In late September, the CSR-CMR chairman held vibrant conversations with the leadership of a theological seminary in South Kalimantan, Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Gereja Kalimantan Evangelis (STT GKE). The talk took place during a national conference on religious freedom and belief, organized by a coalition of academic and research institutions and non-governmental organizations advocating for religious freedom and/or belief (Koalisi Advokasi Kebebasan Beragama atau Berkeyakinan).
Meeting attendees included the rector and former rectors of STT GKE. The two representatives discussed possible future academic, teaching, and research collaborations, including guest lectures, international conferences, and joint publications. STT GKE representatives were keen to collaborate with CSR-CMR and relevant institutions at Satya Wacana Christian University (SWCU). In fact, GKE was one of the churches that supported SWCU.
We not only had a formal meeting with STT GKE’s top leadership, but the CSR-CMR chairman also served as a guest lecturer in an Islamology class, taught by Dr. Enta Malasinta. It is interesting that STT GKE offers an academic program in Islamology with up to 8 credit hours. Academic, research, and teaching collaborations on issues related to Islam and Christian-Muslim relations have also been a central theme in our conversations.