Dr. Yenson represents King's and Canada at International Theology Congress in Rome

On December 9, 2024, Dr. Mark Yenson, Interim Vice President and Academic Dean, addressed the plenary session of the International Congress on the Future of Theology, organized by the Vatican office for culture and education and held at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. The event brought together 450 theologians from around the globe to explore the evolving role of theology within society, the Church, and the world.

The Congress, titled “The Future of Theology: Legacy and Envisioning,” explored themes such as the geographical and cultural diversity of theology, the integration of interdisciplinary perspectives, and theology’s critical role within society.

One of three North American presenters, Dr. Yenson was invited to offer his insights as part of the third session: Theology Within and for Society, the Church and the World – Part I. He represented North and Central America and joined esteemed theologians from Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, South America, and Eastern Churches in offering diverse perspectives on global theological challenges.

In his presentation, Dr. Yenson emphasized the importance of interreligious understanding, dialogue, and reconciliation, particularly within the Canadian context. He highlighted the the Church’s responsibility in addressing the legacy of colonization and working for truth and reconciliation.

Dr. Yenson also critiqued exclusionary definitions of “religion,” advocating for a more inclusive approach. “Deconstructing ‘religion’ is part of what we do in Religious Studies at King’s, in order to recognize the diversity and complexity of religious traditions,” he explained. Quoting South African theologian John de Gruchy, he underscored that “reconciliation is a human and social process that requires theological explanation, and a theological concept seeking human and social embodiment.”

This theme of reconciliation resonated deeply with participants, particularly those from Europe, who expressed a lack of familiarity with the Canadian Church’s historical involvement in colonization. Conversations on reconciliation extended beyond the presentations, fostering greater awareness and understanding.

While he considers it a great privilege to be invited to speak at the Congress, Dr. Yenson found that the more significant impact came from forming meaningful connections with theologians from around the world. For Dr. Yenson, the experience was both a professional milestone and a profound engagement with the global theological community. In addition to the presentations, the Congress offered small-group listening sessions, mirroring the “synodal” process of inclusive listening that Pope Francis has promoted for the Catholic Church.

“The presentations and these sessions were an experience of the diversity of global Catholicism. We learned about the vibrancy of spiritualities in Africa, and the challenges of minority religious communities in parts of Asia,” says Dr. Yenson.

Dr. Yenson had the opportunity to tell people about King’s. “I was proud to tell people about King’s, and the ways we promote liberal arts education and the dialogue of faith and culture,” he says.

But Dr. Yenson was not the only person to address the Congress. The Congress, hosted by an office of the Vatican, began with an audience in the Vatican Apostolic with Pope Francis Palace, who spoke on the need to make theology accessible to all.

“Please, if any of these people knock at the door of theology, of the schools of theology, may they find it open. Make sure that these women and men find in theology an open house, a place where they can resume their journey, a place where they can seek, find and seek again,” Pope Francis said, adding “An all-male theology is an incomplete theology. We still have a long way to go in this direction.”

Dr. Yenson had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis at the start of the Congress, something he has called “a career highlight.”

“It was a special privilege to greet Pope Francis individually. It was also a very human moment of encounter, with someone carrying an enormous responsibility on a global level but with simplicity and vulnerability,” he says.