The European theological faculties will draw ever closer together. This is the objective of the second “Consultation of the European Theological Faculties”, organized by the European Conference of Churches (CEC) and Catholic Theology Faculty of the University of Graz from 6 to 9 July 2006. The title of the consultation is “The challenges of theology in a pluralist Europe”. The intention of the EU to obtain parity of university education, and to harmonise academic degrees, within the Union represents an “ecumenical challenge” for theological faculties that “requires new forms of collaboration”, says a press release of the CEC, which also underlines: “The exchange of teachers and students, and the integration of ecumenical learning into theological education, are indispensable for the future of Europe’s Churches”. The first ecumenical consultation, held in July 2002, was attended by 60 representatives of Catholic, Evangelical and Orthodox faculties from 24 European countries. The consultation of July 2006, which is expected to be attended by 70 representatives of European theological faculties, ought to form another step forward, in that it should contribute to the formation of an ecumenical conference of theological faculties and centres of theological education in Europe. To this end, closer cooperation is planned between the CEC and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE).
