The World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission for 2006 will be held in Africa for the first time this year, featuring events such as mini-consultation and opportunities for networking, fellowship and ministry with theologians, churches, missions and other bodies in the area.
The annual planning and strategy meeting of the WEA TC 2006 will take place 20 to 24 September on the campus of Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School in Kenya under the consultation theme of "Theological Perspectives on Global Religious Fundamentalism." In addition, "Poverty and Social Responsibility" will also be an agenda during the event.
The fall TC meeting will be the first opportunity for those interested in the Commission's newly expanded membership scheme to participate. The new scheme, which was announced at the beginning of the year, allows for three new categories - Affiliates, Associates, and Partners.
Affiliates are Theological Commissions or like bodies affiliated with National and Regional Fellowships of the World Evangelical Alliance (or bodies nominated by such Fellowships to represent them).
The other two groups, Associates and Partners, are drawn from a wider circle and consist of individuals or institutions interested in the work of the WEA Theological Commission and desiring to support its objectives and programmes financially, prayerfully and practically.
Individuals are known as Associates, while institutions such as seminaries, theological associations, churches, denominations, or mission bodies are known as Partners.
The TC has planned these new categories to allow for a much greater involvement in its work, according to the WEA Theological Commission report released earlier this month. A spokesman for the TC said that it was particularly keen to contact national theological commissions wherever they exist so that a closer bond could be established for the sharing of resources and networking of personnel.
WEA TC believes that the September event will provide a good opportunity to launch the new scheme and develop the TC global programme.
The TC also said it is committed to encouraging the formation of national and regional TCs in areas where they do not yet exist. In particular, the WEA commission expressed interest in making effective contact with evangelical theologians in the strategic area of Africa.
