This workshop explores the link between early and medieval ascetic practices/theology and contemporary spiritual formation and its potential in ethical AI design. The aim is to inspire theologians and faculty to collaborate in current and future ethical AI designs based on Christian values. The workshop will balance theological insights, ascetic and spiritual formation examples, introduction to ethical AI design and interactive discussion.

Presenter – Dr. Kelvin Chong

Dr. Kelvin Chong has years of experience in the IT industry. He once represented Malaysia in the prestigious Asia Pacific ICT Award (Healthcare category).  Twenty years ago, he migrated to Australia with his family and led a sizable Hewlett-Packard print solution project (Covering Queensland, NSW and Victoria). In 2014, they moved to Hong Kong and Kelvin obtained his PhD in Religious Study from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, focusing on AI Ethics, transhumanism and Greek patristric. He is now an assistant Professor of SBC in systematic theology while being active as a member/co-investigator of multiple AI projects in the world (Oxford’s OCTAI, The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong’s Socratic Playground project, etc.)

Globalization isn’t just happening “out there” — it’s reshaping cultures, churches, and Christian witness everywhere. Drawing from the groundbreaking new book Emplacing Globalisation (2025) by Drs. Jonathan Ro and John Cheong, this workshop equips pastors, theologians, missionaries, and educators to see globalization as a crucial part of spiritual formation and theological training.

Today, many leaders lament biblical illiteracy in the church. But few recognize an equally urgent gap: global cultural illiteracy — leaving the church irrelevant to a fast-changing world. As one seminary president recently said, “Pop culture is drawing young people away from the church.” Another called for seminaries to “stay informed about social trends” and “bridge the gap between theology, church, and society.”

This workshop will dive into key globalization dynamics and emerging cultural trends — from K-Pop to Coldplay to Colorism— showing how they impact faith and identity. Participants will be challenged to rethink curriculum design, student assessments, and spiritual formation practices through a global lens.

Join us to discover how integrating global culture can deepen discipleship, energize theological education, and better prepare the next generation for faithful, relevant witness.

Presenter – Dr. Jonathan Ro

Dr. Jonathan Ro is an American-born Chinese/Korean who grew up as a missionary kid in Singapore and Taiwan. He holds a B.A. from Wheaton College and an M.Div. and Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Trinity International University.

Dr. Ro pastored Chinese-American, Anglo-American, and Korean-American churches in the Chicago area for 17 years and served as Associate Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at GETS Theological Seminary in Los Angeles. He has taught intercultural studies and practical theology to Chinese communities across Asia, Europe, South Africa, and the United States.

He currently serves as Accreditation Secretary for the Asia Theological Association (ATA), overseeing the evaluation and accreditation of theological institutions throughout Asia. He and his wife, Faith, have three grown children.

This workshop explores how seminaries can play a strategic and holistic role in equipping Christians for workplace mission. Drawing from STTB’s integrated workplace ministry initiatives—including formal programs, non-formal formation, research, public events, and collaborative networks—participants will engage with concrete, contextual models of sustained formation. Additional stories from other seminaries will enrich the conversation with diverse perspectives. Participants will be invited to reflect on and share their own seminary experiences, fostering mutual learning and practical insight for their own institutional contexts.

Presenter – Dr. Sutrisna Harjanto

Sutrisna Harjanto serves as Principal of Bandung Theological Seminary, Indonesia. He founded the MMin Marketplace program (2018) and co-developed the Vocatio Marketplace Fellows initiative (2021) at the seminary to foster theological formation and vocational integration among Christian professionals. He previously served over two decades with Perkantas (IFES Indonesia). He holds a PhD in Educational Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where his dissertation on vocational stewardship was published by Langham Literature.

Global research has confirmed that more than 90% of all pastors do not have a formal qualification. The speed at which churches are being planted  and the projected need for 9.7 million pastors by 2050, creates an urgent need for the non-formal sector to train pastors to a standard that is globally accepted. The comptency based programme provided by Re-Forma, which is underwritten by the World Evangelical Alliance, provides that solution. This workshop will unpack this programme in detail.

Presenter – Dr. Reuben Van Rensburg

Reuben holds a D.Th. from UNIZUL. Before serving as the Principal of the South African Theological Seminary (SATS), he served in various capacities in education and was eventually part of a team which was responsible for policy development (Religious Education) at a national level. After he retired in 2018, he was appointed as Project Director of Re-Forma.

He has spoken at several national and international conferences. He is passionately concerned about the lack of a Biblical worldview amongst Christians and about ministry to, with and by children. He is married to Bev and has three grown children and 4 grandchildren.

