De blijvende opdracht van de theologie

Samenvatting

The last decade has seen a tremendous shift in the organization of theological education in the Netherlands. Three theological faculties at public universities were closed and
the education for the ministry of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands is now concentrated in the Protestant Theological University. This university has campuses in
Amsterdam and Groningen and cooperates with the theological faculties of the VU
University Amsterdam and Groningen University.
This article argues that the identity of theological institutions depends for a great deal
on two main concerns: First, all the sub-disciplines of theology are required to focus
on the practices of the Christian tradition and to contribute to the education of the
ministry of the Church. Second, all the sub-disciplines of theology must deal with the
reality of the living God and the truth claims which are implied by this reality.
In addition, the Protestant Theological University and the theological universities of
Apeldoorn and Kampen are also called to serve Reformed theology in a global context.