WG1 | Nationalism, Imperialism, and Empire in Scripture for Public Theology
Keywords: decolonial, empire, indigenous, land, nationalism
Richard A. Davis

Across the world, there is heightened awareness of the legacy of imperialism and slavery. Only a handful of countries were never colonized, and some of those were invaded by imperial powers. Against this historical context and ongoing colonialism, Christianity is under increased scrutiny for its missionary alliances with empires and Christian supremacy as the public face of the gospel. There is a growing body of work by indigenous and settler theologians dealing with ongoing settler colonialism. In this context, this working group will focus attention on Scripture and its relationship to imperialism and colonization. From the Exodus to the Great Commission, Scripture has served as a mandate to expand into new occupied lands and convert people by the sword. How can we unpack these narratives that still influence theology to this day? What liberative potential does Scripture have for those grappling with decolonizing lands and theologies? The potential of Scripture to be a tool of decolonial public theology will be a central focus here, as we seek to promote justice for indigenous peoples dispossessed of land.

This group welcomes papers on topics like the following:

• Legacies of slavery

• Settler colonialism

• Decolonization of public theology

• Indigenous public theologies of resistance to occupation

• Theologies of land

• Theologies of race and anti-racism

• Contextual public theologies in colonized lands

• Scripture and genocide

WG2 | Democracy, Scripture, and Public Theology: A Tangled Relationship
Keywords: authoritarianism, Christian nationalism, democracy, public theology, Scripture
Trista Soendker Nicholson
Jonathan Chaplin

Arguments for democracy in Western Europe and North America in the early modern and modern periods typically invoked Scripture to argue that governing power should flow from the people (or at least a subset of privileged citizens). Christian defenders of democracy also argued that both government and people stood under divine demands to pursue justice. They did not define these concepts–or related ones such as sovereignty, nationhood, accountability, liberty, tolerance, equality, and rights–in “secular” political language, but in biblical and theological terms. Today, however, Scripture is widely invoked by professing Christians to justify oppressive, authoritarian, and exclusivist nationalist projects. At a time when democracy is under serious threat in many contexts, the relationship between democracy and Scripture demands urgent reappraisal.

This working group will engage public theologians on the use of Scripture and theology in the justification and establishment of democracy, and in its contemporary subversions. The group will convene participants from diverse contexts to explore the relationship between Scripture and democracy, with a view to defining and strengthening a public theology that affirms a just, participatory, constitutional democracy and resists Christian nationalisms.

Broad themes may include:

• Democratic and non-democratic themes in the Bible

• Jesus as a political actor

• The history of uses of the Bible in debates about democracy

• The use and abuse of Scripture by contemporary democratic and authoritarian political actors

• Christian nationalism, the Bible, and democracy

• The Bible in political communication and deliberation

• Scripture, democracy, and peacebuilding

• The public theologian, the church, and democracy

WG3 | Political and Public Theologies
Keywords: Brazil, Latin America, Political Theologies, Public Theologies, South Africa
Ana Rosa Cloclet da Silva
Dion A. Forster
Rudolf von Sinner

This working group invites proposals on the conceptualization, theoretical exploration, and empirical analysis of political and public theologies. The understanding is that while political theologies refer to a sacralized or secularized form of politics, often co-opting religious communities, public theologies involve the actions and positions of religious communities in the public sphere, sometimes contributing to the common good, but at other times seeking to occupy the public sphere and take hold of political power. The discussion addresses politics in formally secular states such as Brazil and South Africa, characterized by highly religious societies with growing religious plurality and emerging power dynamics. Additionally, it explores the self-understanding and actions of religious communities as they navigate a plural and dynamic public sphere. The proponents have previously collaborated on these topics by hosting an international lecture series on public theologies in times of pandemic, on populism, on pluralism, on the city and on religion and global exclusions, respectively, and produced publications on the political and public theological dimensions of theologies in Latin America, Brazil and South Africa. This South-South dialogue originated within the GNPT at its foundation in 2007 and continues to date. However, the Working Group is keen to receive proposals beyond these two countries that can broaden and deepen the conversation.

This working group is a continuation of an existing working group established at the GNPT 2022 in Curitiba, Brazil.

