Students to travel to Ecuador to discuss global mission
In January, students from Berkeley will join a team from Harvard Memorial Chapel to participate in a seminar entitled Rethinking Mission, Sustainability and Globalization in Latin America. The Reverend Robert Mark, chaplain at The Memorial Church at Harvard University, played a key role in developing the seminar and also will accompany the group.
Willis Jenkins, the Margaret A. Farley Assistant Professor of Social Ethics at Yale Divinity School, also helped to plan the seminar and will travel with the group. Professor Jenkins has extensive international experience in community development initiatives and served on the Episcopal Church’s Standing Committee on World Mission from 2000-2006.
“We’ve been invited by the Latin American Council of Churches to learn about the distinctive sense of social mission among churches,” said Willis Jenkins. “My own hope is that we will have the opportunity to explore theological intersections of economics, environment and social justice.”
According to program materials, the seven-day intensive seminar will address a variety of topics, including: analysis of current political dynamics; South American theological responses to economic globalization and recent turbulence in the markets; work with indigenous peoples; response to climate change, environmental justice, and biodiversity; and the relationship of Latin American churches to global projects, including WCC and UN initiatives and NGO work.
The Episcopal Diocese of Central Ecuador is serving as a host for the group.