Press Release No: 17/18
18 May 2017
Brussels
GETI’17: The Global Ecumenical Theological Institute comes to Berlin
The Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) with a European focus comes to Berlin from 19 May to 1 June 2017. The intensive programme brings together 130 theological students from 58 countries, all the way from Australia to Zambia. This diversity is only amplified by the diverse fields of study, Christian traditions, languages and cultures represented among the faculty and student body.
The theme of this GETI focuses on the commemoration of the ideals of the Reformation and the urgent realities in Europe today: Reforming Theology, Migrating Church, Transforming Society. It will be developed through student-directed seminar groups, keynote lectures with church leaders and academics from around Europe, excursions to diaconal projects, bible studies, worship services, art, and a special programme at the 2017 Kirchentag.
Of special importance to this year’s gathering is the GETI’17 reader, a collection of essays rooted in the theme supplied by established and up-and-coming theologians. Students received the reader in advance of their time in Berlin and will use it to guide their critical engagement with thematic issues. Through 40 contextual and historic essays, authors address the three thematic areas from a wide range of Christian theological traditions exploring questions related to the current globalised European context.
This important gathering of theological students takes place under the patronage of the Conference of European Churches. In addition to supplying chapters on creation care and human rights to the reader, CEC will participate in the daily programme of GETI’17. CEC General Secretary Fr Heikki Huttunen will contribute a keynote presentation orienting students to the current ecumenical scene in Europe and CEC Dialogue Secretary Katerina Pekridou has been involved in the different stages of planning and serves as a faculty member in Berlin. Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe General Secretary Doris Peschke served on the steering committee and contributed to the collection of essays.
The Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) is a global ecumenical short-term study and exposure programme for advanced students of theology. The first GETI was organised by the Ecumenical Theological Education Programme (ETE) of the World Council of Churches and held in parallel with the World Council of Churches General Assembly in Busan (South Korea) in 2013. Next year, the ETE is planning the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute 2018, which takes place in Arusha (Tanzania) in accompaniment of the World Mission Conference.
To learn more about GETI’17 and the number of partners who came together in support of the project, please visit its website.
Erin Green
Communication Coordinator
Conference of European Churches
Rue Joseph II, 174 B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 234 68 42
Fax +32 2 231 14 13
E-mail: eeg@cec-kek.be
Website: www.ceceurope.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceceurope
Twitter: @ceceurope
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of 115 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 National Councils of Churches and Organisations in Partnership. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Brussels and Strasbourg.