"Public Theology in a Time of War" with Dion A. Forster
November 6, 2026
The Eastern European Institute of Theology is launching a new series of seminars titled “Methodology of Public Theology in Times of War,” aimed at developing a methodological framework for scholarly research that integrates theological reflection, ethical responsibility, and attentiveness to the lived experiences of beings affected by war.
In other words, the seminars will explore how to conduct theological research from within the reality of war, while avoiding the pitfalls of propaganda and apologetics and remaining accountable to the church, the academic community, and society at large.
The first seminar in the series will examine the disciplinary boundaries of public theology within contemporary theological discourse. It will also explore how public theology differs from political theology and whether the two disciplines can be distinguished on fundamental grounds.
The seminar's title is “Public Theology in a Time of War: Christian Witness in the Search for Justice and Peace”:
Public theology reflects theologically on matters of public concern, bringing the resources of Christian faith into critical conversation with the realities of our shared world. It seeks to discern what is true and just, in order to guide the witness of Christians and the Church in complex and contested contexts. In doing so, public theology asks how Christian faith can contribute responsibly to shaping a more just and peaceful society.
The first seminar will feature Dion A. Forster, a prominent theologian whose work has contributed significantly to the development of public theology as a distinct academic discipline.
Dion A. Forster
Professor of Public Theology and Ethics in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and an Extraordinary Professor in Systematic Theology in the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University. A renowned theologian and church minister, he is also the director of the Beyers Naudé Center for Public Theology and a research fellow at Wesley House in Cambridge. He holds a PhD in Systematic Theology (2006) and a PhD in New Testament studies (2017). His research is mainly focused on the interface of faith and public life (public theology), as well as themes in New Testament studies and Wesleyan and Methodist theologies. He is the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the International Journal for Public Theology (Brill), and is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network and the G20 interfaith anti-racism policy task team.
The seminar will take place on November 6 at 6:00 pm Kyiv time (Zoom).
To participate in the seminar, please fill out the registration form. Immediately after registering, all participants will receive an automatic confirmation email with a link and instructions to join the event online via Zoom.
In the registration confirmation email, you will also find a link to the recommended reading for the seminar.
Ukrainian translation will be provided.
