From 14 to 16 October 2024, approximately 30 participants gathered at the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Cluj, Romania, for an international conference aimed at fostering dialogue and understanding among Christian denominations. Throughout the event, speakers and participants engaged in discussions on managing intra-confessional tensions, addressing colonial legacies within theological dialogues, and exploring effective models for mediating disputes and conflicts in intercultural contexts. Workshops and panels provided opportunities for attendees to share experiences, mapping instances of intra- and inter-confessional conflicts, and fostering a collaborative space for storytelling and collective reflection.
Parallel panels explored complex issues, including indigenous agency and colonial continuities, decolonization as a pathway for ecumenical dialogue, and the moral dilemmas facing Christian communities globally. Contributors from diverse confessional backgrounds, representing both the Global North and South, enriched the discussions with their varied perspectives and insights.
Dr. Marina Ngursangzeli Behera from OCMS, Oxford, presented in the panel “Daring Vulnerability? Embracing Different Conceptual Worlds,” alongside Dr. Marcus Grohmann from the University of Stellenbosch. Her presentation emphasized the importance of vulnerability and mutual accountability in intercultural theological encounters, focusing on navigating diverse worldviews and fostering openness to prevent conflicts.
The conference was organized by Evangelische Mission Weltweit (EMW) and the Academy of Mission in Hamburg, in collaboration with the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Cluj. It brought together representatives from Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, and Protestant traditions, along with ecumenical organizations such as the Faith & Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation.
Background to EMW:
The EMW is an organization of Protestant churches, agencies and associations in mission and ecumenism. Nine mission agencies, five free churches, five associations and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) form the umbrella organization of the Protestant mission agencies. At the same time, the EMW acts as a professional association for ecumenical world mission and mission theology for members and associated organizations.
