Commission for Theological Education in the Anglican Communion (CTEAC)

CTEAC Resources Bulletin

April 2025

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of the CTEAC Resources Bulletin, your source for updates, initiatives, and resources from the Commission for Theological Education in the Anglican Communion (CTEAC).

In this bulletin read about:

• The appointment of the new Chair of CTEAC - Bishop Victor Atta-Bafoe.
• The Asia Seminary Deans Network, hosted at Hoani Tapu, St John’s Theological College in Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand.
• The Asia Theological Accompaniment Programme meeting at St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Manila, Philippines.
• A visit by The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Anthony Poggo, to Moore College in Sydney.

Welcome to CTEAC’s new chair, 
Bishop Victor Atta-Baffoe

The Right Revd Dr Victor Atta-Baffoe, Bishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, in the Church of the Province of West Africa, was been welcomed as chair at the most recent meeting of CTEAC. 

Bishop Victor expressed his deep sense of responsibility for chairing CTEAC:
 

“Theological education plays a vital role in connecting Anglicans, acting as a bridge across differences and helping to shape how churches think and pray. The future holds immense opportunities to strengthen theological education and equip the next generation of clergy and lay leaders with wisdom, faithfulness and courage. In the words of St Anselm, it should be all about ‘faith seeking understanding’ within the mission of God.”

Indigenising Theological Education

The recent Asia Seminary Deans Network meeting at Hoani Tapu (St John’s Theological College in Aotearoa, New Zealand) gave an opportunity to grow awareness for the limiting ways that colonial mindsets can still impact theologians. The importance of recognition and proactive repairing of indigenous knowledge was discussed as well as successful initiatives in indigenising education programmes and decolonising educational structures. 
 

Participants at the Anglican Seminarian Deans Meeting In Auckland
 

Dr Gloria Mapangdol reminded those present that true decolonisation requires institutional transformation at all levels and a constant self-reflection and commitment to unlearning.

Participants were very thankful for the opportunity to meet in person and are committed to meeting quarterly (online) and again in person in 2027. There will be a seminar on reading the Bible in context in Hong Kong in June 2025.

Exploring the Five Marks of Mission

Funded by USPG, the Asian Theological Accompaniment Programme (ATAP) provides vital support for theological education across Asia. Its third in-person gathering took place at St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Quezon City, Philippines.

Participants included principals, tutors, and church leaders, with most attendees coming from South Asia (Church of North India, Church of South India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Others joined from Myanmar, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong (online).

The theme of the gathering was “Decolonial Discipleship: Exploring the Five Marks of Mission.” Participants shared how each of the Marks of Mission is being expressed in their local contexts. These reports revealed a wide range of initiatives, including interfaith dialogue, outreach to the homeless, educational work in schools, and ecological projects.

Some churches have adapted the Marks to reflect their unique contexts. For example, the Episcopal Church in the Philippines has added gender justice and nationalism (understood as love of country) to Mark 4. Meanwhile, the Church of Ceylon has introduced a Sixth Mark of Mission: “Transcend – To engage with people of diverse faiths and ideologies and to discern God’s presence among them.” These adaptations help make the Marks more contextually meaningful and actionable.

Most reports focused on Marks 3, 4, and 5, with less emphasis on Marks 1 and 2. This balance may shift in the coming year, as the next meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, scheduled for June in Belfast, Northern Ireland, will focus on Marks 1 and 2. The Council will also consider launching a new Decade of Discipleship with Church Planting across the Anglican Communion.

Special thanks go to USPG for its ongoing commitment to theological education across Asia and beyond. Resources from this conference on the Five Marks of Mission will be published by USPG in due course.

Moore College, Sydney

Moore College in Newtown, Sydney, is a leading theological institution in the Oceania region. In March, Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, visited the college as part of a wider tour of the Anglican Church of Australia. He was warmly welcomed by Principal Dr Mark Thompson and Vice Principal Dr Simon Gillham.

Founded in 1856, Moore College currently has 280 students, with 50% living on campus. Around 20% of students come from Southeast Asia, the UK, and New Zealand, reflecting its international reach. The college shares its teaching resources with approximately 40 other theological institutions worldwide, translated into 21 languages.
 

Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, examines a 1549 edition of the Book of Common Prayer.

The college is also home to the largest theological library in the southern hemisphere, holding 330,000 items—100,000 of which are available on shelves, with the remainder in storage. Among its most treasured holdings is a 1549 edition of the Book of Common Prayer.

During the visit, Bishop Anthony and college leaders discussed the current state of the Anglican Communion. He emphasised that, despite existing theological differences, there remains far more that unites us than divides us. Rather than seeking separation, he stressed the importance of challenging one another and working through differences, a process that theological colleges are uniquely positioned to support. He also referenced the newly published Nairobi-Cairo proposals as offering a constructive path forward. These proposals will be reviewed at an upcoming meeting of CTEAC (The Commission for Theological Education in the Anglican Communion).

CTEAC Resources Bulletin  

Thank you for reading this edition of CTEAC Resources Bulletin. 

Back issues available at on the Anglican Communion website.

Contact the CTEAC Staff Team

Stephen Spencer, Director of Theology and Implementation, based at the Anglican Communion Office in London
stephen.spencer@anglicancommunion.org

Rachel Parry, Commissions and Networks Support Officer, based at the Anglican Communion Office in London

rachel.parry@anglicancommunion.org