Free Church DNA: Priesthood of All Believers Decoded

31 Oct 2024 - 02 Nov 2024 17:00

October 31-November 2, 2024 Tallinn, Estonia

The theological conference "Free Church DNA: Priesthood of All Believers Decoded" aims to explore and shed light on the unique theological essence ingrained in the free church tradition. By embracing the fundamental conviction of the priesthood of all believers, this conference intends to unravel the multifaceted dimensions of this concept and examine its implications for the ecclesiological, pastoral, and missional aspects of the free church identity. The conference will cover topics and feature specialists addressing questions related to the biblical sources of the priesthood of all believers, historical perspectives on free church ecclesiology, ecclesiological implications, pastoral applications and challenges, missional paradigms, cultural relevance and diversity, contemporary challenges and opportunities, as well as theological and ecumenical dialogues and education concerning free church DNA and the priesthood of all believers. Your participation is highly encouraged and welcomed!

The conference is organised by the Theology and Education Commission of the European Baptist Federation and the Estonian Free Church Theological Seminary.

Program

Pre-conference, Oct 31, Thursday.
10.30 Gathering and coffee
11.00 Student presentations and discussion, group 1
13.00 Lunch break (not organised) - several restaurants available in 5 minutes walking distance
14.30 Student presentations and discussion, group 2
16.00 Coffee break
16.30 Discussion "Future of baptistic theological education" with faculty members and students together
18.30 Dinner and fellowship (organised on-site)

Conference, Friday, Nov 1st
9.30-11.30 Study trip in Old town of Tallinn focussing on the free church history – led by Toivo Pilli
12.00 Lunch break (not organised) - several restaurants available in 5 minutes walking distance
13.00 Opening. European Baptist Federation, Estonian Council of Churches and Estonian Free Church Theological Seminary.
13.20 "How to Understand Priesthood After All?" Interview with three "older brothers" – Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran view of priesthood - Philippe Jourdan, Marko Tiitus and Tauri Tölpt, led by Meego Remmel
14.30 Coffee break
15.00 Plenary session with discussion and Q&A – Stephen Holmes "The Priesthood of All or The Ministry of Each?" & Teun van der Leer "Priesthood of all Believers with its Christological and Pneumatological Roots and Ecclesiological Practices"
17.30 Dinner (organised)
19.00 Jazz evening

Conference, Nov 2nd, Saturday
9.00 Devotional
9.30 Plenary session with discussion and Q&A – Toivo Pilli "Priesthood of All Believers - An Estonian Perspective", Olexandr Geychenko
11.30 Coffee break
12.00 "Disciple-Making as an Expression of the Priesthood of All Believers and the Best Practice in (Free-)Church Planting" Big interview with Dietrich Schindler, followed by discussion, led by Theo Bunescu
13.00 Lunch break (not organised) - several restaurants available in 5 minutes walking distance
14.15 Track seminars - Andrew Williams "Elder, Bishop, and Pastor: New Testament and Early Christian Polity" & Benjamin Uhrin "Priesthood of All Believers as a Mandate for Public Theology"
15.30 Final plenary session - Gabriel Stephens "In All Centers: Discipleship in the Workplace Arena" & Helle Liht "From Garden to Glory: The Priesthood of All Believers in God's Cosmic Plan"17.00 Discussion groups and conclusion
18.00 Dinner and prayers together

Additional day, Nov 3, possible visit to local churches

Prices

Pre-conference (Oct 31) 25 euros, the main conference (Nov 1-2) 85 euros, two together (Oct 31-Nov 2) 105 euros. The price includes coffee breaks, dinners and the conference program. The price does not include accommodation and lunches.

For faculty members and students of the Estonian Free Church Theological Seminary, there is a special price for attending the conference: €25 for November 1-2 and €30 for October 31-November 2. This includes conference participation, coffee breaks, and dinner.

Call for Papers

If you would like to present a paper (15 minutes), followed by a discussion (10-15 minutes) for the track seminar, please send the abstract (appr 300 words) to rektor@kogudused.ee before September 30th, 2024.

Possible Thematic Areas

Biblical Sources of the Priesthood of All Believers:
Scriptural exegesis and theological reflections on passages central to the priesthood of all believers. Exploring the implications of this concept in both Old and New Testament contexts.

Historical Perspectives on Free Church Ecclesiology:
Tracing the roots of the priesthood of all believers in the free church tradition. Examining key figures and movements that shaped this theological DNA.

Ecclesiological Implications and Pastoral Applications and Challenges:
Understanding the impact of the priesthood of all believers on the structure and function of the church. Exploring how congregational autonomy aligns with this theological DNA. Addressing challenges in implementing a shared priesthood within congregational settings.

Missional Paradigms:
The role of the priesthood of all believers in fostering a missional church.
Exploring ways to engage communities and cultures with this theological framework.

Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities:
Adapting the concept of the priesthood of all believers to diverse cultural contexts. Addressing the issues of inclusivity and diversity within the free church tradition and in polarized societies. Navigating the intersection of the priesthood of all believers with contemporary issues such as ecology. Examining how this theological DNA shapes responses to societal changes and challenges in dialogue with wider societies.