Feel before you lead.
In this 90-minute drama-based experience, you will step into others’ shoes. You will grow empathy, the #1 leadership skill.

 Why drama?
Because it doesn’t just teach; you experience it.
Drama helps you connect, reflect, and build real emotional intelligence in a safe, creative way. No acting skills needed. Just bring a willing heart and a desire to lead like Jesus, our model for leadership.

Presenter –  Christobelle Joseph Gnanakan

Christobelle Joseph Gnanakan is a mother, wife, daughter, writer and an intuitive teacher who introspects a lot. She is a journalist by qualification, and a teacher by choice. Christobelle has over 28 years of experience as a journalist with India’s top media houses like Times of India, Zee Network, and Indian Express Group. She has written on diverse topics such as lifestyle, food, human interest, health, architecture, business, women’s issues, and parenting.

Christobelle, a journalism graduate, studied Human Resource Management at Christ University, Bangalore, and is currently concluding a Masters in Education at Birmingham City University, United Kingdom.

Christobelle serves at ACTS Academy of Higher Education as the Assistant Director and heads the Life Skills Department, a critical component of the holistic, integrated education curriculum. She enjoys trying out new learning strategies to help students grasp life skills and bring lessons to life through participative learning.

In doctoral level education, the formation of students has many different aspects. With increased opportunity for study and knowledge acquisition comes new opportunities and new temptations.

Presenters:

Dr. Kevin E. Lawson, Global Affiliate Professor of Educational Studies, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.

Dr. Sooi Ling Tan, Dean of the Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) Alliance.

Drs. Lawson and Tan serve as co-leaders of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE) Doctoral Education Impact Team.

“Teaching is an art” says Eisner (1994, The Educational Imagination).

How are we catching up?  The challenge of teaching in an online or hybrid modality has now posed so many challenges in pedagogical approaches to holistic formation.   But the work of art continues for all of us teachers.

How do we design engaged pedagogies and promote transformation in learning spaces where our students are more “at home”?  Aside from this, the ministry contexts and vocational opportunities of our students are also changing. What competencies in teaching do we need to develop and strengthen?

This workshop is aimed at bringing creativity, authenticity and holistic formation in teaching in online and/or hybrid modalities.

Presenter – Dr. Joanna Feliciano-Soberano

Joanna is serving as the Educational Consultant for Southeast and East Asia of Mesa Global. She was an Associate Professor and former Academic Dean at the Asian Theological Seminary, Philippines. She earned her ThM degree in Spirituality from Regent College in Vancouver, BC, and a PhD in Educational Studies from Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL.  Joanna has been a GATE Associate (Global Associates for Transformational Education) since 2012. Her ministry involvement with ATS and with GATE has provided her with opportunities for growth in leadership and in teaching. These learning experiences have also strengthened her resolve to be a high- impact teacher.

This workshop explores the perceptions, experiences, and expressions of spiritual formation in graduate Asian theological students at Regent College, Vancouver, BC. How might these experiences of deepening and expanding Christ-likeness enter into and reflect Christ’s presence in the tumult of the world today? This question will be considered together in a creative, conversational, and liturgical experience.

Presenter – Dr. Diane Stinton

Diane Stinton is Associate Professor of World Christianity and Dean of Students at Regent College, Vancouver, Canada. She completed her undergraduate degrees (BA, BEd) at the University of Calgary, her master’s degrees at Regent College (MTS 1987, ThM 1994), and her PhD at the University of Edinburgh (2001). A Canadian, Diane has been involved in theological education in Kenya since 1988, first at Daystar University and later at the Africa International University. In 2011, Diane relocated to Vancouver, though before Covid-19, she returned annually to Kenya to teach in African theology and ministry. She is the author of Jesus of Africa: Voices of Contemporary Christology (Orbis Books; Paulines Publications, 2004) and various articles on African Christianity, and the editor of African Theology on the Way: Current Conversations (SPCK, 2010). Currently, she is especially interested in majority world expressions of Christian spirituality and how these enhance our understanding and experience of the Triune God and the global Body of Christ.

Many institutions are responding to often-heard critique of lack of connection with the church. In this workshop, we want to explore how institutions are designing programmes that integrate church into their training.

We’ll look at possibilities for partnership between training institutions and local churches

These include:

– newly-envisioned and longer church internships with specific aims and outcomes

– training church leaders as equippers and mentors

– integrated learning pathways that can connect local church and seminary

Come and learn and come and share!

