Rethinking Ministry in the CPCE: Responding to Diversification through Ministry, Ordination, Episkopé
Oslo, 23-25 April 2026
Schedule
Day I: APRIL 23 (Thursday)
Moderating Stefan Cosoroaba
Arrival
You are expected to check in before the starting of the consultation at Comfort Hotel Grand Central [Østbanehallen: Jernbanetorget 1, 0154 Oslo]
15:30 Starting
Starting with 3:30 p.m. you are welcome in the House of the Church of Norway [Rådhusgata 1, 0151 Oslo]
You will have the opportunity of a cup of coffee and first exchange with the other participants.
16:00 Introduction
The opening of the consultation will be made by Rt Rev. Marko Tiitus, Bishop in Viljandi (Estonia) and President of the CPCE, as well as Bishop Ole Kristian Bonden, Prof. Dr. Harald Hegstad and Ass Prof. Hilde Marie Øgreid from the churches from Norway.
Here is also the time of greetings and to get to know eachother.
17:00 Hermeneutics and Models
The first key note of the consultation is held by Univ-Prof. Dr Dr Ulrich Körtner on the topic "Hermeneutics of the Models of Ministry in MOE."
From 1992 until his retirement, Ulrich Körtner was Professor of Systematic Theology at the Faculty of Protestant Theology at the University of Vienna.
Since 2001, he has been closely associated with the CPECE. On several occasions, he served as the Austrian delegate (Evangelical Church of the Helvetic Confession) at CPCE General Assemblies (2001, 2006, 2012, 2018). Most recently, in 2024, he participated in the General Assembly in Sibiu as an ethics expert.
Körtner has taken part in several doctrinal dialogue processes, namely the dialogue on Ministry, Ordination, and Episkopé; the dialogue on the Theology of Diaspora (both of which he co-initiated); as well as the dialogue on Christian Speaking about God. In addition, from 2004 to 2024, Körtner was a member of the Ethics Working Group (now the Ethics Advisory Board) and contributed to the preparation of numerous documents produced by this body.
18:00 Dinner Break
The dinner will be served at the venue - in the cafetaria.
19:00 Diversification of Ministry
The main example of Diversification of Ministry in a CPCE member church is given by Prof. Harald Hegstad presenting the situation in the Church of Norway, our host church under the titel: "The understanding of ordination and the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the context of a plurality of ministries: Norwegian discussions and conclusions". ministry_norway.pdf
Harald Hegstad is professor of systematic theology at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society in Oslo, Norway. His work includes research in ecclesiology and sacramental theology. Books in English includes “The Real Church: An Ecclesiology of the Visible” (Pickwick 2013), “God, the World, and Hope: An Introduction to Christian Dogmatics” (Wipf and Stock 2018), and “Baptism in Times of Change: Exploring New Patterns of Baptismal Theologies and Practices in Nordic Lutheran Churches” (edited, Pickwick 2025). He presently serves as the moderator of the National Church Council of the Church of Norway.
Examples from Churches
Four examples illustrating the diversification of ministry are presented in order to expand the discussion to a European context [10-15´each].
- United Protestant Church of Belgium - presentation by Dr. Kemgne Fenyom Priscille.
- Kemgne Fenyom Priscille is pastor of the United Protestant Church of Belgium/ Protestant Church of Namur and Former Professor of Greek and New Testament Studies at the Protestant Faculty of Theology in Brussels. Now she acts in the role of French-speaking Coordinator of ministries of the Church.
- Reformed Church in Hungary - presentation by Rev. Dr. Gabriella Rácsok minstry_hungary.pdf
- Gabriella Rácsok is Associate Professor and Vice Rector for Education at Sárospatak Reformed Theological University in Hungary. In addition to her teaching and research in ethics, psychology of religion, film and theology, she has contributed to international ecumenical work through the Reformed–Pentecostal International Theological Dialogue of WCRC from 2014 to 2020. She also serves on the Unified Committee for Ministerial Qualification of the Reformed Church in Hungary.
