Calvin Conference Stellenbosch, South Africa 30 August – 2 Sept 2009 /
Invitation
You are invited 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?”
International speakers such as Serene Jones (president of Union Theological Seminary in New York and author of the book Calvin and the rhetoric of piety), Setri Nyomi (Secretary general of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches), Katie Cannon (Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia), Gijsbert van den Brink, Martien Brinkman en Eddie van den Borght (Free University, Amsterdam) have already confirmed their participation. South African theologians such as John de Gruchy, Dirkie Smit, Tinyiko Maluleke, Denise Ackermann, Russel Botman, Piet Naudé, Allan Boesak, Coenie Burger, Ernst Conradie, Andries Cilliers and Robert Vosloo will also contribute to the program.
For more information about the preliminary program, registration forms (in English and Afrikaans), accommodation etc, see
The registration fee is R400 (including reception, three lunch meals, tea and coffee) and R500 for international visitors (due to banking fees). You can also register for separate days: Monday: R120 (including lunch); Tuesday: R200 (including lunch and reception); Wednesday: R120 (including lunch at book launch). For spouses: R150 extra (include reception).
Registration closes on 31July 2009.
Please note that the completed forms together with proof of payment (for payment see registration form) can be emailed to or faxed to +27 21 8083251 or mailed to Faculty of Theology, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
For further inquiries, contact Helette van der Westhuizen () or Robert Vosloo ().
Accommodation
For accommodation within walking distance of the Seminary: see
150 Years of Theology at Stellenbosch
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.
Theology and future
The Calvin conference will be followed by a conference on the theme “Theology and future” (3-4 September 2009), also held at the Theological Faculty as part of the festivity year. At this conference scholars receiving honorary degrees from StellenboschUniversity will speak on themes such as “Theology and Bible” (Bernard Lategan), “Theology and Spirituality”(Denise Ackermann), “Theology in Africa” (Mercy Oduyoye), “Theology and science” (Wentzel van Huyssteen) and “Theology in Society” (John de Gruchy).
Preliminary program: The Relevance of Calvin for Today?
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.
Sunday 30 August 2009
Registration: 17h00 - 18h30 (in the foyer, Theological Faculty).
18h30-18h50: Musical performance in the Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch (across the road from the Faculty).The ensemble “Collage” (Marianne Serfontein, Marietjie Pauw, Marelise Fourie, and Benjamin van Eeden) will perform a work by die Cape Town composer Hendrik Hofmeyr based on Psalm 42 Ainsi qu'on oit le cerf bruire (As a deer longs …)
Sunday evening at 19h00: Worship service in the Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch (Moederkerk) (English). The preacher will be Prof Piet Naudé (South African Reformed theologian from the NelsonMandelaMetropolitanUniversity in Port Elizabeth).
Monday 31 August 2009
Morning: Calvin and his reception in South Africa
Speakers:
- Prof Dirkie Smit (University of Stellenbosch)
- Dr Robert Vosloo (University of Stellenbosch)
Lunch: During lunchtime on Monday and Tuesday there will be short speeches engaging public life. On Monday the speaker will be Prof Russel Botman (rector of StellenboschUniversity).
Afternoon:Calvin, Barth, and Christian Humanism
Speaker: Prof John de Gruchy
Responses by Prof. Denise Ackermann, Prof. Piet Naudé and Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke
Evening:
Public lecture: Dr Allan Boesak (“Political sea-changes in South Africa and the relevance of the Calvinist tradition”)
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Morning: Theological and Ethical Perspectives in light of Calvin and his legacy
Speakers for the morning include:
- Prof Katie Cannon, Union-PSCE, Richmond, Virginia: “Redemptive Ethics: More than the Removal of Sin”
- “Calvin, Creation and Redemption” (Prof Ernst Conradie, University of Western Cape)
Lunch: The lunch time speaker will be Dr Fanie du Toit (Director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation).
Afternoon:
Parallel sessions:
“Calvin on ministry and the offices” (Prof Eddy van den Borght, Free University, Amsterdam);
“The impact of Calvinism on the European Mind” (Prof Gijsbert van den Brink, Free University/ University of Leiden)
Plenary session: Calvin on the Eucharist and the unity of the church
Speakers:
- Prof Martien Brinkman, Free University, Amsterdam
- Dr Coenie Burger, Communitas, Stellenbosch
Reception:
Guest speaker: Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Morning: Calvin and compassionate justice
Speakers:
- Prof Serene Jones (Union Theological Seminary, New York)
- Dr Setri Nyomi (General Secretary: World Alliance of Reformed Churches): Covenanting for justice – Where would Calvin stand?
Lunch: During lunchtime there will be a book launch of John de Gruchy’s book John Calvin: Christian Humanist and Evangelical Reformer
Afternoon:
Although the official program draws to a close at lunch, there also will be two parallel afternoon sessions.
-Doctoral students will present papers on the life, theology and legacy of Calvin.
-A session on “Calvin and ministry” will be aimed specifically at pastors (moderated by Dr Coenie Burger, Dr Andries Cilliers and Dr Robert Vosloo).