The first ever academic conference on Methodism hosted by Methodists of the Connexion, at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary (SMMS) on 28-29 September, agreed to establish the Methodist Theological Society of Southern Africa (MTSSA).
The aim of the society is to promote reflection on Methodist Theology by Methodist scholars, students and ordinary members of the church. The MTSSA will run from SMMS and its future conferences will also be held at the institution.
An interim steering committee, composed of seasoned and emerging Methodist theologians was elected to spearhead the society. The immediate task of the committee, headed by Prof Mokhele Madise and includes some seminarians, is to plan for the next conference and develop a constitution and guidelines for the society.
The society will consider processes of establishing an accredited peer reviewed academic journal of Methodist scholarship.
Meanwhile, the historic conference which ran under the theme One and Undivided MCSA and drew participants from all over the country, was hailed as a major success by delegates. The conference was an opportunity for a critical theological reflection on the discourse of being a “One and Undivided MCSA”. The quality of papers presented was impressive such that delegates agreed to publish them in a book ready for launch at the 2018 conference.
Participants agreed that the conference be held annually to grapple with various theological issues within the MCSA. As such, it will not only provide a space for theological engagement and reflection, but will also make theological tools and resources available to the Methodist people in Africa and beyond.
