ROME SCHOLARS NETWORK J une 18 - 23 2018 | Rome, Italy www.reformandainitiative.com/rsn
[email protected]
WHY IS THE ROME SCHOLARS NETWORK IMPORTANT? Evangelicalism currently has an incoherent relationship with Roman Catholicism. Many evangelicals are uncertain about what Roman Catholics actually believe. Do they believe in the same Gospel, or something entirely different? This question is important for leaders of evangelical churches and organizations and for hundreds of millions of evangelical believers around the world. We are convinced, in line with the historic Protestant view, that Roman Catholicism is a severely flawed system in need of a radical biblical reformation in its basic theology and practice. Currently there is no strategy for evangelical leaders and scholars to study Roman Catholicism from an explicitly evangelical perspective and to equip and educate others as well.
RSN VISION
WHO CAN ATTEND?
Vision of the Rome Scholars Network:The Rome Scholars Network was designed to create a context for evangelical scholars and leaders:
The Rome Scholars Network is invitation only. The Rome Scholars Network would welcome applications from: 1. Evangelicals currently pursuing a PhD in a theological field
1. To have access to evangelical scholars who are experts on Roman Catholicism
2. Emerging evangelical leaders with at least a Master’s in a theological field
2. To study and evaluate Roman Catholic theology and practice in the heart of Roman Catholicism, Rome itself.
3. Evangelical practitioners (church leaders, missionaries, trainers, laymen, etc.) serving in a Roman Catholic context
3. To be trained and equipped to be scholars, leaders and communicators of an evangelical perspective about Roman Catholicism and the biblical Gospel of salvation through faith alone
WHAT IS THE RSN? The Rome Scholars Network (RSN) is a weeklong seminar in Rome sponsored by the Reformanda Initiative, partner of the Forum of Christian Leaders (foclonline.org). The Rome Scholars Network programme includes: 1. Text-based discussions on pre-assigned reading selections 2. Integrated lectures on Roman Catholic theology and practice, evangelical theological distinctives, historical relations between Roman Catholics and Protestants, and opportunities for dialogue, evangelism and engagement today 3. Papers, written and submitted by participants, on an evangelical perspective on Roman Catholic theology and practice that are evaluated by Rome Scholars faculty 4. Personal mentoring between each participant and a faculty member 5. Excursions and tours of the Vatican and other important historical sites in Rome 6. Church involvement alongside a local Italian congregation
2018 RSN FACULTY Leonardo De Chirico, RSN Leader Leonardo De Chirico is the pastor of Breccia di Roma, a church that he helped plant in Rome in 2009, and Vice Chairman of the Italian Evangelical Alliance. Previously, Leonardo planted and pastored an evangelical church in Ferrara, Italy, from 1997 to 2009. He earned degrees in History (University of Bologna), Theology (ETCW, Bridgend, Wales) and Bioethics (University of Padova). His PhD is from King’s College (London); it was published as Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism. In 2015, he published A Christian Pocket Guide to Papacy and in 2017, A Christians Guide to Mary: Mother of God?, through Christian Focus. He is a lecturer of Historical Theology at Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione in Padova, Italy. Additionally, Leonardo is the Director of the Reformanda Initiative / RSN
Gregg Allison, RSN Team Member Gregg Allison is professor of Christian theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Gregg received his PhD at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is secretary of the Evangelical Theological Society and a book review editor for the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. He is the author of numerous books, including Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment, Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine and Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church.
Mark Gilbert Mark Gilbert trained as a doctor before retraining as a minister, and has served in Anglican churches in Sydney since 2000. Mark has published a number of resources to help people share the good news about Jesus with people from a Roman Catholic background including The God Who Saves, The Road Once Travelled and Stepping Out in Faith.
Reid Karr, RSN Associate Director Reid Karr has been employed by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention since June of 2009. He is serving as a church planter and Field Leader for Italy. Reid is copastor of Breccia di Roma in Rome, Italy. He is working on his PhD on the theology of evangelization in contemporary Roman Catholicism (Union School of Theology). Together with other leadership in the church he shares a vision to plant churches throughout Rome. Additionally, Reid is the Associate Director for the Reformanda Initiative, which aims to equip evangelical leaders to better understand and engage with Roman Catholicism.
Rachel Ciano Rachel Ciano lectures in Church History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, Australia. She has spent time researching Church History in Italy and the UK, so Church History connected with those areas is of particular interest. She specializes in the English Reformation, particularly Thomas Cranmer. She has given Church History seminars at various churches and conferences around Australia, as well as Bible talks at Australian women’s conferences. With her husband, she has ministered in the UK at an Evangelical Anglican Church in Hove, East Sussex.
