The European Methodist Lecture Programme 2026: “Blessed are the Peacemakers? Struggling for Peace in Uncertain Times”
The online European Methodist Lecture Programme 2026 has been announced with free attendance available to all.
The European Methodist Lecture Programme is an online programme. Speakers from various continents, Methodist traditions, theological expertise, and ecumenical contexts will give their insights and present their perspectives and research on peacebuilding and democracy from a Methodist theological perspective. The lectures are followed by discussions in groups and in plenary sessions. The EMLP brings together students, theologians, clergy, and lay persons from all over Europe and beyond – from different backgrounds and cultures. It offers an international and intercultural learning space.
The 6th series of the European Methodist Lecture Programme (EMLP) will explore the role of the church and the responsibility of each Christian in democracy and peace building. In these uncertain times where war, violence, intense nationalism, and authoritarianism are tearing at the social fabric, the need for intentional democracy and peacebuilding is urgently required. These lectures offer an opportunity for us to reflect theologically, practically and from a Methodist perspective upon how we can be a people of peace in a
divided world. These lectures will explore a variety of themes including reconciliation, democracy, and the need for intercultural communities who embody an alternative narrative within a xenophobic landscape. Join us in the struggle to build hope and long-term frameworks for peace in these violent times.
Please find below information for all upcoming lectures.
| # | Date & Time | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 13, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CEST) | Inderjit Bhogal Methodist Church in Britain | Church of Sanctuary: Challenging Hostility with Hospitality |
| 2 | October 20, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CEST) | Paul Tsuchido Shew Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, Japan | Educating for Peace in the Age of AI: Cognitive Science, Moral Agency, and Digital Responsibility |
| 3 | October 27, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CET) | Aboseh Ngwana Staple Hill Methodist Church, Bristol/UK | Let go of Violence, Embrace Justice and Peace |
| 4 | November 3, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CET) | Alan B. Cabas Wesley Divinity School, Philippines | Weaving Indigenous Filipino Wisdom into a Pedagogy of Relational Harmony |
| 5 | November 10, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CET) | Jörg Barthel Reutlingen School of Theology, Germany | Ploughshares into Swords? The Biblical Message of Peace in Times of War and Imperialism |
| 6 | November 17, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CET) | Grace and Daniel Pratt Morris-Chapman Northampton, United Kingdom | Being Church Together in a Divided World |
| 7 | November 24, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CET) | Young Min Paik University College, Yonsei University, Korea | Resilience for Peace: South Korean Case |
| 8 | December 1, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CET) | Wan-Yin Lim Wesley House Cambridge, United Kingdom | Forming Moral Imagination: Integrating Peace Studies and Theology |
| 9 | December 8, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CET) | Dion Forster Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands | Public Theology from a Methodist Perspective and Its Contribution to Peacebuilding |
| 10 | December 15, 2026 6:15 p.m. (CET) | David Scott General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, USA | “Intercultural Connectionalism” and its Contribution to Peace through Understanding |
The sessions take place on the dates indicated from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. (CEST/CET) via video conference. The language of the lectures and the discussions is English. The link for the video conferences will be provided to those registered shortly before the beginning of the programme. To register, please follow these steps:
- “Create new account” (first time users) or “Log in” at OpenCampus | Reutlingen School of Theology:
https://th-reutlingen.opencampus.com/user/login (select your preferred language on the top right side). - Register for the “European Methodist Lecture Program” (1. Add your contact address; 2. Register for the course):
https://th-reutlingen.opencampus.com/de/node/70354.
For any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Stephan von Twardowski | LEAD Hub Europe: stephan.twardowski@th-reutlingen.de