Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development

Archive: News


Invitation: Guest Lecture - Decolonizing Development: 

Panel | 9 May 2022 | 18:00–20:00 (CEST / SAT) | online via Zoom

 

Kindly find the invitation here.

We are very delighted to invite you to participate in the IRTG Guest Lecture Decolonizing Development (9 May, 18-20 CEST) with the panellists Ezra Chitando, Katherine Marshall, and Aram Ziai.

 

Please register with bettina.schoen@hu-berlin.de to receive the link to the video conference.

 

 

 

 

 


Invitation to the Information Event "Erasmus Plus Mobility Stipends between the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the University of Lagos" 

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Please click here to find the details of the invitation.

The Research Programme Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is organizing an information event together with the University of Lagos on possible Erasmus Plus Mobility Stipends. 

Erasmus Plus Mobility Stipends can be used to finance student exchanges lasting several months or short-term staff exchanges for training or teaching purposes between the two mentioned institutions.

The information event will take place on Thursday 10 March 2022 from 9:00 - 10:30 (CET/GMT+1) via Zoom. To obtain the zoom link, kindly send an email to: network.rcsd@hu-berlin.de 

 


Invitation: The First Transversal Disputation of the International Research Training Group Transformative Religion. Religion as Situated Knowledge in Processes of Social Transformation

 

Please click here to find the complete invitation.

We would like to invite you to take part in the first Transversal Disputation of the International Research Training Group Transformative Religion on 7 February 2022 at 16:00 CET.  Religion as Situated Knowledge in Processes of Social Transformation. Please register with bettina.schoen@hu-berlin.de to receive the link to the video conference.

More information: www.transformative-religion.org

 

Workshop - Society, Religion and Sustainable Development in the Arab World – Ideologies, Ethics and Practice.

29 Nov 2021 – 1 Dec 2021

Hybrid Event Invitation Society Religion and Development in the Arab World Page 1

The workshop “Society, Religion and Sustainable Development in the Arab World –Ideologies, Ethics and Practice”, was co-hosted by the German Jordanian University (GJU, represented through the School of Applied Humanities, SAHL) and Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin (HU, represented through the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development, RCSD).

Find the details here.

 


Lecture Series: Religion and Sustainable Development in the Digital Age – Before, During and After the Corona Crisis

Lecture Series
The Lecture Series: Religion and Sustainable Development in the Digital Age – Before, During and After the Corona Crisis has taken place.

The interdisciplinary lecture series scrutinized the religion and sustainable development nexus through the lens of the digital age brought about by the corona pandemic. It was convened jointly by the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany, and the Department of Religion and Theology at University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

 

Kindly find more detailed information here.

 

 


Invitation

Regional Forum: Religious Agency in the Response to COVID-19

Regional Forum

The Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Faculty of Theology at University of Pretoria, World Visionare co-conveners of the regional forum of PaRD’s Health Work-Stream: Religious Agency in the Response to COVID-19.

 

We cordially invite you to join this regional-based panel discussion and register here: https://www.partner-religion-development.org/members/registration-1

Read more the details here: https://in-rcsd.org/en/projects/religious-agency-to-the-response-to-covid-19

 


Invitation 

Public Launch of the New Journal Religion & Development

 

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The International Network on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development cordially invites to the Public Launch of the new journal Religion & Development at the Faculty of Theology, @StellenboschUni, South Africa on 11 November 2021, 16:00 CAT / 15:00 CET. This event will be held in a hybrid format.

 

Kindly register by sending an email to Marita Snyman: maritasnyman@sun.ac.za

We are really looking forward to having you with us!

 


Invitation

Webinar on African Initiated Churches as Actors for Ecological Sustainability in Limpopo, South Africa. 5th of November 2021

Invitation Webinar Rel. Comm. as Actors of Ecol. Sust. in Limpopo Page 2We are delighted to announce that we are co-hosting a webinar on "African Initiated Churches as Actors for Ecological Sustainability in Limpopo, South Africa" together with the University of Pretoria, University of Limpopo and Basel University.

The webinar discusses to which extend religious communities and especially African Initiated Churches in the region are influential actors for ecological sustainability today and which future steps could be taken to increase environmental awareness and protection. The webinar features keynotes on eco-theologies, latest scientific insights on the effects of climate change on public health in South Africa and empirical research on the understanding of climate change in AICs in Limpopo and their ecological activities.