Dr. Trent Hyatt Dr. Trent Hyatt joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in 1967 and spent two years working on the campuses of Northern Illinois. He married his wife, Vivian, in 1969 and began studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in New Testament Literature and Exegesis in 1973. He and Vivian went to Europe in the fall of 1973 to be a part of a team to start the CCC ministry behind the iron curtain. From 1974 to 1991, Trent led the ministry in East Germany. He received a doctorate in systematic theology from the University of Basel in 1994. From 1995-2012 he led the Institute for Biblical & Theological Studies for E. Europe & Russia. He is now a teaching and research fellow for the institute.
Andrew Fellows Andrew Fellows was appointed pastor of a church in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1988 and served there for seven years. In 1995 his family moved to the English branch of L’Abri Fellowship, where they lived and worked for 21 years. From 2011 to 2016 Andrew was the Chairman of L’Abri international. He has recently relocated to Cambridge to take up the role of Director of Christian Heritage. He has a special interest in encouraging followers of Christ to develop the life of the mind so it includes the whole gospel to the whole world with all of its implications.
HOW DO I APPLY TO THE 2018 RSN? If you are interested in applying for the Rome Scholars Network, please fill out an application at:
www.reformandainitiative.org/rsn/apply
WHAT IS THE COST? EARLY REGISTRATION: APPLY BY FEBRUARY 1ST 2018 €150 - CONFERENCE FEE & LUNCH €450 - CONFERENCE FEE, LUNCH, ACCOMMODATIONS (YR 1) €400 - CONFERENCE FEE, LUNCH, ACCOMMODATIONS (YR 2) REGULAR REGISTRATION: APPLY BY APRIL 15TH 2018 €200 - CONFERENCE FEE & LUNCH €550 - CONFERENCE FEE, LUNCH, ACCOMMODATIONS (YR 1) €500 - CONFERENCE FEE, LUNCH, ACCOMMODATIONS (YR 2) LATE REGISTRATION: APPLY BY MAY 31ST 2018 €250 - CONFERENCE FEE & LUNCH €650 - CONFERENCE FEE, LUNCH, ACCOMMODATIONS (YR 1) €600 - CONFERENCE FEE, LUNCH, ACCOMMODATIONS (YR 2) *PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES AND DINNERS. A LIST OF RESTAURANTS WITH PRICE RANGES WILL BE PROVIDED
HEAR WHAT RSN PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING: From a recent Phd graduate in Renaissance Studies:
HEAR WHAT KEY EVANGELICAL LEADERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ROME SCHOLARS NETWORK: Stefan Gustavsson, General Secretary, Swedish Evangelical Alliance ‘Today many evangelicals have a shallow understanding of the difference between the Evangelical faith and the faith of the Roman Catholic Church. This ignorance leads easily to either prejudices about or naïve affirmation of Roman Catholic theology. What is needed instead is a thorough and knowledgeable assessment of the two systems of belief. In this area of great need the Reformanda Initiative and its Rome Scholars Network provides timely and unique resources for evangelical leaders. I recommend it with great enthusiasm!’
Wayne Grudem, Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary ‘The Reformanda Initiative is providing a much-needed, well-informed, gracious, insightful, and biblically-faithful perspective by which evangelical Protestants today can understand our Roman Catholic friends and Roman Catholicism more generally. Its leaders clearly understand not only our similarities but also the deep and important differences between evangelicals and Roman Catholics today.’
Augustus Nicodemus Lopez, Vice-President of Presbyterian Church of Brazil ‘For quite a long time evangelicals have been critical of the Roman Catholic Church here in Brazil. Sadly to say, most of the time without even knowing the reasons why....We need to know more about the Roman Catholic Church and find the best approach to our Catholic friends, especially when the Reformed faith is taking a surprising turn in Brazil and growing fast among young people. The Reformanda Initiative and the Rome Scholars Network will prove to be a powerful tool to help evangelicals to better understand and interact with Roman Catholicism.’
"The RSN was life-changing. I left more convinced in the integrity of the true Gospel. When you set the Real Thing against what is false, it dazzles with distinctiveness and beauty." From a Professor who has taught Church History about Roman Catholicism for decades: "I have studied Roman Catholicism and taught on it in my church history courses and in a course on RC history and theology, so I was very familiar with a lot. But I was not equipped to do the systemic analysis that we were taught. I did not realize that my knowledge was "atomistic." So, I feel I gained a lot that was very important for me to have as a teacher of church history and theology in Eastern Europe and Russia. Thank you!!!" From an experienced Missionary in a Roman Catholic country: I have been to many seminars, workshops and conferences through the years and none have been as important to me as this week at RSN! Eternal life and death hang in the balance! So much deception for so many centuries! It is heart breaking and I am spreading the word to those in our… organisation--already have told some top people--that this should be required for anyone thinking of serving in a Roman Catholic dominant country! I think I have driven most everyone crazy since I left Rome with my constant referral to something I learned at RSN! We are trying our hardest to make the plans to get back for Year 2 at RSN next summer! "Thank You, Jesus, for giving these men the foresight to prepare and plan and execute this RSN! Please, dear Lord, protect them and their families eachday and continue to lead them in the direction You would have them go!" Amen!""
