With the blessing of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the 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:
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 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 at: events@sagotc.edu.au or at (02) 9549 3100
Symposium Program
Friday, 18 August
2.00 pm Registration Table Open
Tea/Coffee available
2.50 pm Session 1:
A/Prof. Philip Kariatlis
The Mission of the Church as Anticipation and Realisation of God’s Eternal Kingdom
3.30 pm Session 2:
Dr. Lydia Gore-Jones
The Orthodox Church and China
4.10 pm Session 3:
A/Prof. Margaret Beirne
The Mission of the Churches in Today’s World
4.50 pm Session 4:
Very Revd Father Anastasios Bozikis
Establishing ‘Christ’s Greece’: the Gospel of Pietism and the Re-conversion of a Nation
5.30 pm Afternoon Tea
6.10 pm Group Photo
6.15 pm Prayer and Dean’s Welcome
6.30 pm Keynote Address
Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis
The Challenges and Character of Orthodox Mission in West Africa
8.00 pm Dinner
Saturday, 19 August
9.00 am Morning Prayer (Cathedral)
9.30 am Keynote Address
Dr. Chad Hatfield
Three Foundations for Building Modern-Era Missiology
11.00 am Morning Tea
11.30 am Session 5:
Prof. Gerard Kelly
Synodality: A Precondition for a New Missionary Energy
PARALLEL SESSIONS
12.10 pm 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
Dr. Antonios Kaldas
The Pros and Cons of a Contemporary Orthodox Apologetic
12.50 pm Session 7:
Room 1
Dr. Andrew Mellas
Sacred Music and the Mission of the Orthodox Church
Room 2
Nemanja Mrdjenovic
Bogomoljci – a Missional Movement of the Orthodox Laity as a Blessing and a Challenge to the Church
1.30 pm LUNCH and Closing Remarks
2.15 pm END OF THE SYMPOSIUM