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland - presentation by Rt Revd Dr. Matti Repo ministry_finland.pdf
- Matti Repo is currently Bishop of Tampere and also adjunct professor of dogmatics in the University of Helsinki. . Presently chairing a group on ordination formulas preparing for the renewal of the Manual for Occasional Services. He writes: "Fun fact as a Bishop, I have ordained 157 priests and 115 deacons and taken part in the consecration or installation of 51 bishops (of which only 15 in Finland)".
- United Methodist Church, Germany Central Conference - presentation by Dr. Hans Martin Niethammer ministry_methodist.pdf
- Hans Martin Niethammer is ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. In his career he was superintendent of Stuttgart District, director of Martha-Maria Diakoniewerk, and chairman of the Theological Commission of ACK Baden-Württemberg. On behalf of our issue he was president of the Board of Ordained Ministries South Germany Annual Conference, member of Board of Directors of General Board of Higher Education and Minstries and member of the Study Commission on Ministries of the United Methodist General Conference. Since 2020 his special focus is placed on the ministry of deacons.
Woman in Church Leading Positions
A focus of the consultation is placed on "Development on the Issue of Women in Church Leading Positions" by Prof. Dr Cornelia Richter.
Cornelia Richter is Bishop of Protestant Church of A.C. in Austria.
21:15 Night Blessing
We will close the evening of the first consultation day with the blessing of Rt Rev. Jan Hrobon, District Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church A.C. in Slovakia. In the chapel.
Day II: APRIL 24 (Friday)
Moderating Thomas-Andreas Põder
08:30 Morning Meditation
The morning meditation is led by Prof. Dr Jochen Arnold. - In the conference room.
Jochen Arnold is chairperson for theological issues and theological education of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia.
After the meditation we are going to take the official group foto of the consultation.
09:00 Reactions
You have the space to react to the yesterdays reports from churches.
09:30 Diversified Ministry
The topic of the second key note is "Facing the Challenge of Diversified Ministry in the CPCE: Whether and How the Model of Unitiy in Reconcieled Diversity should be developed further" Speaker is Prof. Dr Matthias Wüthrich.
matthias wüthrich_cpce_diversified ministry_def.pdf
Matthias Wüthrich is full professor of systematic theology, Faculty of Theology and the Study of Religion, University of Zurich; VDM, ordained minister, member of the Bern-Jura-Solothurn reformed churches and, as such, of the Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS).
His key reserach areas are
- Research on Karl Barth
- The problem of theodicy / the question of evil
- Theological theory of space
- Reformed theology (including questions of ministry)
- Religion and science
Prof. Dr Matthias Wüthrich also was part of the re-reading group of the MOE. He has written books on the consultation topic:
- Ordination from the perspective of the Reformed Church, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches FSPC Position 10, Bern 2009
- Krauter, Stefan/ Wüthrich, Matthias D. (Eds.), Ordination. Grundfragen und Impulse aus reformierter Perspektive (PThrK 18), Zürich 2023.
After the key note will follow a coffee break.
11:00 Extension of the Discussion
As part of the rereading group, Rev Alexandra Breukink will do an introductory reflection on the Ten Recommendations of MOE, including a proposal as to which recommendations deserve special attention and where the recommendations may need further elaboration. [30´]
Alexandra Breukink completed her theological training in Amsterdam. She began her ministry in Luxembourg, serving the Dutch Protestant Community, before moving to Strasbourg as a student pastor for the Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine (UEPAL). She then worked for 15 years in Gunsbach, the village known for Albert Schweitzer and his philosophy of Reverence for Life. She is now serving as a part-time minister in the Rothau Consistory and part-time coordinator of the ABC-Climont project, which cultivates the art of interconvictionnal encounter weaving together four key areas: ecological challenges, artistic expression, philosophical reflection, and spiritual traditions: www.abc-climont.eu.