WG4 | Gendered and Queer Readings of Scripture
Keywords: Contextual biblical hermeneutics, embodiment, feminist biblical hermeneutics, intersectionality, queer biblical hermeneutics
Esther McIntosh
David Tombs
Charlene van der Walt

Scripture is always read and interpreted from a contextual perspective. This working group explores critical and creative perspectives on how gendered and queer readings can offer new insights into Scripture and its role in society when engaging the intersection of gender, sexuality and religion. We especially encourage proposals that offer on an intersectional analysis and/or are attentive to voices and concerns in the Global South and the embodied lived realities navigated by those from non-normative positionalities. We anticipate that most proposals will focus on the Hebrew Bible or New Testament, but welcome proposals addressing Scripture in any faith tradition.

WG5 | The Use of Scripture in Carl Schmitt’s Public Discourses
Keywords: Carl Schmitt, Cain and Abel, ex nihilo, nationalism, original sin, populism
Karola Radler
Douglas Barros
Glauco Barsalini

A century ago, in the 1920s the German jurist Carl Schmitt engaged in his publications the  politics of the public sphere with theories that were interlaced with references to biblical themes.  This Working Group intends to go beyond the already widely known discourse on his theory of  sovereignty, his secularization theory, his personal Catholic faith and his self-understanding as  theologian or philosopher. Rather, called for is a focus on the content, meaning, function and  purpose Schmitt gave to the themes he took from Christian scripture, such as Original Sin, God,  miracle, Trinity, Cain and Able and creatio ex nihilo a. o. What did these themes mean to him,  why did he use them, and what did he want to and actually did accomplish by using this select  range of themes? How do such themes relate to the idea of the rule of law which Schmitt called a  unicum sui generis? Inasmuch did his view of scriptural themes influence his vision of the  nomos of the world and continues exerting relevance for political, religious, and international  relations? Does Schmitt’s use of scripture at a turning point in national politics, times of social economic problems and rearmament hold insights for our contemporary time, often characterized as late globalization and de-/post-colonialism, in which international tensions are rising,  democracies display fragility and liberal ideas become increasingly confronted with  Evangelicalist convictions, nationalist Christian ideas and growing populist agendas?  However, also papers on topic related to Schmitt will be considered as long as they have a clear  connection to public theology.

WG6 | Methods in Public Theology
Keywords: method, methodology, public square, public theology, sacred scripture
Johanna Gustafsson-Lundberg
Annette Langner Pitschmann
Ulrich Schmiedel

This working group aims to explore and experiment with new methods in public theology. The field of public theology has expanded radically and evolved rapidly since the turn of the century. While the conversation continues to concentrate on Christianities in European and American contexts, scholars from different disciplines and diverse denominations increasingly investigate a variety of theologies in public discourses and political debates. Particularly in controversies that are stirred up or perceived to be stirred up by the increasing diversity of religions in postsecular societies, theological language and theological literacy have taken on a new significance. Taken together, these developments require methodological reflection that takes different disciplinary and denominational approaches into account.

Methodological reflection, however, is very rare among public theologians. This working group aims to advance such reflection by bringing together scholars who problematize or present new methods in public theology. In line with the theme of the GNPT conference, the working group particularly welcomes proposals that reflect on the significance of sacred scripture(s) for public-theological methodologies.

WG7 | Visions of Dwelling: Scripture and City Development
Keywords: aesthetics, dwelling, metaphor, social differences, sociology of architecture
Stephan de Beer
Thomas Wabel

In biblical traditions, metaphors of dwelling (the city and the garden) find their place in the history of salvation and give voice to eschatological hope–be it the proverbial Garden of Eden or metaphors of growth and flourishing which depict the return of the people from exile (Isa. 41:18-22; 55:3-4. The imagery of the dwelling places of the Lord (Ps. 46:5; Jn 14:2) or the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2-4) are metaphors of eschatological longing. In Heb. 13:14, the basic need of having a place to dwell becomes an image of the earthly pilgrimage.

This interrelation between architectural and religious imagery is not coincidental, as recent publications show. Theology has always expressed itself in architectural terms, just as it has been enriched by engagement with the built environment. Spiritual practice and visions of the good life can change the way cities are shaped. Moreover, the relation between architecture and visions of the good life is reciprocal: as a medium of the social, architecture can contribute to changing deeply held assumptions and society.

