Shanta Premawardhana

Nigerian Christians and Boko Haram

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Global, Uncategorized
February 12, 2012

Christians in Nigeria are facing severe violence. SCUPE alum and former member of Ellis Avenue Church, Dr. Obed Dashan is in the front-lines of that struggle. The former principal of Gindiri School of Theology in Plateau State, Nigeria, he and his wife Phena did their M.Div.s at the Associated Mennonite...
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Learning from Jane Addams and the Closing of Chicago’s Hull House

by Shanta Premawardhana
1
| Community Development, Non-Profit
February 6, 2012

It was with great sorrow and dismay that we watched the iconic Chicago institution, the Jane Addams Hull House Association close its doors last week. An organization that throughout its 122 year history served Chicago’s immigrant and poor communities was offering a variety of services to over 60,000 Chicago residents...
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Interfaith Relations and Dialogue a Core Competency — SCUPE Board of Directors Accepts Business Plan

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Uncategorized
February 4, 2012

To its core competencies developed over its 35 year history — urban contextual theological education and culturally rooted (specifically African-American and Latino/a) theological education — SCUPE will add Interfaith Relations and Dialogue. SCUPE’s work in this area will be spearheaded by its president, Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, whose expertise...
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with the Focolare Community

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Ecclesiology, Ecuminism
January 24, 2012

On Saturday, January 21st, I spoke at the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity event organized by the Focolare community in Chicago. The Focolare movement which began as a lay Catholic intentional community has spread throughout the world celebrated 50 years in the United States last year. I have been...
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“God of Israel” in Ecumenical Contexts

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Ecuminism, Uncategorized
January 18, 2012

“If we don’t address the religious justifications for occupation and violence, and help change that narrative, it is hard to imagine that any political settlement will be possible, and even if it happens that it will hold,” I said in a speech to a group of about 100 German pastors...
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Christian self-understanding in the context of Buddhism — Current Dialogue

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Ecuminism
January 14, 2012

The latest issue of the World Council of Churches’ journal on interreligious dialogue and cooperation Current Dialogue was issued last week. In this issue are the papers presented by Christian theologians who are also scholars of Buddhism. I organized this conference on Christian self understanding in the context of Buddhism...
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Open House for CAATS and NtC

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Presidents Blog
December 3, 2011

The Center for African American Theological Studies and Nurturing the Call are having an Open House for individuals interested in the programs. Come and learn and share some food and fellowship. Wednesday, Dec. 7 , 2011 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. At SCUPE Office, 200 N. Michigan Ave., Suite ...
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ALTE honors their 1st graduating class

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Advanced Latin@ Theological Education, Education, Presidents Blog
November 27, 2011

You are cordially invited to a celebration service and reception honoring the first graduating class of students completing the ALTE Certificate Program in Latino/a Ministries. ALTE, Advanced Latino/a Theological Education program, provides Latino/a church leaders, who possess varying levels of education, access to graduate theological education. SCUPE partners with Instituto...
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Sermon from the Thanksgiving Service at Rockefeller Chapel

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Presidents Blog
November 25, 2011

I had the privilege of preaching the sermon at the Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council‘s Annual Thanksgiving Service at the Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. This is the centenary year of the Interfaith Council.The Chicago Children’s Choir sang and Oba King, storyteller and drummer performed. The service...
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Bishop Duleep de Chickera — Peacemaking in a Culture of Violence: Lessons from Sri Lanka

by Shanta Premawardhana
Comment
| Presidents Blog
November 14, 2011

Last Saturday SCUPE continued its focus on the theme it had started to work on at the Congress on Urban Ministry last March, “Peacemaking in a Culture of violence.” The visit of Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera, recently retired Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka provided a great opportunity for...
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