Ordination of Woman
A focus is laid on "Ordination of Women and its Development since MOE" by Ass. Prof. Hilde Marie Øgreid. [10´]
Hilde Marie Øgreid is associate professor of systematic theology at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, and Rector of The United Methodist Seminary in Oslo, Norway. Her field of research is contemporary Methodist theology, and more specifically prevenient grace. However, her recent publication is a book on female clergy in Norwegian free churches from historical, empirical and theological perspectives.
New Biographies
A focus is placed on "New Biographies need New Curriculum?" by Revd Canon Dr Maurice Elliot. elliott_new biographies.pdf
Maurice Elliott is Director and Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin. CITI works in an historic partnership with Trinity College, Dublin, and provides both ordination and lay training across all eleven dioceses of the Church. Dr Elliott's primary research focus has been an ongoing exploration of the theology of the Anglican Reformer, Thomas Cranmer, and his publications include a three-part Perspectives series considering the topics of Preaching, Spirituality and Prayer, and Pastoral Ministry. This is the first time he has been invited to attend and participate in a meeting of the CPCE.
12:30 Lunch Break
The Lunch will be served at the venue - in the cafetaria.
14:45 Plenary
Turning point: Plenary debate on the raised questions and suggestions.
Also the two sessions of group work are introduced.
At 3 p.m. we will enter a coffee break.
16:15 Groupwork
[1 h 20`]
The question of the first group work is: "What message should the consultation convey regarding the diversification of ministry?
Group 1 Moderator: Rev. Eva Guldanova
Group 2 Moderator: Rt Rev. Marko Tiitus
Group 3 Moderator: Rev. Günther Ihle
Group 4 Moderator: Ass. Prof. Hans Vium Mikkelsen
T
17:50 Festive Reception
The Church of Norway invites the participants of the CPCE Consultation to a festive reception in the CATHEDRAL OF OSLO. Presiding of the reception are Ole Kristian Bonden (Bishop of Hamar), Prof. Dr Harald Hegstad (Leader of the National Church Council of the Church of Norway), and Einar Tjelle (Director for Ecumenical and International Relations).
We will start with the presentation of the Cathedral [5:50 pm] by Dean of the Cathedral Paal Kristian Baldstad followed by an evening prayer in the Chapel led by Ole Kristian Bonden. Afterwards we will move to the Cathedral Crypt for reception and dinner [6:15].
Day III: APRIL 25 (Saturday)
Moderating Stefan Cosoroaba
08:30 Morning Meditation
The morning meditation is led by Mgr. Jana Hofmanova. - In the chapel.
Jana Hofmanova is chaplain of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethern fot the Theological Faculty Prague and Proxy member of the CPCE Council.
09:00 Groupwork
The second question for the group work is: "In the light of the discussions of the consultation: Where would the ten recommandations of the MOE need to be revised or complemented?"
Group 1 Moderator: Rev. Eva Guldanova
Group 2 Moderator: Rt Rev. Marko Tiitus
Group 3 Moderator: Rev. Günther Ihle
Group 4 Moderator: Ass. Prof. Hans Vium Mikkelsen
10:00 Plenary
In this session, the results of the group work are presented and discussed in conclusion.
oslo consultation. plenary on group work. minutes_25_04_202t6.pdf
After the plenary a coffee break is planned
11:00 Drafting of Results
The overall objective of this session is to formulate, on the basis of the ten recommendations, insights from this consultation for the meeting of church leaders.(Wittenberg, 2/3 July 2027). Here we should agree on the outline of the outcome document and appoint an editorial group.
The session will be moderated by the General Secretary of CPCE, Rev. Dr Susanne Schenk.
cpce oslo consultation. final plenary. minutes_25_04._2026.pdf
11:45 Closing
The closing words of the consultation will be spoken by Rev. Ulrich Rusen Weinhold. He is Council member of CPCE and ecumenical officer of the Eglise Protestant Uni du France.
12:30 Lunch
Before leaving, lunch will be served. The catering comes at 10:00 with coffee and who has to leave can take prepared wraps before the official time.
Documents of the Consultation
Ministry, Ordination, Episkopé
Schedule
for print
Distribution in working groups
List of participants
Arrival indications