The workshop aims at exploring the interrelation between these two dimensions under the aspect of dwelling (vision’s of one’s own space, human dwelling and the sacred, sharing a neighborhood) and against different regional backgrounds. Contributions should explore the topic within a particular (e.g., geographical) context and point out in what way they reflect a vision of the good life within and beyond a specific religious tradition. Theoretical analyses and best practice examples are equally welcome. Drawing on the expertise of other disciplines, but framing these theologically, we hope to shed light on the topic of dwelling and the relevance of the built environment in the context of Christian social ethics and public theology.

WG8 | The Intersection of Scripture and Art in the Public Square
Keywords: Artist theologians, political art, public art, scriptural imagination, theology & the arts
Marnus Havenga
Shannon Steed Sigler
Kutter Callaway

One surprising place where Scripture – and sacred texts more generally – persistently permeates the public square is in the arts. It is indeed interesting to see just how often, in our seemingly post-Christian society, artists – whether visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, novelists, or playwrights – evoke scriptural images, motifs, and narratives in the work they produce. 

This working group will investigate this phenomenon, examining how Scripture is represented and embodied, mouthed and mimicked, cited and recited, in various works of art in the public square. We will look at specific artistic and cultural creations from our own time and delve into public artworks from the past where a scriptural imagination has been present. Additionally, we will explore broader questions such as why Scripture remains such a powerful source of artistic inspiration, how the translation process from sacred text to artwork unfolds, and how faith communities can engage with and interpret these artistic creations.

For this working group we invite presentations from scholars working in the field of theology/religion and the arts but also from practicing artists, who are encouraged to incorporate their own artwork into their contributions. 

WG9 | Scripture and Media
Keywords: digital, hermeneutics, interface, media transformation, plurality of media
Frederike van Oorschot
Thomas Schlag

In the words of Eckhard Nordhofen, scriptural theology responds to the “media problem of monotheism”, i.e. the need to convey the communication of the uncreated God with the created world. As part of the cultural heritage of the Christian world, biblical texts have been read, heard, and seen in different publics (schools, films, politics, churches, advertising, academia), serving as an invitation to engage not only with the Christian tradition, but also with the content of faith. The Christian tradition places particular trust in biblical texts as testimonies to the revelation revealed by the Holy Spirit. In this respect, the Bible forms an “interface” between God and man. If one approaches Scripture from this media perspective, the mediality of “Scripture” - as text, song, image or play - comes to the fore. The panel will address these questions with a particular focus on digital transformation processes: The reading, viewing and listening habits acquired in the digital world shape not only the way we access scripture online, but also reading, viewing and listening in all its forms.

The panel will address the following questions:

• Is there a theological reason for Scripture as written medial form within public theology? If so, which medial forms seems to be appropriate to the understanding of "Scripture" and how do they change - empirically, hermeneutically and dogmatically?

• Where and how do the various media shape the perception of scripture and its testimonies?

• What is the public function of scripture as an interface in the diversity of media

Describing Scripture as a medium has so far primarily been part of the soteriological description of Scripture: it is a medium salutis in that it testifies to Christ and can instruct faith. In the sense outlined above, however, Scripture is also a medium of theology in many other ways: Not only with regard to believers, but also in the public impact and perception of theology, Scripture is one of the media in which and through which theology makes itself understood. Biblical stories, proverbs or images are in part powerful ways of presenting Christian positions - and in other parts so secularized that they are hardly recognizable as a Christian message in their own right. The panel will also discuss the scriptural references of public theology and the dimension of the implicit publicity of the Bible.

WG10 | The (Ab)Use of Scripture in Public Life
Keywords: Abuse, Christian nationalism, political, sacred, scripture 
Teresa L. Smallwood
Tom Hale

There is something endemic to faith that makes the use of sacred text ubiquitous. In the quotidian use of biblical scripture there is a tendency to quote passages out of context, to see widespread application of texts originally intended for very specific social contexts, and to converge meaning making into dominant narratives that do not specifically reflect either the biblical world or acceptable norms and values of the present world with any degree of certainty. Take for instance the use of biblical scripture to justify racial cleansing or the use of the Bible to validate political speech. In those instances, and in many others, the question of (ab)use in the use of scripture in our public life must be interrogated. A number of manuscripts take up the subject: Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes du Mez, The Bible Told Them So: How Southern Evangelicals Fought to Preserve White Supremacy by J. Russell Hawkins, One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by Kevin Kruse and Taking American Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States by Samuel L. Perry and Andrew L. Whitehead. What do these works and others of similar import identify as the quintessential response to the (ab)use of scripture in public life? What methodologies and theoretical frameworks are helpful in addressing these concerns?

