CPU to host 6th Asian theologians congress
Central Philippine University (CPU) will host the 6th Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS) on February 8-14, 2009. Expected to attend the congress are 80 theologians coming from 13 countries of Asia.
Started in 1997, the CATS is a movement that seeks to create a theological community that would bring together various theological movements and associations of theological education, as well as individual theologians.
Following CATS I held in Suwon, Korea in 1997, CATS II was held in Bangalore, India in 1999; CATS III in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2001; CATS IV in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2003 and CATS V in Hong Kong in 2006.
Organizers have chosen Iloilo City, Philippines, particularly CPU, as the venue of CATS VI. The theme of the Asian theologians' congress is “Doing Mission from the Underside: A Challenge to the Understanding of Mission since 1910.”
In deciding on the Philippines as venue for CATS VI, the Asian theologians manifest their concern and solidarity with the churches and people of the Philippines on the issues of peace, justice and economics.
Aiming to foster collaboration in articulating and promoting relevant Asian contextual theologizing among theologians, theological movements and institutions of theological education, the congress will involve theologians from both Protestants and Roman Catholic churches.
Bishop Fernando Capalla of the Archdiocese of Davao and Chairperson of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference; Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle, Bishop of Imus; Rev. Rex Reyes Jr., Secretary General of the Christian Conference of Asia are among the theologian leaders who will participate. Delegates from as far as India and Sri Lanka, and the neighboring Southeast Asian countries will also attend.