CTIA holds its first symposium: Formed and Sent

Last February 5 to 7, the Center for Theological Inquiry in Asia (CTIA) held its very first symposium with theme “Formed and Sent” at the Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) in Ortigas, Metro Manila. The symposium was by invitation only and was attended by 91 individuals from 32 organizations, which included churches, seminaries, mission organizations, across 10 countries. Over the course of those three days, there were several plenary sessions, led by Drs. Ivor Poobalan and Carmen Imes, and parallel sessions where papers that explored the multifaceted connections between spiritual formation and missions examined from an Asian perspective or within Asian communities and contexts were presented. The symposium ended with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Steve Pardue that included Drs. Tim Gener, Carmen Imes, and Ivor Poobalan.

Well, besides being CTIA’s first symposium, what made this gathering extra special was that this gathering was one of the fruits of the Global Spiritual Formation Project sponsored by the Calvin University- Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity. This project was funded by a generous donation from the Templeton Religion Trust. One of those awarded a grant for several research initiatives was the ATA. This grant was used for the winning papers which were presented in during the parallel sessions and will also be published in the ATA Journal of Asian Evangelical Theology or JAET.

While the symposium was short, it was nonetheless, rich. That was obvious from the feedback from a few who came:

Was given the privilege to attend the FORMED & SENT Symposium of Center for Theological Inquiry in Asia (CTIA). CTIA is all about “establishing a community of evangelical scholars and practitioners to support and strengthen the growing Asian church.” When I found out last year that Dr. Carmen Imes was going to be one of the plenary speakers, I told myself that I shouldn’t miss this opportunity. God made a way. Of course, all the plenary and parallel sessions were enriching. Equally delightful and encouraging was the fellowship—meeting old and new friends throughout the forum. Grateful to God for CTIA and all the beautiful people I’ve met there. The Lord is good.

— Kit Cabullo, ATS student, pastor of Bliss Christian Fellowship Church

It is somehow disheartening to observe that there is little, if any, theological attempt within SE Asia (particularly Indonesian) Evangelical perspective that deeply interacts with, or even struggles alongside, grassroots people in the context. Some emerging contextual theologies seem promising, yet many of them diminish Scriptural authority or compromise the historic faith. Still, this symposium offers a glimpse of a brighter future. Voices are rising for doing contextual theology that highly regards the authority of Scripture, centered on the primacy of Christ, humble enough to embrace the wisdom of mission history, and seeks to listen carefully and sensitively to contextual struggles. Thank you, Center for Theological Inquiry in Asia, for making such an exercise possible. Let us expect great things from God and attempt great things for Him as well.

— Carmia Margaret, one of the Essay Prize Winners, PhD candidate at OCMS, faculty member at Bandung Theological Seminary

The Ivor & Imes collab at the Formed & Sent symposium this week is truly IMPACTFUL. Grateful for your lives and ministry. Equally INTERESTING and IMAGINATIVE are the winning papers from the collab of the Center for Theological Inquiry in Asia and the Journal of Asian Evangelical Theology by the Asia Theological Association (ATA).

— Rei Lemuel Crizaldo, WEA Theological Commission coordinator

We praise God for a successful first symposium organized by CTIA! We are looking forward to the many more symposia in the years to come!