WG11 | Pentateuch, Poverty, and Global Economics
Keywords: Economic justice, globalization, Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, Poverty, Wealth
Agnes Chiu
Peter Altmann

Poverty and economic injustice in a globalized world are critical issues in political and social discourses. What insights does the Bible offer on these topics? In our post-Christian, postmodern context, biblical teachings are often ignored or dismissed. Nevertheless, Scripture offers normative wisdom in a secularized world. The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, particularly the Pentateuch, contains extensive instructions on the obligations to care for the poor and the principles of economic justice as delineated in the Torah.

Contrary to misconceptions that the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible is solely about obligations and duties, which some have argued is akin to socialism, this working group discussion invites papers that will reframe biblical teachings through the lenses of the complex relationships between God, the poor, and the wealthy that transgress the boundaries between antiquity and the modern global economy. The group aims to explore two key aspects: 1) the normative and transformative insights the Pentateuch provides on poverty and the global economy and 2) strategies for effectively communicating these teachings in a post-Christian and globalized context.

WG12 | Apocalypse, Environmental Catastrophe, and Imagining the Future
Keywords: Apocalypse, ecology, end of the world, Revelation, 4 Ezra, Paul
Collin Cornell
Carlos Caldas

Apocalypse, in popular usage, means the end of the world. The word identifies the collapse of governing systems because of a decisive destruction event. As such, since the 1970s, environmental discourse has often appealed to impending apocalypse: by framing ecological degradation in terms of crisis, collapse, or catastrophe, activists sought to communicate urgency, provoke action, and emphasize the decisiveness or finality of ecosystem damage.

This apocalyptic framing has come under critique from various directions. It can reinforce a simple, linear view of time, which has often coincided with colonial time. It can discount incremental losses or miss smaller-scale possibilities of survival and resilience. It may be ineffective in catalyzing action, since the prospect of the world ending can make people feel overwhelmed rather than inspired. Public theology must take all these criticisms into account.

But a public theology that is calibrated to Holy Scripture must also reckon with a further problem, and that is: the literature of ancient Jewish and Christian apocalypses is not principally concerned with the end of the world per se. Instead, recent research on these writings finds that knowledge and counter-knowledge are their operating interest. In these texts, God reveals to seers what is true but hidden about the world. The content of this concealed insight may include the end, i.e., God’s final victory over the forces of death. But it may also feature other truths, about mathematics, astronomy, spiritual strata, and so on.

This working group intends to stage a conversation about public theology between scholars of ancient apocalyptic literature, biblical scholars—especially those working on the Book of Revelation, 4 Ezra, and Paul—and eco-theologians. In particular, it seeks to complicate appeals to the end of the world through a more disciplined engagement with knowledge and counter-knowledge; and to refresh eco-theology by attending to hidden sources of divine disclosure in the present.

WG13 | Sexual Exploitation in the Hebrew Bible
Keywords: Hebrew Bible, human sexuality, sexual exploitation
Erin Dufault-Hunter
Chloe Sun

The Hebrew Bible comprises texts that involve the beauty of sexuality as a divinely ordained creation as well as the exploitation of human sexuality in its various forms, including but not limited to the forced or unwanted exposure of the human body, using human sexuality as a weapon for self-gain, sexual violence, and rape. The culprit may involve both divine and human. Some texts explicitly condemn these exploitations, while others present a more ambiguous stance or remain silent. This session invites papers addressing sexual exploitation and related issues in the Hebrew Bible and in modern societies and attempts to gather diverse voices to uncover and discover new interpretive insights into these texts in relation to modern exploitation. We hope to gather scholars who examine selected texts in the Hebrew Bible regarding sexual exploitation and bring the discussion to the public square to consider possible ways forward in our contemporary context.