Theological and Ecumenical Dialogues and Education:
Participating in discussions with other theological traditions on the concept of the priesthood of all believers, and addressing common societal concerns. Exploring opportunities for ecumenical collaboration and understanding. Examining the role of education in the context of free church DNA and the priesthood of all believers.

Keynote Speakers

Stephen Holmes (UK)- "The Priesthood of All or The Ministry of Each?"

Teun van der Leer (Netherlands)- "The Christological and Pneumatological Roots of the Priesthood of all Believers applied to Ecclesiological Practices"

Oleksandr Geychenko (Ukraine)

Toivo Pilli (Estonia)

Gabriel Stephen (Norway)

Helle Liht (Estonia)- "From Garden to Glory: The Priesthood of All Believers in God's Cosmic Plan"

Dietrich Schindler (Germany/USA)

Hotel recommendations
Promo code "DNAconference" -15% (dates 28.10-05.11.2024)
Kreutzwald Hotell Tallinn (900m from conference) https://www.kreutzwaldhotel.com/en/
Centennial Hotell Tallinn (1,1km from conference) https://www.centennialhoteltallinn.com/en/
Von Stackelberg Hotell Tallinn (1,5km from conference) https://www.vonstackelberghotel.com/en/

Promo code -15% coming
L’Ermitage Hotel Tallinn (1,5km from conference) http://www.lermitagehotel.ee/
Ibis Tallinn Center (2,9km from conference) https://www.ibistallinncenter.ee/
Mövenpick Hotel Tallinn (2,5km from conference) https://movenpicktallinn.ee/

Keynote Speakers

Stephen Holmes (UK)

Stephen Holmes is a scholar with a broad range of publications in systematic, historical, practical, and philosophical theology, as well as patristics. His research primarily focuses on the history and theology of Reformed and Baptist traditions from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, with a particular interest in the doctrine of God’s triunity.

Teun van der Leer (The Netherlands)

Teun van der Leer teaches at the Baptist Seminary, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 2005. His main areas are Baptist History and Theology, Ecclesiology, Homiletics and Liturgy. He is the editor of Seeds of the Church: Towards an Ecumenical Baptist Ecclesiology (Cascade, 2022) and the author of Looking in the Other Direction. The Story of the Believers Church Conferences (Pickwick, 2023). He is on the editorial board of Inspirare, a quarterly on charismatic and evangelical theology.

Oleksandr Geychenko (Ukraine)

Oleksandr Geychenko, PhD (St Andrews, UK), rector of Odesa Theological Seminary (Odesa, Ukraine). Oleksandr also involved in editing Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology. Married with two grown up daughters.

Toivo Pilli (Estonia)

Toivo Pilli, PhD, is a pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Tartu, Estonia. He is also an internationally renowned church historian specializing in Anabaptist and Free Church history and thought.

Gabriel Stephen (Norway)

Gabriel Stephen is an Associate Professor at the Norwegian School of Theology and Leadership in Oslo. His academic interests span diverse subjects, including Baptist studies, practical theology, and the intersections of faith, politics, and society. Gabriel explores how religious beliefs influence individual and collective actions in various sociopolitical and cultural contexts.

Helle Liht (Estonia)

Helle Liht, a native of Estonia, has spent 18 years with the European Baptist Federation, equipping her for her new role as Director of Partnerships in Europe, the MENA region, and Africa with the Canadian Baptist Ministries. She is passionate about eco-theology and the transformative impact of churches on their communities and societies.

Dietrich Schindler (Germany/USA)

Dietrich Schindler is a German-American church planting leader in Germany and beyond. He is the author of the book The Jesus Model: Planting Churches the Jesus Way and Profound: Twelve Questions that Will Grab your Heart and not Let Go. Dietrich and his wife Jan have three adult children and two wonderful grandsons, Max and Sam – born to their church planting parents in Taiwan.1*

Panel Discussion Speakers

Marko Tiitus

Marko Tiitus is a theologian and clergyman, serving as the bishop of the Southern Estonia Diocese of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC) and the pastor of the Viljandi St. John's Congregation. As a member of the EELC Church Council, he oversees the areas of education and theology, as well as worship and church music. Marko Tiitus is also a lecturer in practical theology at the EELC Institute of Theology and the head of pastoral seminar.

Bishop Philippe Jourdan

Bishop Philippe Jourdan (b.1960) is the Apostolic Administrator of the Roman Catholic Church in Estonia. He has studied bridge and road engineering in Paris, and philosophy and theology at the University of the Holy Cross in Rome. He has lived in Estonia since 1996 and was ordained as a Bishop in 2005 in Tallinn, Oleviste Church. Philippe Jourdan is the Vice President of the Estonian Council of Churches. He has been awarded the White Star III class medal by the President of Estonia.

Tauri Tölpt

Tauri Tölpt is a theologian whose main field of research is Greek patristic and dogmatic theology. He is the Chair of Orthodoxy at the Institute of Theology of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and a lecturer of Orthodox dogmatics. In addition, he also gives lectures on Orthodox theology and patristics at the School of Theology and Religious Studies of the University of Tartu.