Invitation


The Calvin09 Conference 30 August - 2 September 2009 at Stellenbosch University, South Africa is hosted by the Faculty of Theology. The planning committee cordially invites you to a conference celebrating the 500-year anniversary of the birth of John Calvin in 1509, to be held 30 August – 2 September 2009 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The broad theme of the conference is “John Calvin’s relevance for today”. Speakers who have confirmed their participation include Serene Jones, Setri Nyomi, Katie Cannon, Rachel Baard, Dirkie Smit, Allan Boesak, John de Gruchy, Coenie Burger, Piet Naudé, Russel Botman, Eddy van der Borght, Martien Brinkman, Gijsbert van den Brink, Fanie du Toit, Andries Cilliers, Robert Vosloo and Ernst Conradie.

The Reformed community in South Africa has a deeply ambiguous history. During the present transformation of society, the Reformed tradition faces major opportunities and challenges, including:

  • the opportunity to embody its own unity more visibly through renewal of its own structures and order, through common worship and confession and through shared life and service, thereby overcoming destructive divisions of the past;
  • the opportunity to proclaim and practice real reconciliation, thereby dealing with alienation and pain of yesterday and distance and distrust of today
  • the opportunity to witness publicly, through words and deeds, God’s compassionate justice, both through its own discipleship and calling on state, society and public opinion

The conference seeks to address these and other challenges and opportunities.

The Calvin anniversary also coincides with the 150 year anniversary of the Theological Seminary at Stellenbosch. The Faculty of Theology at the University of Stellenbosch will host this conference as part of their celebrations.

Calvin09.org

This conference forms part of the world-wide celebrations of Calvin's 500th birth year. www.calvin09.org creates a centre around which all the planned conferences and celebrations world-wide are rallied. Please visit the site to explore all the activity surrounding the global Calvin09 initiative.