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9 Lectures in a Row, or, The Day I Revolted Against the Desk Chair

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Rev. Dr. John S. Mbiti, “Grandfather of African Theology”: “We are full of “book theology” but we need to get it out to the people. We need theological engineers.” Professor Esther Mombo, “Queen Mother of African Theology”: “Gender-based violence is the one thing women around the world have in common… We are bringing light to the invisible voices [of women of color]... We need to bring that God into the public square.” Dr. Vasile Octavian Mihoc: “We no longer need the spatial proximity of others in order to communicate and learn from them…but to do that, we need to move beyond binary hermeneutical lenses.” Fr Evangelos Evanson Mwaura Thiani: “Liturgy after the liturgy” Dr. Septemmy Lakawa: “Trauma is a collective sign of religious engagement…the language of silence.” “The healing arts provide new ways of restoration and interreligious dialogue, but are marginalized and excluded from academic circles.” “Missiology of Wound- Trauma challenges
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Highlights from Day One

Head of the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, Dr. Jooseop Keum: “We want to change, we want to transform the world, and so we are doing two revolutionary things with this CWME- we have brought it home to Africa, to heart of missions, for the first time in 60 years. And we have made all of the young leaders here, all of you, full [voting] delegates at this conference. We want to hear from you. We want to learn from you. We want you to lead us.” Rev. Dr. Liz Vibila Vuadi: “How many of our mothers have read our books? [None.] Our libraries are full. We need to theologize in a way that is more practical.” “Conversion is not our responsibility or concern. We must witness.” And because the internet reaches all corners of the world, from the New York Times, Tim Kreider: "One of my students once asked me, when I was teaching the writing of political op-ed essays, why adults should listen to anything young people had to say about the world. My answer
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Highway History Lesson

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There’s 8 strangers in a safari jeep. A Tanzanian, a Japanese couple, an American, a German, two Brits, and an Italian. They are traveling down the highway chatting and laughing when the Tanzanian driver [who does not know the nationalities in his vehicle] asks, “so can you explain to me world war 2- I do not understand how it is the whole world ended up in one war?” Horrified silence. No one dares to make eye contact. People shift in their seats. The Italian finally says, “well, I think we can agree we are glad it’s over.”  *** As awkward as it was, it is no small miracle that conversation even happened. Sitting together that day eating stale butter-carrot sandwiches while fending off hungry monkeys suddenly seemed much more important than it had been the day before.
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