Rethinking Ministry in the CPCE:  Responding to Divesification through Ministry, Ordination, Episkopé 

You are expected to check in before the starting of the consultation at Comfort Hotel Grand Central [Østbanehallen: Jernbanetorget 1, 0154 Oslo]

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.

The opening of the consultation will be made by Rt Rev. Marko Tiitus, Bishop in Viljandi (Estonia) and President of the CPCE. 

Here is the place of greetings and to get to know eachother.

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.

The dinner will be served at the venue.

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. 

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.

Four examples illustrating the diversification of ministry are presented in order to expand the discussion to a European context.

• 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 
• 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 
• 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
• 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. 

The first 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.

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.