Theological training in the presence of others

The churches in the international EMS Fellowship live in societies in which other religions are present - sometimes as a majority, sometimes as a minority.

For some this is a relatively new experience. Others are well acquainted with the presence of other religious communities. Their legal status, social acceptance, the history of the relationship and other contextual elements are also different.

Theological training centres are intended to make pastors and other church workers capable of bearing witness to the good news in their pluralistic situations. How is the multireligious situation presented from a theological viewpoint? One experience suggests that "Those who teach theology in the presence of people with different religions can and must formulate their statements much more precisely." What are the aims, objects and teaching methods of a training course which deals deliberately with other religions?

As part of the EMS Focus, theological training centres in Africa, Asia and Europe exchanged their concepts and experiences in 2011 and 2012 in order to gain new impulses for their curricula. The exchange was in writing and in the form of encounters.