Saint Andrew’s Theological College: 4th Theological Symposium on the Church’s Mission Today
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, our College Dean, St Andrew’s Theological College will be holding its 4th Theology Symposium on the general theme of mission within the life of the Church on the 18th – 19th August 2023.
All presentations will essentially be reflecting on our Lord’s great commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations [πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη]” (Mt 28:19). More specifically, the title of this year’s Symposium is: For the Life of the World: The Church’s Missional Identity and Witness Today and will be held in the College Hall on the 18th – 19th August 2023.
All those interested in learning more about the significance of the Church’s role in the world today, in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere, are most welcome to attend. Moreover, the symposium will provide an opportunity for all those who attend to meet the Faculty of St Andrew’ and ask questions, more generally, relating to our Orthodox Christian faith.
During these two days, the College will be hosting in person two distinguished international scholars in the field of missiology:
- His Grace Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis, Head of the Orthodox Mission Centre in Sierra Leone and former Lecturer of Biblical Studies at our Theological College. The title of the keynote address is: The Challenges and Character of Orthodox Mission in West Africa.
- The Very Revd Prof. Archpriest Chad Hatfield, President of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York. The title of the keynote address is: Three Foundations for Building Modern Era Missiology.
The event will include a number of other presentations as can be seen directly below with details of the entire program.
It is the College’s hope that this event will not only be informative and spiritually edifying, but that it will also provide our faithful with a renewed impetus to serve the foundation and manifestation of God’s kingdom here on earth.
Please feel free to register by scanning the QR code on the flyer or visiting https://www.sagotc.edu.au/theology-symposium-2023, where you can also find more details and information. You can also register online by going to the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/CJELQ
If you have any questions, the College Registry Office can be contacted on: [email protected] or on (02) 9549 3100
Symposium Program
Friday, 18 August
2.00pm Registration Table Open
Tea/Coffee available
2.50pm Session 1:
A/Prof. Philip Kariatlis
The Mission of the Church as Anticipation and Realisation of God’s Eternal Kingdom
3.30pm Session 2:
Dr Lydia Gore-Jones
The Orthodox Church and China
4.10pm Session 3:
A/Prof. Margaret Beirne
The Mission of the Churches in Today’s World
4.50pm Session 4:
Very Revd Father Anastasios Bozikis
Establishing ‘Christ’s Greece’: the Gospel of Pietism and the Re-conversion of a Nation
5.30pm Afternoon Tea
6.10pm Group Photo
6.15pm Prayer and Dean’s Welcome
6.30pm Keynote Address
His Grace Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis
The Challenges and Character of Orthodox Mission in West Africa
8.00pm Dinner
Saturday, 19 August
9.00am Morning Prayer (Cathedral)
9.30am Keynote Address
Very Revd Dr Chad Hatfield
Three Foundations for Building Modern Era Missiology
11.00am Morning Tea
11.30am Session 5:
Revd Prof. Gerard Kelly
Synodality: A Precondition for a New Missionary Energy
PARALLEL SESSIONS
12.10pm Session 6:
Room 1
Dr Vassilis Adrahtas
Indigenous Orthodoxy or Orthodox Indigeneity? Prospects and Problems of Mission Work amongst the People of the Dreaming
Room 2
Revd Dr Antonios Kaldas
The Pros and Cons of a Contemporary Orthodox Apologetic
12.50pm Session 7:
Room 1
Dr Andrew Mellas
Sacred Music and the Mission of the Orthodox Church
Room 2
Revd Nemanja Mrdjenovic
Bogomoljci – a Missional Movement of the Orthodox Laity as a Blessing and a Challenge to the Church
1.30pm LUNCH and Closing Remarks
2.15pm END OF THE SYMPOSIUM
