Theological Study Conferences

The conferences have been held, usually bi-annually, since the 1970s. The conference has a number of purposes:

(a) to seek to bring about greater understanding of those issues over which evangelicals are divided;
(b) to consider areas of theology which are of special concern in the contemporary world;
(c) to encourage greater theological reflection within the churches.

The conference is attended by delegates from constituent member churches of Affinity, as well as by non-delegates who can subscribe to Affinity’s statement of faith and who are in sympathy with Affinity’s aims. In recent years the conference has addressed the following issues: the ministry of women; hermeneutics; the image of God; worship. Further back the conference has considered charismatic gifts, preaching the gospel, the gospel and social issues, and the place of the Law.

While the papers have usually been of a very high standard indeed, the conference is not academic, in the narrow sense of the word. The focus and emphasis is upon the church, not the academy. Most though not all the delegates and members are pastors or full time church workers. There is an inevitable range of theological awareness and understanding amongst the conference members, but most are serious in their desire to be ‘stretched’in order to be the better equipped to apply the Faith to the contemporary church and to present the gospel in today’s world.

Format of the conference

There are six papers prepared by six different speakers on different themes all relevant to the conference theme. Papers are circulated to conference members about two to three months in advance of the conference. Each contributor then introduces his paper for about 20 minutes (sometimes this goes to half an hour). This introduction is intended to highlight key areas in the paper and matters which are particularly profitable for discussion. After this introduction, there is opportunity to put questions for clarification. Thereafter the remainder of the session is devoted to discussion of the paper, usually rounding off with an opportunity being given to the speaker to have a last word, followed by a brief summing up by the chairman. The majority of the time, therefore, is devoted to discussion. The final speaker tries to draw some of the threads of the conference together in his introduction. There is, therefore, usually a longer introduction to this paper. The chairman then gives a final summing up.

Some information about previous Theological Study Conferences:

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