austraLasia 1249
China Conference opens on theme of Diversity in Unity
ROME: 17th September 2005 -- The 5th European Ecumenical China Conference opened last night at S. Anselmo Athenaeum on the Aventine Hill in Rome. It gathers together a vast assortment of groups and individuals across three main Christian sectors - Catholic Orthodox and Protestant, and across many political and ecclesial groupings. The Holy See is represented by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Bishop Brian Farrell, the former an experienced papal envoy in many situations requiring keen diplomatic skills, the latter a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The US State Department has a representative. A number of Religious Congregations with involvement in China are well represented, not least among them the Salesians and the Salesian Sisters. Sr. Maria Ko Ha-Fong, a lecturer at the Auxilium in Rome, will be presenting a biblical perspective on the conference theme.
The Conference is organised, on this occasion, by the China-Zentrum, a non-profit organisation based in Germany, set up in 1988 for the purpose of promoting contacts and exchange between the cultures and religions of the West and those of China. The Centre (Zentrum) is responsible for disseminating information on China on a regular basis, for dialogue and cooperation with Mainland China, HK SAR, Macau SAR, Taiwan and local churches. The Salesians in Bonn (MIssion and Development Office) are a formal member of the China-Zentrum.
Working groups at the conference are looking at such matters as theological pluralism in the Churches in China, fostering ecumencial collaboration, approaches to inter-religious encounters in China, the contribution of Chinese students, graduates, scholars in CHina after return from studies in Europe, cooperation in the fields of theological formation, education, social development.
As always with a conference of this type, other than selected talks and papers of particular interest, the main value is at the level of personal contact. Perhaps in contrast to some conferences which are entirely 'head' focused and conceptual, the China Conference has allowed ample space for personal 'heart' contact and socialising.
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AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml. If you subscribe, email this information and your name will come off the regular email list. RSS eliminates problems such as multiple mailings, viruses, email bloat. Think about it!
China Conference opens on theme of Diversity in Unity
ROME: 17th September 2005 -- The 5th European Ecumenical China Conference opened last night at S. Anselmo Athenaeum on the Aventine Hill in Rome. It gathers together a vast assortment of groups and individuals across three main Christian sectors - Catholic Orthodox and Protestant, and across many political and ecclesial groupings. The Holy See is represented by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Bishop Brian Farrell, the former an experienced papal envoy in many situations requiring keen diplomatic skills, the latter a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The US State Department has a representative. A number of Religious Congregations with involvement in China are well represented, not least among them the Salesians and the Salesian Sisters. Sr. Maria Ko Ha-Fong, a lecturer at the Auxilium in Rome, will be presenting a biblical perspective on the conference theme.
The Conference is organised, on this occasion, by the China-Zentrum, a non-profit organisation based in Germany, set up in 1988 for the purpose of promoting contacts and exchange between the cultures and religions of the West and those of China. The Centre (Zentrum) is responsible for disseminating information on China on a regular basis, for dialogue and cooperation with Mainland China, HK SAR, Macau SAR, Taiwan and local churches. The Salesians in Bonn (MIssion and Development Office) are a formal member of the China-Zentrum.
Working groups at the conference are looking at such matters as theological pluralism in the Churches in China, fostering ecumencial collaboration, approaches to inter-religious encounters in China, the contribution of Chinese students, graduates, scholars in CHina after return from studies in Europe, cooperation in the fields of theological formation, education, social development.
As always with a conference of this type, other than selected talks and papers of particular interest, the main value is at the level of personal contact. Perhaps in contrast to some conferences which are entirely 'head' focused and conceptual, the China Conference has allowed ample space for personal 'heart' contact and socialising.
_____________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml. If you subscribe, email this information and your name will come off the regular email list. RSS eliminates problems such as multiple mailings, viruses, email bloat. Think about it!