 

Kindly register for participation and to receive the webinar link with Juliane Stork (juliane.stork@hu-berlin.de) or Luc Kabongo (kablut@gmail.com).

 

Click here to find the programme of the webinar.

 


Call for PhD Applications. Deadline 1 November 2021.

South African–German Research Hub on Religion and Sustainability

 

SAGRaS 2 Page 1We are delighted to announce that the South African–German Research Hub on Religion and Sustainability (SAGRas) offers 2 full-time doctoral scholarships over four years:

- 131.250 ZAR per year from 2022 to 2025

- Dynamic and international team.

- Research on religion and ecology in South Africa and Germany

and focus either on Islamic eco-theology or on mainline Christian

eco-theology.

- Applications welcome!

 

 

Kindly find the Call for Applications here.

 

 

Press Release

Religious Communities and Ecological Sustainability in Southern Africa

pard press release

On 1 September 2020 the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development (RCSD) at Humboldt University Berlin and the Water, Environment and Climate Action (WECARE) Work-Stream of the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) hosted a joint webinar on “Religious Communities and Ecological Sustainability in Southern Africa” as a side event of PaRD’s 2020 Virtual Annual Forum.

Please click here to read the full press release.

 


Preliminary Findings

Survey: Religious Leaders’ Perspectives on Corona

Fig.: Unsplash/ Muhammad Ali

In the last few months, we have been conducting a survey: Religious Leaders' Perspectives on Corona hu.berlin/corona-survey. The participation of all religious leaders in this survey is greatly appreciated. 

Click here for the preliminary findings.

 

 

 

Religious Communities and Sustainable Development in the Middle East, 22 - 23 March, online (Zoom)

The Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development hosted the international workshop Religious Communities and Sustainable Development in the Middle East.

Click here to find the invitation

Click here to find the programme

Before the workshop, we accepted abstract submission for a call for papers. Accepted papers will be considered for publication in a dedicated issue of the new open-access journal Religion & Development, a forthcoming interdisciplinary and international publication outlet in the field of religion and development.

Please click here to find the complete Call for Papers

 


CALL FOR PAPERS:

Religious Communities and Sustainable Development

Points of Departure for a Post-2030 Development Agenda

We kindly invite the submission of abstracts for the international conference Religious Communities and Sustainable Development – Points of Departure for a Post-2030 Development Agenda. The conference will take place as a combined physical and online event. It will also serve as the inaugural conference of the International Network on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development (IN//RCSD), a transdisciplinary international research network. The event is organized by the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

We kindly invite you to submit your abstract of 200–300 words to Ms Indah Harahap (theorcsd@hu-berlin.de) until 31 March 2021. Notice of acceptance will be sent out shortly thereafter. Accepted contributors will be asked to submit their full papers and/or presentations until 31 May 2021.

Please click here for more information

 


The Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development hosted the Virtual PaRD Annual Forum and the PaRD General Assembly of Members (GAM), 3-4 September, 2020.

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Due to the recent developments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and considering its implications on everyone’s personal health and the society in general, the annual exchange between the PaRD members takes place from  3 to 4 September virtually this year and is hosted by the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development, Humboldt-University of Berlin.

The Virtual Annual Forum will facilitate open and forward-thinking discussions between various donor organisations, governmental entities, multilateral agencies and Faith Based/Faith Inspired organisations (FBOs/FIOs) and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Click here for the complete profile of the speakers.

For more information about the Annual Forum, please click here.

 


Capacity Building Webinar: “Religious Communities and Ecological Sustainability
in Southern Africa”

Tuesday, 1 September 2020 9 am – 1:30 pm (GMT +2)

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The Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at Humboldt University Berlin and the Water, Environment and Climate Action (WECARE) Work-Stream of the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) hosted a webinar on “Religious Communities and Ecological Sustainability in Southern Africa.” The webinar will provide insights into ecological sustainability from a theological perspective as well as into the engagement of religious leaders and faith-based organisations. Expert inputs and interactive discussions will feature e.g. water management, climate change, agriculture and eco-feminism.

Click here for further information.

 


 

CALL FOR PAPERS:

Youth, Faith and Environmental Consciousness: A Case for Sustainable Development

 

This South African/German partnership aims to investigate the connection of faith and environmental consciousness in connection to youth. Our focus is on Africa and Europe through a collaboration of excellent scholars from different scientific fields who want to participate in this project. This invitation serves as a twofold call for papers, namely 1) for a Special Collection publication in the Scopus and ISI indexed open access journal HTS Theological Studies, and 2) an AOSIS Book Publication on the theme, “Youth, Faith and Environmental Consciousness: A Case for Sustainable Development”.

