NGOs, academicians in related field who are experts in the area and also those who are interested in the subject.
This activity will be implemented in close cooperation between the Ecumenical Institute Prof. Dr Marina Ngursangzeli Behera and Prof. Dr Odair Mateus Pedroso, the Programme Executive Staff working on Mission and Evangelism led by Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, and the Centre for World Christianity and Interreligious Studies, Radboud University, The Netherlands, represented by Prof. Dr Frans Dokman.