Applications Open for the 5th Annual Theological Symposium on Addressing Misleading Theologies

Through its Theology and Interfaith Relations unit, the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) is committed to providing a platform for constructive conversations about addressing contextual misleading theologies in Africa. Since 2019, AACC has been holding annual theological symposia on misleading theologies. The 1st symposium held in October 2019 identified critical areas of misleading theologies for further engagements in future symposia. Since then, a series of symposia have taken place annually, addressing thematic areas such as Complexities of Theologies of Wealth and Prosperity (on 23rd-27th November 2020), Controversies about Theologies of Health and Healing (on 22nd -24th November 2021), and Addressing Contextual Theologies of Power and Authority in African Churches (on 19th – 23rd September 2022). This year’s symposium will be held on October 28th -1st November with the theme: The Role of Governments’ Regulation on Churches and Religious Institutions (RIs).

In countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Zambia, inquisitive and critical questions are being asked regarding misleading teachings and harmful cultic practices threatening human life and dignity, and the government’s regulatory role in addressing these challenges.  This requires the involvement of stakeholders to resonate together with this delicate balancing act between protecting the public good as well as safeguarding religious liberties and expressions. AACC’s 5th annual theological symposium will bring theologians, church leaders, scholars’ and state actors into conversations examining the role of governments’ regulation on churches and religious activities.

Key questions this symposium will seek to answer are:

• What is the role of government in regulating churches and religious institutions?
• What are the aspects of religious practices and religious activities that governments should consider regulating or even controlling?
• What are the possible tensions that may occur between governments and churches should the laws/policies for the regulations be passed?
• How can these possible tensions be mitigated for the sake of the common/public good, safety, religious freedoms, and expressions (FORB) as guaranteed by constitutions of the different countries, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
• How will regulating and controlling churches and religious institutions affect the Church-State Relations in Africa?
• Are there other approaches available for churches and religious institutions in addressing life-threatening religious teachings, harmful cultic trends, and practices?
• What are the biblical and theological perspectives on church-state relations?

Participation in the symposium is by invitation. Interested participants are invited to express their interest in this event by completing and submitting the completed application form at https://aacc-ceta.org/en/5th-symposium-misleading-theologies-application-form

Completed application forms should be sent to [email protected] by 31 May 2024