Caribbean theology conference contemplates role of faith communities

The Conference on Theology in the Caribbean Today (CTCT) is calling on Caribbean thinkers, activists, artists, laity, pastoral workers, academics, clergy and theologians to submit abstracts on the theme Prophetic Responses to Contemporary Challenges for its 23rd Biennial Conference.

The Conference is set to take place July 7-11, in Barbados, marking its 32nd year. This event will also collaborate with the Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown and the Anglican Dioceses of Barbados, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands in their 200th anniversary celebrations.

The 2025 conference will explore the essential role faith communities play in responding to the significant issues facing the Caribbean today. Participants will be invited to reflect, prepare and present on how churches and persons of faith can respond to challenges like violence, mental health, trauma, vulnerabilities of the youth, persons with disabilities, women, the aged, sustainability, justice and more.

Submissions of no more than 200 words are to be submitted to the CTCT Secretariat via email: ctctcfp@gmail.com Feedback will be provided by April 25. Interdisciplinary contributions are also welcome.

Inspired by the understanding of prophetic witness in the Gospel, particularly Luke 4:18-19, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”, participants are asked to consider the call to prophetic witness–that is, to be a sign of God’s presence.

CTCT encourages participants to engage in various forms of prophetic witness, including:

• Dreams and vision: Re-imagining a better future for Caribbean churches and societies
• Oracles of judgement: Holding authorities accountable and offering social/anthropological/cultural/philosophical analysis of complex, systemic issues
• Oracles against the nations: Addressing contemporary forms of imperialism/colonialism from outside and within.
• Prophetic symbolism: Exploring music, dance, drama, art, poetry, digital/graphic art as expressions of prophetic witness.

Conference contribution is US$50 or TT$350 for non-members and US$40 or TT$280 for paid-up members. Active members over 75 years of age and students with ID are exempt from paying fees.

For more information, contact ctctcfp@gmail.com, or visit Facebook @ctct1994 and YouTube: CTCT YouTube.