Strengthening Partnership: In Teaching and Learning

Dr Betty Cernol-McCann, University President (2nd from left) with Rev Dr Andar Parlindungan (2nd from right) und Rev Dr Dyah Ayu Krismawati (right).

Both Photos by: Silliman University

Rev Dr Andar Parlindungan, UEM General Secretary, and Rev Dr Dyah Krismawati, Director of the Asia / Germany Division and member of the UEM Board, visited Silliman University and Silliman Divinity School in Dumaguete, Philippines.

They met with UEM staff, namely Rev Dr Martongo Sitinjak from Indonesia, who is a lecturer in theology at Silliman Divinity School, and five UEM scholarship holders from Tanzania and Indonesia who are studying there. Dr Andar Parlindungan also gave a public lecture titled "Unity through Consensus? A Review of the Experiences of the Church Community on Three Continents in the United Evangelical Mission" at Silliman University, which was attended by students and lecturers from various departments.

The President of the University, Dr Betty Cernol-McCann, welcomed the UEM representatives and discussed strengthening the partnership between UEM and Silliman University, especially in the area of teacher and student exchanges.

In his presentation, Dr Parlindungan said: "The UEM serves the ecumenical unity of its members. Diversity and theological debates are potential assets for the UEM to arrive at a common understanding as the body of Christ that strengthens and complements each other, not weakening each other". There was also a meeting with the lecturers of the Silliman Divinity School, including Bishop Erme Camba, who was involved in the process of transforming the UEM into an international mission society. Bishop Camba was General Secretary of the UCCP*, a member church of the UEM, from 1986 to 1994.

*UCCP = United Church of Christ in the Philippines