 

Weitere Informationen finden Sie hier.

 


Digital Intensive Course on Religion and Development

For the first time the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development organises and hosts an international intensive course on Religion and Development for students from African and German universities. This intensive course will take place digitally from the 20th of July until the 30th of July 2020.

 

For more information, please visit our page:

Digital Intensive Course: Religion and Development

 


 

Newsletter 02/2020

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Please click here to find our current newsletter.

Here, we provide news from our Research Programme as well as information concerning new publications, upcoming events and our most recent activities.

 

 

 

 


Survey: Religious Leaders' Perspectives on Corona

The coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted people's lives all over the world. In this unprecedented situation, the perspectives of religious leaders are of fundamental importance. The Research Programme RCSD hence conducts the Online-Survey: Religious Leaders' Perspectives on Corona. How are religious leaders guiding their communities in the current situation and what is their vision for the time after the pandemic?

Click here to participate in the survey: hu.berlin/corona-survey

The survey is addressed to leaders of all religious communities, as well as leaders of inter-confessional or interreligious organisations. It will take approx. 15 minutes and can be done in English, French or Arabic.


Joint initiative with over 30 global partners: Berlin Research Hub on Religion and In/Equality

To further expand our work, we recently submitted a joint proposal to the Berlin University Alliance’s Grand Challenge Initiative on Social Cohesion to establish a transdisciplinary Berlin Research Hub on Religion and In//Equality. It is a joint initative with several collaborators at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (inter alia Prof. Dr. Torsten Meireis, Dr. Ayşe Almila Akca, Prof. Dr. Judith Becker, Dr. Martin Lutz), Freie Universität Berlin (inter alia Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger) and Technische Universität Berlin (inter alia Prof. Dr. Hubert Knoblauch). Forming part of our long-term strategy to build up the International Network on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development (IN//RCSD), the Berlin Research on Religion and In/Equality brings together over 30 global partners - such as our long-standing academic partners University of Lagos (Prof. Dr. Olufunke Adeboye), University of Pretoria (Dr. Tanya van Wyk), University of the Western Cape (Prof. Dr. Ignatius Swart), Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana (Prof. Dr. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu) as well as our policy and practice partners such as Maltester International, DanChurchAid, JLIFLC and UNEP-Faith for Earth.
Over the past months we engaged in a highly participatory process of drafting a joint research agenda with these partners. Regardless of the application’s outcome, the collaborative effort has already substantially deepened the collaborative ties of all partners involved and substantially influenced our research agendas. We look forward to engaging in in-depth collaborative research on the highly relevant topic of Religion and In/Equality jointly with our national and international partners and to thereby contribute to solving the global challenges ahead of us!


Guest lecture by Tanya van Wyk: "The Christian Church's Involvement in Creating Sexual Ethics"

We are delighted to announce a guest lecture by our partner Tanya van Wyk (University of Pretoria) "The Christian Church's Involvement in Creating Sexual Ethics". Her lecture will take place as part of the International Week at Freie Universität Berlin on 10 June 2020, 7 pm (CET). This event is part of the series "Religion, Geschlecht und Sexualität" of the Institue of Religious Studies at Freie Universität Berlin, organized by Almut-Barbara Renger. Tanya van Wyk and Almut-Barbara Renger are core partners of our Research Programme in the establishment of a Berlin Research Hub on Religion and In/Equality in the framework of the International Network on Religious Comunities and Sustainable Development (IN//RCSD).

More information can be found here.


Newsletter 01/2020

Please click here to find our current newsletter. Here, we provide news from our Research Programme as well as information concerning new publications, upcoming events and our most recent activities.


