MEMBER THEOLOGY CENTERS
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North America |
Africa & Madagascar |
North America |
Asia Pacific |
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South Asia |
North America |
Asia Pacific |
South Asia |
What is the Collaborative Theology Initiative?
The Collaborative Theology Initiative (CTI) seeks to respond to Pope Francis’ call for a theology that is synodal, contextual, global, transdisciplinary, intercultural, interreligious, and responsive to the needs of the Church and the world. Through academic and administrative collaboration, CTI strives to form and sustain new working relationships among Jesuit theology centers around the world, and to better prepare students to contribute to theology as a work of the Society of Jesus, ministering to the universal Church of the 21st century. This collaboration is a testimony to the possibility of reconciliation in a fractured world.
CTI's current network is composed of eight English-speaking Jesuit theology centers spread across the globe from Africa and Madagascar, Asia Pacific, North America, and South Asia. CTI is committed to help its members:
- better understand the global Church and the universal character of the Society of Jesus;
- better share resources across regions in a spirit of solidarity;
- offer invaluable formation experiences for faculty, administrators and students, deepening their intellectual and spiritual lives and helping them understand the mission of the Jesuits today;
- engage in more intentional and mutual collaborations to express a more authentic solidarity and mutuality among Jesuits and partners;
- identify issues, opportunities and challenges of common interest and concern across regions and explore options and solutions through collaborative/joint research, scholarship and publication.
Through our shared mission of reimagining theology to better serve the Church and minister to today's world, we strive to work together faithfully and creatively to develop thoughtful intercultural learning experiences, important resource-sharing opportunities, and collective spiritual engagement across our geographical distances. Projects that are in development include student and faculty exchanges, joint course offerings and immersion programs, faculty development activities, and institutional partnerships for global access to digital theological library collections and databases.
“The CTI is a bold and necessary endeavour to equip theologians and ministers from around the world to serve and lead the Church of the future.”
Joint Academic Programs
Opportunities for intellectual and spiritual exchange and learning are a fundamental part of CTI's goals. In 2024, CTI members JST-SCU and Hekima University College coordinated a student exchange that allowed two students from each institution an opportunity to live, study, and engage in pastoral ministry in their host country for one semester.
Joint Symposia and Conference Events
CTI seeks to create spaces for active intercultural dialogue and research collaboration. During the pandemic, CTI (then known as the Global Theology Initiative or GTI) began this effort by hosting an online international graduate seminar. Recordings of the proceedings are available and were prepared by CTI member BC Clough School of Theology and Ministry.
Online and Digital Resource Sharing
Facilitating accessible online and digital resources for all CTI members is a top priority. A project that is currently in development is an online database of faculty CVs from CTI theology centers that will serve as a resource to theology graduate students in need of identifying possible thesis/dissertation advisors and readers. More information coming soon!
CTI Governance
CTI's ongoing progress is due to the tremendous work of the network's governance entities, which include the Coordinating and Operations Committees, comprised of representatives of all CTI member theology centers and the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, as well as key working groups tasked with formulating proposals for new programs, projects, and opportunities.
"Through our collaboration, we are creating a dynamic initiative to reimagine theological education in the 21st century."
Have questions?
Please contact Milady Casco, CTI Program Manager, mcasco@scu.edu.