Presenter – Dr. Graham Aylett

Graham Aylett is the General Secretary of the Increase Association . He studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, specialising inBotany, and earned his PhD for research in high altitude rain forests in Jamaica. He then trained as an Anglican minister and met his wife, Nicola, at theological  college in Durham. They served with churches in three very different parts of England, before doing further studies at All Nations Christian College. In 1998 they moved to Mongolia, with their two small children, as Mission Partners with Interserve. Graham served with the Mongolian national TEE programme for fourteen years. He is Vice-Chair of the Trustees of SEAN International, and a member of the Asia Theological Association’s Commission on Accreditation and Educational Development. His publications include parts of TEE in Asia and other writings on TEE, specialising in interactive ways to equip leaders of local TEE groups.

An integral part of the mission of Christian seminaries around the world is to disciple and holistically prepare current and future Christian leaders to serve in a variety of settings and contexts.  Historically, seminaries have focused their efforts on the intellectual formation of Christian leaders and have more recently begun to focus on the spiritual formation of leaders as well.  However, one critical facet of preparation for a life of faithful and effective service that has received less attention within the context of formal theological education concerns the emotional preparation and formation needed to navigate the many and varied emotional/relational challenges that await them within the ministry context.  This workshop will explore both practical and conceptual considerations in the emotional formation of Christian leaders, with a special emphasis on the opportunities and challenges within different contexts in Asia.  Preliminary findings from research on the emotional life of pastors in the Philippines will also be presented and discussed.

Presenters:

Dr. David Wang, Cliff and Joyce Penner Chair for the Formation of Emotionally Healthy Leaders Senior Research Fellow, Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity at Calvin University Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Clinical Psychology Fuller Theological Seminary.

Dr. Beatrice Ang, Director of the Center for Theological Inquiry in Asia (CTIA) at the International Graduate School of Leadership in the Philippines and Co-editor, Journal of Asian Evangelical Theology (JAET).

Mr. Kevin Yau, Counseling Faculty, Asian Theological Seminary in the Philippines

Competency-based Theological Education (CBTE) is a holistic and innovative approach to theological education that has led to increased student enrolment, reduced costs, richer learning experience, better spiritual and character formation, and improved ministry readiness. Join me as we explore the principles, relevance, design, and implementation of CBTE. Learn how you and your institution can benefit from this transformative educational approach.

Presenter – Mr. Jacob Li

Jacob spent the last three decades designing award-winning corporate training programs, teaching in secular universities and theological schools, leading discipleship initiatives, and mentoring students from multiple countries (so we can learn together). His current PhD research focuses on CBTE. He is a member of the ATA-CAED, a senior consultant for ICETE, and a researcher for the International Leadership Consortium that offers CBTE graduate programs through its member schools.

Micro-Credentials have come to Asia. It is a new revolution for tertiary education and for theological education. Micro-Credentials (or MCs for short) are to be placed alongside Qualifications (Certificates – Diplomas – Bachelor degrees – Masters – and Doctoral degrees) as tools to equip the people of God. MCs are short learning units from 20-400 learning hours (0.5-10 credits) that certify the achievement of specific skills or competencies that will meet felt needs in the Christian community. They will create incredible opportunities for partnerships between churches (and denominations) and seminaries/bible colleges. Find out how Micro-Credentials can help to serve the Church in your country, how they can be integrated with Qualifications, or can stand alone on their own, and how the ATA will accredit MC-Providers and their MCs. Church leaders are most welcome at this workshop; MCs are for you also.

Beginning in the final quarter of 2025, ATA will roll out a new Online Accreditation system (ATA Online Accreditation or ATA OA) for use by all ATA schools and colleges. The new OA system will be used for all parts of the accreditation process from Applications for ATA Associate Membership and Accreditation visit applications, to the ATA Fact Sheet, Stakeholder Survey Reports, Self-Study Reports, VET Reports and Accreditation decisions, and Annual Reports to the ATA. Come to find out how the new system will work and how to get started using it. ATA Colleges and Schools, please send at least one person from your leadership team to this workshop. The workshop will also include an overview of the revised 2025 Manual for Accreditation and its new highlights.

Presenter: Dr Rick Weymouth, ATA Associate Secretary for Accreditation

Dr Weymouth comes from a Church-Based Training background with 3 decades of experience in theological education ministries in Asia and the Middle East (West Asia), and almost 16 years of service on the ATA’s Commission for Accreditation and Educational Development (CAED). Joining the ATA staff in May 2024, Dr Weymouth assists with ATA quality assurance policy development, accreditation evaluations, and represents the ATA in some international ICETE task groups. With connections to both Australia and New Zealand, Dr Weymouth is married with two adult sons.