Delegates of the inaugural FeAST conference with The Right Reverend Dushantha Lakshman Rodrigo, Bishop of Colombo (centre). Pictured outside the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The inaugural in-person conference of USPG’s Fellowship of Anglican Scholars of Theology (FeAST), themed ‘Transformative Theologies: Rethinking Pedagogy, Praxis and Perspectives,’ has officially begun in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It brings together around 30 scholars from nearly 20 countries across the Anglican Communion including Argentina, Zimbabwe, India and the Solomon Islands.
Running from 10–14 November 2024, this pioneering gathering offers rising theologians and researchers from across the Anglican Communion a unique platform to discuss and present innovative research focused on the transformative potential of theology.
“We are here to reweave the mat of Anglican theologies” began The Revd Canon Dr Peniel Rajkumar, opting for a metaphor common across the Pacific. “By bringing together the different strands of the richness of theology available in the Communion, we hope to be able to move beyond a Eurocentric past and co-create a space where the theological gifts each of us bring will be cherished and used for mutual upbuilding” he added.
The FeAST Conference seeks to reimagine theological methods, education, and practice through liberative and decolonial perspectives, bringing together diverse voices to address pressing social and global issues. For example, the presentations on topics such as racial reconciliation, gender justice and creation care come from international speakers who “diversify the menu” of inherited forms of theology.
The Right Reverend Dushantha Lakshman Rodrigo, Bishop of Colombo, added a warm greeting and officially opened the conference. USPG expresses deep gratitude to the Diocese of Colombo for hosting the conference, drawing continued inspiration from the Church of Ceylon’s longstanding commitment to seeing faith through new eyes.
FeAST represents a rare community of mutual support, friendship and accompaniment in an otherwise polarised world. We look forward to seeing what insights this network can share, and how that thinking might lead to meaningful change.
Further details on featured speakers and conference highlights will be shared as the week progresses.