WG14 | Wisdom Traditions and Public Discourse
Keywords: Wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible, parables of Jesus, wisdom tradition in the public square, societal frames, perspectives on discourse and rhetoric
Erik Aasland
Sebastian Kim

The wisdom tradition, both in the Hebrew Bible and in the parables of Jesus, is the result of practical and pragmatic advice from sages, which is grounded in God and in his presence but is not limited to it in its scope and application - it is more to do with practical guidance for the ethical, moral and social life of the individual together with others in Israel and beyond. This gives us insights for interacting with the biblical wisdom in developing public theology. While Judeo-Christian wisdom is drawn from the Scripture, this wisdom can be shared by secular perspectives and, equally importantly, public theologians can utilize wisdom from secular society in their engagement in public life. In fact, wisdom traditions provide the societal frames and metaphors that guide thought, communication, and action in specific societies. Discussion within public theology should include considerations of shared wisdom within the societies and the power of wisdom traditions in helping shape theologizing.

The Western, Protestant Church has been generally suspicious of wisdom traditions. Tyndale in positing the foundational role of propositions in Scripture (1528) helped shape modernism. As the Church now faces generational challenges in communication: the older generation favoring propositions (modernism) and the younger generation operating with narratives (post-modernism). Research in wisdom traditions may show us a way out. A more robust and rhetorically-based understanding of discourse can open new vistas for the Church, public theology, and the wider society. This working group aims: first, to bring together scholars of wisdom traditions and proverbs from biblical studies and public theology; second, to examine and interrogate how wisdom could bring sacred and secular traditions together for deeper interaction and mutual enrichment of both churches and wider society; and third, to propose ways and means to contribute to the wider society with wisdom and proverbs that suggest some methodologies to deal with the problems in contemporary society.

WG15 | Scriptures of Different Traditions and Asian Public Theologies
Keywords: Asia, Asian traditions, public theologies
Gnana Patrick
J.C. Paul Rohan
Yip Mei Loh

Unlike the Euro-North American variety, wherein public theology intended primarily to counter the ‘secularist naked’ public sphere, public theologies in Asia need to work towards opening the public squares to different others, making them participatory and empowering; they need to do it by promoting inter-religious conversations, religio-cultural plurality and empowerment of the subalterns. It is more of channelizing the positive potentials of different religions for common good, rather than correcting or even responding to the classical secularist concerns. It is then incumbent upon Asian public theologians to learn the wisdom embodied in different religious scriptures on the goals of common good, in terms of statecraft and political participation. While gathering the insights from different scriptures, it is also necessary to learn and disseminate the art of interpreting (hermeneutics) the religious texts being mindful of their meanings for different communities. It then becomes a challenge, but a creative and relevant one today. Responding to the challenge becomes all the more necessary in the present-day Asian context of instances of instrumentalisation of religious texts for political gains.

The working group under the title of “Scriptures of Different Traditions and Asian Public Theologies” seeks to invite and present research papers on themes, moral teachings, and hermeneutical dynamics embodied in different scriptures with respect to public theology. Some samples topics could be:

1. World religions, scriptures and Common Good

2. Asian Religions and their Holy Texts

3. Dynamics of Othering and the Role of Scriptures

4. Philosophies of sacred texts in Asia

5. Sacredness, Orality and Textuality: Exploring the Interfaces

6. Textuality of the Public Sphere and the Religious Texts of Different Others

7. Relevance of the Dhvani method of interpretation

8. Inter-textual readings of scriptures on common good: Methodological Challenges

9. Intra-textuality and Inter-textuality: Dialectics of Public Reading of Scriptures

10. Torah, Tripidaka, Agamas, Vedas and Upanishads, Bible, Dharmasastras, Quran, etc: A Parliament of Scriptural Discourses

11. Power, Politics, and the Public Domain: Insights from Different Scriptures

12. Common good, civil society, citizenship, freedom, dignity and community: Drinking from the Wells of Different Religious Texts

13. Theories of Scriptural Readings from Different Traditions

14. Cosmologies, myths, and different narratives of common good 

15. Environmental Concerns and the Scriptures of Religions

16. Anthropocentrism, misogyny, and Scriptures

17. Gendering and Religious Texts

WG16 | Labor and Scripture
Keywords: employment, labor, Scripture, vocation, work
Matthew Kaemingk
Dylan Parker

Citizens spend the majority of their lives consumed by the complex promises and problems of work. Entering the marketplace workers encounter the conflicting realities of  justice and oppression, creativity and triviality, purpose and frustration. While these complex realities of work play a prominent role in public life, the field of public theology has shown relatively little interest in the subject.

