Keynote Voices at the Heart of the Conversation
Prof. Hulisani Ramantswana: Decolonizing the Biblical Narrative
Prof. Hulisani Ramantswana, a distinguished scholar from the University of South Africa, is a leading voice in African Biblical Hermeneutics. His work delves into decolonization, imperial dynamics, and the reinterpretation of the Hebrew Bible through African knowledge systems.
In his keynote, “Colonial Dynamics and the Impoverishment of Africa 140 Years after the Berlin Conference,” Ramantswana examines how colonial legacies have economically and theologically impoverished Africa. He challenges the enduring impact of colonialism on the continent and advocates for a reimagined future rooted in indigenous cultures and languages.
Prof. Joerg Rieger: Uniting for Justice in a Divided World
Prof. Joerg Rieger of Vanderbilt University is renowned for his work on theology and public life, focusing on the misuse of power in religion, politics, ecology, and economics. His keynote, “Unite and Conquer in order to Divide and Conquer: Religion, Race, and Class, and the Urgency of Solidarity,” explores how strategies of artificial unity can be used to divide and control populations.
Rieger emphasizes the need for deep solidarities to overcome racism and false categories of race, advocating for a theology that supports movements bringing about positive change.
Ms. Adele Halliday: Addressing Anti-Black Racism Today
Adele Halliday, the Anti-Racism and Equity Lead at The United Church of Canada, brings extensive experience in anti-racism education and advocacy. Her keynote, “The State of Racism and Anti-Black Racism in the World Today,” addresses contemporary manifestations of anti-Black racism, including systemic injustices underpinned by colonialism.
Halliday discusses concepts such as racial neo-liberalism, identity politics, and performative allyship, while highlighting the agency and resistance of Black communities. She also examines the implications for churches and the importance of theological reflections in combating racism.
Ms. Yvonne Apiyo Brändle-Amolo: Advocating for Equity and Justice
Yvonne Apiyo Brändle-Amolo, a Swiss parliamentarian and activist, is known for her work in anti-discrimination and social justice. Her keynote, “The Global Persistence of Anti-Black Racism and Role of the Church,” analyzes the enduring issue of anti-Black racism rooted in historical legacies of slavery and colonialism.
Brändle-Amolo calls for societies and church institutions to adopt comprehensive strategies to combat post-colonial anti-Black racism, emphasizing the church’s potential role in effecting societal transformation and advocating for social justice and equity.
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Registrations Now Open: Join the WCC Ecumenical Conference in Berlin
Annotated agenda of the conference
Learn more about the WCC work on overcoming Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia
WCC offers new anti-racist and anti-bias material for churches and communities
“Overcoming racism, xenophobia, and related discrimination”, a WCC blogpost by Dr Masiiwa Ragies Gunda, WCC programme executive for programmatic responses on overcoming racism
