Training Clergy to Face Twenty-first Century Challenges
—Heads of theological schools from thirty-five countries meet at Princeton Theological Seminary to shape the future of theological education—

June 13, 2007, Princeton, NJ–In a first effort of its kind, heads of theological schools from every continent will meet June 18–22 at Princeton Theological Seminary. Reaching across barriers of language, culture, and history, the participants will talk about how theological education can keep faith fresh and meaningful, and equip people to press for more economic and ecological justice, peace, and gender equality in a changing world.

Dialogue between the “global North”—Europe and the United States—and the “global South”—Central and South America and Africa—is a key aspect of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches consultation for heads of affiliated seminaries. Princeton Theological Seminary, one of the affiliated schools, is hosting the consultation. “The world is changing,” said Princeton Seminary President Iain Torrance, “and we want to learn from churches around the world how we can adapt to these changes. We want to listen to what Christianity is saying and how it is developing worldwide. We are a resource for the world and we must listen to the global church.”

At the conference President Torrance and Clifton Kirkpatrick, president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA), will welcome heads of theological institutions from Italy, France, Canada, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, the United States, Cameroon, Ghana, China, Korea, Indonesia, Lebanon, Mexico, and Cuba, among many others.

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of 75-million Reformed Christians in 214 denominations in 107 countries. Its member churches are Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, and United churches with roots in the sixteenth-century Reformation led by John Calvin, John Knox, and others. WARC works to address economic and ecological justice issues and advocate for just models for trade, agriculture, and economics to dialogue with other communions on critical theological matters; to address gender inequality; and to advocate for human rights and support peace initiatives.

General Secretary of WARC and Princeton Seminary alumnus Setri Nyomi, a native of Ghana and the first African to be named general secretary, said that “the gathering of seminary heads—more than half of whom are from the global South—will be an important forum…. As someone who knows how much Princeton Seminary has contributed as a leader in providing sound theological formation for leaders all over the world, I am delighted that my alma mater is playing such a key role in hosting this consultation. This demonstrates Princeton Seminary’s vision and foresight for affecting the world for good.” 

Princeton Seminary’s relationship with WARC goes back decades. Two former presidents of the Seminary, John Mackay and James McCord, were also presidents of WARC, as was Professor Emerita Jane Dempsey Douglass.

Princeton Theological Seminary was founded in 1812 as the first seminary established by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. It is the largest Presbyterian seminary in the country, with seven graduate degree programs and 700 students, including about fifty international students from more than twenty countries.

For more information, contact Jan Fitzpatrick & Associates at 212.472.1038 or email jan@janfitzpatrick.com, or Princeton Theological Seminary’s Communications/Publications Office at 609.497.7760 or email comm-pub@ptsem.edu.

Photos and texts of some conference presentations will be available at www.ptsem.edu at the conclusion of the consultation.