Panel on "Re-shaping development – African Initiated Christianity’s contribution to decolonizing development" at GloPent 2020 Conference in Basel

The Research Programme RCSD convened a panel on "Re-shaping development – African Initiated Christianity’s contribution to decolonizing development" at the Conference of the European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism (GloPent 2020) in Basel, Switzerland. Afe Adogame (Princeton Theological Seminary), Theresa Mayer (Tübingen University & Research Programme RCSD) and Mangaliso Matshobane (University of Pretoria) contributed excellent papers to the panel, which was chaired by Marie-Luise Frost (Research Programme RCSD). Adogame opened the panel with a presentation on “Revisiting Religion as an Antinomy of Development: African Christianities and the Public Sphere”. In the second presentation on “Ghana’s Pentecostal Churches – between Hotspot of the Holy Spirit and Postcolonialism”, Mayer emphasized that “the ‘post’ of postcolonialism is more than a temporal description. … It is more about decentering … structures of thought.” Matshobane concluded the panel with a paper on “Development Cooperation and Independent Pentecostal Churches – Decolonial Perspectives”.

The full panel description and abstracts can be found here.


Call for Applications: Intensive course “Between Cosmology and Community: Religion and Sustainable Development” 20/07-01/08/2020 at the University of the Western Cape

In an exciting intensive course on religion and development, master students and PhD candidates will be teamed up to explore empirical research methods in theory and practice. The course investigates the relations of religion with decolonial development, ecology, politics, gender equality and peace through high-profile lectures and conveys vital academic methods and soft skills, e.g. participatory observation, research ethics, grant application writing, academic networking etc. The ambitious course supports aspiring young academics to pursue their individual interests in the field of religion and development and connects international students and researchers in a personal setting at the University of the Western Cape. Please see here for more details and the possibility to apply until 31 March 2020.


Q-Kolleg: “Religion and sustainable development. Empirical research seminar in cooperation with University of Pretoria” 25/01-31/01/2020 at University of Pretoria

From 25/01-31/01/20 the Research Unit for Religious Communities and Sustainable Development, in collaboration with the Faculty of Theology of the University of Pretoria, organized a joint Q-Kolleg. Q-Kollegs are innovative, research-based seminars supported by the Bologna.Lab at HU Berlin. The journey of the Berlin students to South Africa was well prepared by seminar sessions with text work, discussions and lectures. Students from Humboldt University of Berlin and the University of Pretoria developed their own empirical research in learning tandems, which they then presented to the group during the seminar in Pretoria. The seminar was followed by field research for the majority of participants. The topics ranged from the Zion Christian Church's relation to ecological beliefs in traditional African religions to the work of Muslim development organizations for women in South Africa. The broad spectrum of empirical research projects sparked lively discussions and was framed by lectures by scholars from both partner universities on the subject of religion and development.


Call for Papers: The Grammar of the Spirit World in Pentecostalized Africa

The above-named workshop concerned with the significance of the Spirit World and ways of talking about it within the context of research on pentecostalized Africa will be held as part of the Programme Point Sud 2020 from 5 through 9 September 2020 at the University of Ghana, Accra.

The call for papers will be open for the submission of abstracts until 31 March 2020 and can be found here.


RCSD Project Report Presented

On 25 November 2019 the presentation of the Research Programme's conclusive report for its project on "Potentials of Cooperation with African Initiated Churches for Sustainable Development" took place on the premises of the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ).

Following the pesentation, the findings were discussed by researchers and representatives of African Initiated Churches and developmental organisations and institutions.

Report "Potentials of Cooperation with African Initiated Churches for Sustainable Development" (German only)


Lecture Series African Independent and Pentecostal Approaches to Theology and Development

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The Research Programme RCSD of the Humboldt University Berlin held their anual Lecture Series "African Independent and Pentecostal Approaches to Theology and Development". Prominent Churchleaders from South Africa Uganda, Ghana und Kenia held lectures at the theological fakulty at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin:

  • His Grace the Right Rev. Bishop Dr. Barnabas E. Lekganyane (Zion Christian Church, Südafrika)
  • Rev. Olubunmi Olushola Monye (Redeemed Christian Church of God, Uganda)
  • Rev. Dr. Michael Perry Tettey (International Central Gospel Church, Ghana)
  • Apostle Mangaliso Matshobane (Community Church, Südafrika)
  • His Grace the Archbishop, Most. Rev. Stephen N. Marete (National Independent Church of Africa, Kenia)
  • Rev. Nicta Lubaale (Organization of African Instituted Churches, Kenia)

Click here for more Information 


Videos der Lecture Series 2019

His Grace the Right Rev. Bishop Dr. Barnabas E. Lekganyane gives a Lecture on "The Zion Christian Church: Praying for Peace in a Changing South African and Global Context".
For further Videos of the Lecture Series 2019 please click here

Please Note: all views and opinions that are voiced reflect the views and opinions of the individuals. They do not reflect the views and opinions of the Research Programme RCSD and Humboldt University Berlin.


