International Public Theology in Forum-Center: Science, Civil Society, Life-world
Editor’s Position
“Public theology is a theological and philosophical endeavor designed to provide a more complex frame of reference aimed at facilitating the church in its cultural, sociopolitical, and ethical responsibilities” (see Chung, Postcolonial Public Theology, 2016, 1).
I once defined public theology in relation to social ethics for the public sphere in civil society. In collaboration with global scholars, we now extend public theology to embrace a whole spectrum of relationships at the international level, with attention to a social scientific frame of reference. It features the significance of eco-systemic inquiry with robust scientific and religious conversations, addressing civil society, climate change, and public policy for the flourishing of our common life in the world.
International Public Theology in Forum-Center
Public Theology in Forum-Center examines the relevance of science and religion and their meaning in a pluralistic society. Embracing disciplines that include a theology of religion, comparative theologies, the sociology of scientific knowledge and life sciences, it seeks to explicate scientific discourse and techno-paradigms in order to advocate and promote policy formation for eco-governance, the common good, and integrity of life-world.
Our forum intends to engage in constructive conversations that privilege comparative religion, while underscoring the significance of its cultural and social function and influence. Furthermore, our forum will pursue conceptual clarity, constructing a public theology of science to engage with life sciences, religion, ecology, and sociology of science in a critical emancipatory manner.
Board Members
Rev. Dr. John Valentine – Acting Chair, Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, Orinda
Young Maccarone – Counseling Psychologist
Sam Chai – Legal Advisor
Brian Kim – Secretary and Treasurer
Paul S. Chung, Acting President
Craig Nessan, Representative of the Senior Advisor Committee
Steering/Editorial Committee
Paul S. Chung, Dr. President (acting), Korean Bilingual Extension for East Asia
Distinguished Full Professor in International Public Theology and Director of Forum-Center
Craig L. Nessan, Senior Advisor
William D. Streng Professor for the Education and Renewal of the Church Professor of Contextual Theology and Ethics, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa
Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Dr. Habil. Senior Advisor
Chair of the World Council of Churches
Kristin J. Largen, Senior Advisor, Comparative Religion & Multicultural Literature
President, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA
Lois E. Malcolm
The Olin and Amanda Fjelstad Registad Professor of Systematic Theology, Luther Seminary, St, Paul, Minnesota
Raymond Carr
Ph. D. Research Associate, Moses Mesoamerican Archive and Research Project, Harvard University. Advisor to Public Theology and Black Church
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Dr. Habil. Senior Editor, Journal Comparative Religion & Literature
Professor of Systematic Theology Fuller Theological Seminary and Docent of Ecumenics at the University of Helsinki
Public Theology and Science Council for East Asia
- Craig L. Nessan
- Veli‑Matti Kärkkäinen
- Dion Forster (ex officio)
- Ted Peters
- Paul S. Chung
- Advisory Committee
- Jacob Feng
- Affiliated Assistant Professor, Fuller Theological Seminary
- Affiliated Research Professor, Forum Center, Berkele
- Heinrich Bedford‑Strohm, Templeton Initiative Committee
International Distinguished Faculty
Traugott Jaehnichen, Dr. Habil.
Professor fűr Christliche Gesellschaftslehre an der Evangelisch-Theologischen Fakultät der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Manfred L. Pirner, Dr. Habil.
Senior Advisor, Comparative Religion & Multicultural Literature
Professor Dr., Professor of Religious Education at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany
Rudolf E. Von Sinner, Dr. Habil.
Professor in the Graduate Programmes in Theology and in Human Rights and Public Policies at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica in Curitiba, Brazil.
Lai Pan Chiu, Comparative Religion & Literature
Professor of Religious Studies, Department of Cultural and Religious Studies; and, Founding Director, Centre for the Study of Religious Ethics and Chinese Culture, Faculty of Arts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Advisory Committee
Ted Peters, Senior Advisor
Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA
Kirsi I. Stjerna, PhD. First Lutheran, Los Angeles/Southwest California Synod Professor of Lutheran History and Theology
Deborah M. Gordon, Personal Advisor, Professor of Biology, Stanford University, CA
Editorial Team
(In affiliation with Forum on East -West Knowledge & Action in Korea)
- Paul S. Chung – Editor-in-Chief
- Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen – Senior Editor,
- Nick Huseby – Assistant Editor and Web Manager
- Jeanetta Gregory – Editorial Assistant
E‑Journal at Forum Center, Berkeley
Prolepsis EISSN 3091-8502 Open Access
Comparative Religion EISSN 3091-8510 Open Access
Korean Affiliation and Academic Accreditation
National Institute for Lifelong Education
Licensed to offer a certificate program in Public Theology & Multicultural Education
Research Group
Dr. Lim, Chang Sei
Research Professor in Public Theology and Science, Bilingual Branch, Korean International Public Theology in Forum-Center, Seoul, S. Korea
International Institutions in Collaboration
Global Network for Public Theology
Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA
Asian Research Center, Pasadena, CA
Center for Theology and Natural Sciences, Berkeley, GTU (by courtesy)
Forum on East-West Knowledge & Action
Journal
Currents in Theology and Mission, Wartburg Theological Seminary
Christian Study Centre on Chinese Religion and Culture, Ching Feng, Chinese University, Hong Kong
Stipulation: If any Forum papers fit Asian studies of religion and culture, it would be possible to recommend to the editor, Ching Feng or Currents for publication review. The Christian Study Center is a collaborating institution with International Public Theology in Forum-Center for mutual benefits.
Partnership with the Asia Research Center
Asia Research Center (ARC) is delighted to collaborate with the International Public Theology in Forum Center to organize workshops and conferences on East Asian religions. It can also help the Forum Center’s bilingual journals improve the quality of the Chinese translations of articles by highly esteemed authors and scholars.
Website: https://asiaresearchcenter.org/