Following the 2025 consultation's emphasis on Scripture and public life, this working group seeks papers that explore the complex intersections between labor, Scripture, and public life. More than critical commentaries on vast economic systems, this working group welcomes papers that investigate the actual attitudes of and approaches to labor in Scripture and the ways that these might inform the lived realities of work in the modern world. From Adam and Eve’s mandate to labor in Eden to the utilization of plowshares and pruning hooks in the new heavens and the new earth, Scripture is replete with images of labor. Some of these images are positive, like the work of Jesus as a carpenter and the holy gifting of craftsmanship to Bezalel and Oholiab in Exodus 31. Other scriptural images are more somber, like Israel’s toilsome burden under Pharaoh’s cruel hand. As a working group, we look forward to cultivating a diverse and interdisciplinary investigation of the relationship between Scripture, labor, and public life.

WG17 | War, Conflict, and Scripture
Keywords: conflict resolution, peace, Scripture, war
Joël Kuvuna
David Moe

Conflicts of all kinds are increasingly common in various locations around the world. It seems we are witnessing the fulfillment of the Scripture, which states that nations will engage in conflicts with other nations, and kingdoms will engage in conflicts with other kingdoms. There are several instances of armed conflicts, such as the situations in Israel and Gaza, Ukraine and Russia, DR Congo with over 30 years of ongoing hostilities, the Sahel region, Nigeria, Darfur, and other places.

The causes of the ongoing wars in the world are undoubtedly evident. The Church appears to lack influence in addressing disputes that jeopardize global peace daily. Some of these conflicts are occasionally debated based on specific interpretations of Scripture. What role does Scripture have in the midst of contemporary conflicts? What insights might the Word of God provide in various conflict scenarios? Can the Church serve as an effective catalyst for promoting peacebuilding and facilitating conflict resolution? We, therefore, intend to reflect on conflict, war, and Scripture. Each scholar will reflect in their context.

The purpose of this working group is to interrogate the Scripture in the context of conflict and war taking place these decades. This work will be of great importance in the contribution and deepening of Scripture in conflict resolution and peacemaking. When submitting your abstract, we would like to include the following elements: Brief context and motivation of the work, your research objectives, research questions, the methodology to achieve and a discussion. Please feel free to work on your own context.

WG18 | Israel/Palestine and the Middle East
Keywords: Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Middle East, liberation, decolonisation, anti-occupation, anti-apartheid, justice, peace, human rights
Esther McIntosh
Clive Pearson

This working group aims to provide a collaborative space in which to respond to the crisis in Israel/Palestine and the Middle East from the perspective of public theology. Public theology often draws on the concepts of solidarity and a biblical prior option for the marginalised, as found in liberation theology. Anti-apartheid scholars/theologians such as John W. de Gruchy and Desmond Tutu are often cited alongside Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s resistance in Nazi Germany. Yet, the Bible has been weaponised against Palestinians and used to justify apartheid in the form of Christian Zionism. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, the attempt to create a safe space for Jews inaugurated decades of ethnic cleansing and a denial of the rights of the native Palestinian population. Palestinian liberation theologians have been crying out against colonialism, illegal occupation and apartheid in their land. After a year of live-streamed genocide, and despite the United Nations calling for sanctions against Israel, governments (including the USA and the UK) are still sending arms, and the conflict is escalating across Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. We welcome proposals that are attentive to the concerns and voices of the region and offer critical theological engagement with this very pressing issue, which is of enormous consequence for all of us and for the future of credible public theology and biblical scholarship.