International Conference Between Cosmology and Community: Religion and Sustainable Development

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The conference took place at Humboldt University Berlin from 02 to 06 July. We would like to thank all distinguished church leaders, researchers and participants again for their excellent contributions and the open and lively discussions that made this conference an unique experience of exchange.
Programme and further Informations
Impressions from the Conference can be found on Twitter with the Hashtag 
#cosmologyandcommunity.

Reports on the opening lectures as well as on the thematic days on Equality and Ecology can be found here:


Internationale Konferenz Between Cosmology and Community: Religion and Sustainable Development - Panel Discussion

"Development Policy and Religion: What is the way forward?" - Panel Discussion at the Humboldt University Berlin in July 2019.

Chair: Gabriele Meister 

Nicta Lubaale:
General Secretary, Organization of African Instituted Churches

Reinhard Palm:
Head of Africa Department, Bread for the World

Michael Plesch:
Head of Division “Churches, Political Foundations, Social Structure Advancement Programmes, Religion & Development”, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development

Claudia Zilla:
Head of Research Division "The Americas", Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik – German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Please Note: all views and opinions that are voiced reflect the views and opinions of the individuals. They do not reflect the views and opinions of the Research Programme RCSD and Humboldt University zu Berlin.


European Conference on African Studies (ECAS)

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Marie-Luise Frost and Madlen Geidel orginized a Panel at the European Conference on African Studies (ECAS), from 11. until 14. June 2019. The Panel was held at the Centre of African Studies of the  University of Edinburgh, on the topic: "Continuities or disruptions? The role(s) of women in African Religions".
https://ecasconference.org/2019/panels


Permanent Panel on Religion and Development // 5th Joint Nordic Conference on Development Research (NorDev) in Kopenhagen, 27.-28. Juni 2019

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The submitted proposal from Philipp Öhlmann, Wilhelm Gräb, Marie-Luise Frost and Ignatius Swart (University of the Western Cape, Südafrika/VID Specialized University, Norwegen) for a Permanent Panel on Religion and Development was accepted by the Norwegian Assocation for Development Research (NFU). This Panel will be dedicatet to the tematics on Religion and Development at the Joint Nordic Development Research Conferences 2019 and 2021 aswell as the Norwegian Development Conference 2020 aus. Philipp Öhlmann, Marie-Luise Frost and Ignatius Swart moderated the first Panel at the 5th Joint Nordic Conference on Development Research (NorDev) in Kopenhagen from the 27. - 28. June.


International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD)
The Research Programme RCSD became a Member of the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD). PaRD is a international Forum for Exchange and Cooperation on the Topic ov Religion and Development. Philipp Öhlmann participated for the Research Programm at the annual Meeting for Members at the PaRD in Kopenhagen. 
http://www.partner-religion-development.org/


GloPent international Conference

The eleventh international and interdisciplinary conference of the European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism (GloPent) will be held on 14–15 February 2020 at the University of Basel, Switzerland.

This call for papers invites contributions to our parallel panels. We are particularly interested in presentations that study concepts, strategies and agendas of how Pentecostals shape public spheres. Papers may present case studies or comparative analyses of Pentecostal strategies of public engagement. What are peculiar issues, themes, and areas of Pentecostal public engagement? How do Pentecostal communication, network and support structures look like in specific contexts? Last but not least: what are the limits of Pentecostal theo-political imaginations, and who are opponents of Pentecostal strategies to direct and redirect of public opinion making?

Proposals of entire panels or individual papers from current research on a different aspect of Pentecostal Christianity are also welcome, but we advise to contact the conference organiser before submitting your abstract.

Submission deadline for abstracts30th September 2019 (300 words max/send to Anna Kühleis: anna.kuehleis@unibas.ch)


Colloquium fo the Reschearch Programme RCSD
On the  3. of May 2019 the Research Programm held its colloquium. 


Collaboratativ Research with the University of Pretoria, South Africa

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Within the interdisciplinary research seminar (Q-Kolleg) "Religion and sustainable development. Interdisciplinary approaches to the study of an emerging research field" Students, reisten Studierende, Postgraduates ans Researchers from RCSD traveld to South Africa. With our Partner, the  University of Pretoria, we discussed current research Topics from the 27. to the 31. of January 2019. Read the Report