Call for Papers: Asian Theological Seminary Theological Forum 2025

“Until Christ is Formed in You”: Discipleship, Spiritual Formation, and Transformation

Asian Theological Seminary (ATS) invites biblical scholars, theologians, social science researchers, seminarians, spiritual directors, community workers, church/denominational heads of discipleship programs, and other ministry practitioners to submit papers for the 2025 Theological Forum on the above theme (to be held on October 7-8, 2025 at Christ’s Commission Fellowship Center, Ortigas, Pasig City).

The recent Seoul Statement of the Lausanne Movement has reiterated the importance of “making disciples.” But what kind of disciples are we forming in the church?

Topics of Interest:

• biblical-theological foundations of the relation between discipleship and spiritual formation, or discipleship and transformation, or the integral relationship between discipleship, spiritual formation, and transformation;
• how spiritual maturity and/or community transformation is defined or described, in the context of a local church or a seminary;
• theological perspectives on the formation of Christ in the believers and in the church and/or integral mission as part of discipleship formation;
• studies that feature local spiritualities and formation processes in local churches, theological traditions, or communities;
• the relationship of spiritual maturity and emotional maturity and/or spiritual maturity and commitment to justice;
• empirical studies that show the factors affecting spiritual formation in the seminary and the local church
• studies that show how a disciple’s growth towards spiritual maturity can be assessed or measured;
• case studies that show the integration of spiritual formation and/or community transformation/integral mission/work of justice in the discipleship process/models and/or materials of a church or domination;

Submission Guidelines:

• Paper proposals/abstract should be no more than 250 words, summarizing the main thesis/argument of the paper.
• Include brief information about yourself, including your full name, ministry/institution you’re associated with, position, your address, email address, office and mobile phone numbers.
• Papers should be around 2000 words and words and be deliverable in 20 minutes to have adequate time for discussion after.
• Submission of proposals does not guarantee acceptance.
• Proposal Abstracts are due by March 31, 2025.
• Notifications of acceptance will be sent by April 30, , 2025.
• For more details, visit the ATS website or contact the forum organizers at theoforum@mail.ats.ph.