WGK | Korean Language Working Group: The Problem of Polarization in Korean Society and the Role of Public Theology
Keywords: Korea, peace, polarization, public theology, reconciliation
Suk Hwan Sung
Sebastian Kim

Public theology is being done in South Korea, particularly in relation to the issues of peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, social integration and conflict, churches and society, and the credibility of the Korean church in society. An underlying problem in all these discussions is the problem of polarization. It affects politics, economics, society, and even the church itself. Christian theology developed in Korea has a tendency to see the world in a polarized perspective: the division between the church and the world; the dichotomy of soul over the body; the separation of church and state; and the ghettoization of church communities along ideological lines. Since public theology is called to address problems in a particular context, the theological response to this polarization needs to be formulated to meet the situation of Korean churches and society.

The social disruptions due to polarization that Western democratic countries suffer from are also experienced in many Asian countries, including Korea, but some differences emerge in the ways of addressing them. The difference between the grammar of public discourse in the West, with its long training in modernism, and in countries such as Korea, which have experienced imperialism or dictatorship in the 20th century, calls for distinctly formulated responses. In this respect, our group will take a contextual and historical approach to the public issues in this region, and we expect that such work will also reveal that public theology requires a variety of methodologies depending on the context.

This working group aims to bring together scholars who are researching the Korean context to discuss methodological developments from various disciplines to deal with polarization in Korean society and the church. The working group welcomes topics for papers that discuss (in relation to polarization) topics such as: 

• Socio-political or economic analysis of polarization

• Theological methodology for integration

• Biblical explorations for overcoming polarization

• Church and civil society for the common good

• Peaceful unification between the North and South Korea

• Implications of differences in biblical interpretations for Korean church and society

• Innovative approaches or case studies for the public interaction of the Korean church

• The social credibility of the Korean church

• Interdisciplinary approaches to the issue of polarization

WGS | Spanish Language Working Group: Las Escrituras en la Vida del Pueblo del Sur Global Americano
ENG: Scriptures in the Life of the Peoples of the American Global South
Alexia Salvatierra
Oscar Garcia-Johnson
Carlos Cevallos

The Spanish-language working group will organize two panel discussions to examine the impact of Scripture on the formation of everyday life, identity, and public influence in the American Global South. The sessions will concentrate on the missiological, transnational, and socio-political dimensions of biblical interpretation in the region. The objective is to involve both academic and practical viewpoints, emphasizing important dynamics in the area of theology, mission, decolonial theory, and cultural identity.

Session One: Hermenéutica Misional e Incidencia Pública
(ENG: Missional Hermeneutics and Public Incidence)
Moderator: Carlos Cevallos

This session will explore the impact of different biblical hermeneutical perspectives in the American Global South on missiological praxis in everyday life, encompassing positive as well as negative implications. The objective is to reveal the manner in which Scripture has exerted impact on public participation, the establishment of communities, and peoples’ experiences within this particular context.

Session Two: Biblia y Politicas de Tierra e Identidad en el Sur Global Americano
(ENG: The Bible and the Politics of Land and Identity in the American Global South)
Moderator: Oscar García-Johnson

This session aims to investigate the [mis]uses of the Bible in shaping land policies, identity, and human agency in the American Global South over the past 500 years. The discussion will focus on how Scripture has been used to justify or resist territorial and cultural domination, while also exploring its role in fostering indigenous and transnational identities.

WGC | Chinese Language Working Group: War, Conflict, and Scripture
Keywords: China, Confucianism, just war, love, pacifism
Ping-cheung Lo
Quan Li

This working group in the Chinese language will consist of two sessions. One session is  dedicated to issues in Chinese church history or China; another is dedicated to Western  discussions but with a Chinese perspective.  

Topics of Session 1: 

• Between Love and Hate: Pacifism, Christian Realism, and Jesus in the Writings of Y. T.  Wu (1918-1948) (Wang, Zhixi, Chinese University of Hong Kong) 

• War, Divine, and the Formation of Chinese Public Theology (Li, Quan, University of  Edinburgh) 

• The Ethics of War and Scriptural Insights: A Study of Communal Lament Regarding the  Nanjing Massacre (Long, Jiaoli, Santa Clara University) 

Topics of Session 2: 

• Revisit the Holy War: Ancient Narratives and Modern Ethics (Liu, Yan, Catholic  University of America) 

• Reinhold Niebuhr on Forgiveness: Biblical and Political Implications (Huang, Luping,  Sichuan University, PRC) 

• The Just Society in Aquinas and Its Implications for Modern Society (Louie, Kinyip,  China Graduate School of Theology)