Chinese Worldview Today: June 4-20, 2010

Throughout history, China has continually challenged the West with her peculiar practices and unique worldview. Though many North Americans are fascinated by the exotic Chinese, cultural norms like guanxi and filial piety confound those who come near.

In this past century, China has experienced unprecedented growth and reform economically, politically and socially, emerging from her sleeping dragon state to join the global community. It is an exciting time for East-West exchanges of ideas, values and resources. It is our hope that authentic communication will inspire dialogue concerning deeper issues of life, the nature of humanity and other worldview questions. However, these conversations cannot occur without a proper understanding of the Chinese worldview.

To this end, China Academic Consortium (an affiliate organization of Educational Resources & Referrals – China) is partnering with ISAAC and China’s prestigious academic institutions to craft a summer program aimed towards introducing Chinese thought to North American undergraduate students and seminarians. The course will be taught in China and its curriculum content will survey the core teachings, history and development of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, folk religions and Christianity in China. Primary sources as well as survey texts will be used, and those taking the course on the graduate level will have an opportunity to develop critical questions and approaches for further study into Chinese thought.

COURSE ACCREDITATION
It is possible to take the Chinese worldview seminar for credit. Denver Seminary has granted 3 units to this course for their M. Div. program. Azusa Pacific University grants credit for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

SEMINAR FACILITATORS

DR. DIANE OBENCHAIN – Religion, Calvin College
She was the first western scholar to teach the academic
study of religion in China, post 1949. Dr. Obenchain
has taught at National University of Singapore, Peking
University, Fudan University and Zhejiang University,
helping to establish departments of religious studies.

REV. DR. RUSSELL G. MOY – Chairman of the Board for
the Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity
(ISAAC). He has also served as lecturer and faculty for
Theological Seminary, GTU, Drew University as well as
Dean of the Asian American Summer Institute for Theology
and Ministry in ISAAC.

For more information, see http://cac.errchina.com/seminar.htm

ISAAC Asian American Continuing Education Seminar

“GOD IS ROOMY: GENERATIONS, GENDER, AND THE FUTURE OF ASIAN AMERICAN MINISTRY”

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know the love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” — Ephesians 3:17

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2010, 9:00AM-5:00PM

FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Payton Hall, Room 303

Pasadena, CA

CO-SPONSORED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF ASIAN AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ISAAC-SoCal) AND FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

As a follow up to the inaugural Asian American Equipping Symposium (AAES) held last November 2-3 at Fuller Theological Seminary, SoCal ISAAC is pleased to announce a one-day continuing education seminar for Asian American pastors, para-church leaders, and lay leaders.  Once again, Fuller President Richard J. Mouw will be with us to continue the dialogue we began last year and will address “The Future of Theological Formation.”  We will expand upon and unpack the content presented at the AAES, specifically the topographic analysis done by respondent Dr. Charlene Jin Lee  (Assistant Professor of Christian Education and Director of Student Formation, San Francisco Theological Seminary/Southern California) of one of the themes discussed by keynote speaker Dr. Jonathan Tran (Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics, Baylor University)–the “Roomy-ness of God”–to address gender, generations, and the future of Asian American ministry.  We look forward to seeing you all at this one-day event to experience God’s “vastness.”

THE PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

9:00am            Registration

9:30am            Introduction (Young Lee Hertig & Mary Hubbard Given)

10:00am          Future of Theological Formation (Richard J. Mouw)

10:30am          Q & A

10:45am          Roomy-ness of God and Gender in the Church (Charlene Jin Lee)

11:45am          Q & A

Noon               Lunch

1:00pm            Intergenerational Fish Bowl (Peter Lai, Kevin Doi)

2:00pm            Breakout sessions (generation, gender, and future)

3:30pm            Breakout session plenary and Reflection (Young Lee Hertig)

BREAKOUT SESSION QUESTIONS

The Roomy-ness of God and Gender in the Church:

• Who is at your table?
• Are we willing to image God and to speak and teach of God as beyond male?
• Are we willing to image the ministry of God and theological agency entrusted to all made in God’s image?
• Are we prepared to critically examine the male-bodiedness of our pastoral staff, of our sessions or governing boards, our elders, our leaders?
• Are we prepared to widen the circle of our Theology and open the invisible gates in our churches to invite unintended, complex voices that might disturb and make messy whatever neat categories we’ve knowingly or unknowingly established?

The Roomy-ness of God and Intergenerational Relationships in the Church:

• What pastoral traits does the pioneer generation want to impart to the succeeding generations?  (Peter Lai)
• What are the most important issues that you want the pioneer generation to understand about your pastoral ministry? (Kevin Doi)

The Roomy-ness of God and Constructing Asian North American Theologies: The Power of Context, the Power of Story, “Historical Locatedness”

• What are the priorities for God’s mission in today’s world?
• Who are at the table of theological discourse?
• Who are missing at the table?
• What are the unifying stories?
• Is there Asian American Christianity apart from European Christianity?

ADMINISTRATORS

* Young Lee Hertig: Director of SoCal ISAAC (Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity) and AAWOL (Asian American Women On Leadership)

* Mary Hubbard Given: Associate Vice President of Alumni/ae and Church Relations, Fuller Theological Seminary

PRESENTERS

* Richard J. Mouw: President of Fuller Theological Seminary

* Charlene Jin Lee: Assistant Professor of Christian Education and Director of Spiritual Formation, San Francisco Theological Seminary/Southern California

* Peter Lai, Pastor of Alhambra True Light Presbyterian Church, Alhambra, California

* Kevin Doi, Pastor of Epic Church (American Baptist), Fullerton, California

REGISTRATION

Regular registration fee: $50.00

Student registration fee: $20.00

(Note to M.Div. students:  This seminar can qualify for field education units.  Please contact your seminary’s field education office to apply.)

Register online:  http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2swg0rb4ffd593b