The biennial congress of the European Adventist Society of Theology and Religious Studies (EASTRS) took place from March 19-23, 2025.
This year's event was hosted by the Sagunto Adventist College in Valencia, Spain, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. The theme of the conference was "Rethinking the Church in the Digital Age: Theological, Missiological, and Pedagogical Reflections."
Keynote speakers at this year's conference were: Elias Brasil de Souza, Ph.D., director of the Biblical Research Institute at the General Conference; Tihomir Lazic, Ph.D., lecturer in theology at Newbold College; Ken Shaw, Ph.D., president of Southern Adventist University (Tennessee, USA); Martin Klingbeil, D.Litt., professor of Old Testament at Friedensau Adventist University (ThHF); and Dr. László Szabó, Ph.D., director of the Arthur Daniells Institute for Missiology (ADIMIS) and lecturer in Missiology and Intercultural Studies at Friedensau Adventist University. Friedensau lecturers, Prof. Dr. Igor Lorencin, Ph.D., and Dr. phil.[BA1] Bojan Godina represented their colleagues by leading workshops.
As digital and technological developments continue to transform our world, the church faces both challenges and opportunities in managing this change. In their conference presentations, the speakers addressed theological, missiological, and pedagogical perspectives. They critically examined the impact of digital technology on church identity, community dynamics, mission strategies, and educational practices. The question to be answered was how the church can thrive in a digital age while remaining rooted in its core beliefs and values.
At the end of the conference, Dr. László Szabó, Ph.D., took over as president of EASTRS for the next two years. He took over the baton from Tihomir Lazic. Prof. Stefan Höschele, Ph.D., of the ThHF, will continue as secretary, a position he has held since 2017.
The Rector of Friedensau University, Prof. Dr. Roland Fischer, stated: "The large turnout of approximately 80 participants from both divisions, the Inter-European Division (EUD) and the Trans-European Division (TED), was impressive. A big thank you for the overwhelming hospitality of our colleagues from Sagunto."
Among the distinguished guests who were in charge of the devotionals and the Sabbath worship: Daniel Duda, president of the Trans-European Division (TED); Barna Magyarosi, executive secretary of the Inter-European Division (EUD); and Marius Munteanu, director of the Education Department of the Inter-European Division.
The next ETTC conference will take place in 2027, in Maruševec, Croatia.
To read the original article, please go here.
[BA1]È il suo nome oppure il titolo?
