Center for the Study of World Christian Revitalilzation Movements hold third conference

On October 20-22, 2011, the Center for the Study of World Christian Revitalilzation Movements at Asbury Theological Seminary completed its third annual consultation in the research project funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. The  event was jointly sponsored by the Center, representing Asbury Seminary, and Tyndale University Seminary in Toronto, who hosted the consultation. Tyndale University Seminary is the leading evangelical Seminary in Canada.

The theme of the conference was "Uncovering and Illuminating Revitalization in 21st Century Global Christianity". Nine Asbury Seminary faculty and students participated in the consultation. It featured six case studies representing different diaspora movements of Christian revitalization now developing in the most ethnically diverse city of North America. Thirty one scholars and practitioners of revitalization examined these cases in table discussion punctuated with worship. Their intent was to understand these current expressions of revitalization based upon the data developed in the previous consultations conducted by the Center.

Participants represented 14 nations of Africa, Asia, and Europe, and represented Protestant evangelical, mainline, Pentecostal, Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, and indigenous Global South communities of faith. On Sunday, October 23, a public forum sharing the insights of the consultation with the larger Toronto community was held at the Richmond Hill Christian Community Church, a large Chinese congregation. This public forum featured ten workshops and panel discussions, and corporate worship including choirs from several Asian churches in the city.