Clergy Continuing Education Programme – 2025
Report
The Clergy Continuing Education Programme for the year 2025 was conducted at TMAM Research and Orientation Centre, Manganam, from 11th to 15th August 2025. The theme for the programme was “Opening the Windows: Ministerial Paradigms in a Postsecular World.” Around 35 clergy currently serving in different dioceses in Kerala actively participated in this residential programme. The programme offered a valuable opportunity for the clergy to engage in creative discussion on the theme, to formulate new visions regarding effective ministry, and undoubtedly, to enjoy a rich time of fellowship.
The programme officially commenced with an inaugural session, presided over by Rev. M. P. Samuel, Director, TMAM Research and Orientation Centre, on 11th August 2025 at 09:00 a.m. Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa inaugurated the programme.
A very brief note on the various sessions and discourses of the programme is given below.
Bible Studies
Each day began with a morning worship service followed by a Bible study.
The first Bible study, by Rev. Sam Philip, was based on the life of Moses. The study began with an analysis of the portrayal of Moses in different sects of Judaism and in the New Testament, and progressed to examine how the different leadership qualities modelled by Moses may be applicable for a creative and meaningful engagement with secular society.
The second Bible study, by Rev. John G. Varghese, was based on 1 Corinthians 9:19–23. It focused on the role of the Gospel in a postsecular era marked by hyper-globalisation, mutual relationships, and constant evolution. The Gospel has the great potential to be the gap-bridger in this era. Accommodation, flexibility, and dependency are the core elements for a meaningful pastoral ministry.
The third Bible study, by Rev. Jossey E. George, was a socio-political reading of the Nazareth Manifesto in St. Luke 4:16–20. The study called for a shift from sectarian hermeneutics to public theology and the formation of liturgies of justice instead of compromised worship.
Theme-Based Sessions
The theme and its relevance were expounded in the first session by Rev. Shiby Varghese P. The shift from a secular world to a postsecular world is marked by the return/resurgence of religion to the public space (often with violence). Politicising religion and legalising its atrocities and violence are visible expressions of this shift. In the face of such a dangerous situation, religion has much scope and responsibility to develop new frameworks of missions and hermeneutics. It needs to negotiate with the established boundaries. Meaningful engagements in a postsecular world challenge the Church to redefine its God-consciousness—to formulate a new consciousness of God beyond binaries, God of the multitude, and God of the Earth.
The session by Rev. Sajeev Thomas was a careful analysis of how the empire uses the media to create and propagate its own ideology and a theology that supports such ideologies. The visible and invisible nexus between the government, power, and media creates a public consciousness where the people are no longer able to think freely, but are made part of and victims of a chronic capitalist ideology.
The sessions by Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla focused on the challenges faced by pastors in a postsecular world where religious authority is lost due to secularisation, and technological advancements open new possibilities and the need for pastoral care through digital means. The session proposed the following paradigms for a meaningful ministry in this era: incarnational ministry paradigm, team-building ministry, relevant and meaningful communication, compassion-driven ministry, servant leadership, and a Kingdom-centred vision.
Rev. Dr. K. C. Varghese called for a novel examination of the concept of secularism. In modernity, religion was never annihilated; rather, there was a relocation of its space. At the same time, in a pluralistic society like India, where religion claims greater political powers, cultural nationalism has its own dangers. Extreme nationalism always creates an “other” who is portrayed as an enemy. The contributions of religion in the history of renaissance can never be disregarded. A reading of the micro-history is needed to mark the subaltern narratives. In a postsecular digital world, the challenge before us is to move from cyber pessimism to cyber optimism.
Rev. Dr. Shibu Kurian shared his views on relevant biblical interpretations in a postsecular world. In a postsecular world, the Text is interpreted in a public space. Textual interpretations have changed and evolved over time. Faith is not just transferred but needs to be translated for the generations. Jesus proposes a new model in St. Matthew 8:1–4, where the socially isolated leper is invited from a hidden transcript to a public transcript.
In a lecture on The Emergence of the Postsecular World, Prof. Dr. M. H. Ilias described postsecularism as both a return to religion and a return of religion. While classical secularism tended to regard religion as a primordial mode of thought, the Renaissance in Kerala, though transformative in social spheres, did not deeply address the inner spiritual life of religion. The postsecular shift involves the deprivatisation of religion, allowing it to re-enter public discourse, and can be understood as a process of secularising secularism itself. In the Indian context, secularism was originally envisioned as sarva dharma sambhava—equal respect for all religions—unlike the Western model of strict separation between religion and state. Postsecularism recognises that in India, religion has never truly withdrawn from public life; rather, it continues to shape moral reasoning, social values, and community identities.
The sessions by Rev. Dr. V. S. Varghese explored new ministerial paradigms in a postsecular Indian context. Attempts to change the polyphonic Indian culture to a monolithic and homogeneous entity have been present from early history, where the lesser and indigenous gods were made subordinate to the higher gods (gods of the elite). The Puranization of history and the historicisation of myths were both used as tools for legitimising this agenda. New pedagogical tools are engaged in this era for this purpose. It creates an “other” and projects this “other” as a threat. The agencies of change (including Christian missions) are demonised because they challenge the legitimised social structures. The essence of true Christianity is to be an ethical minority that challenges communities to redefine themselves.
Rev. Dr. V. M. Mathew expounded on the relevance of ecological perspectives for pastoral ministry. Ecology is a prime matter of concern for ministry because it offers shared moral grounds, gives cultural credibility to the ministry, is a theological urgency, and offers interfaith resonance where different faith traditions can come together on common ground. A radical shift is needed from a consciousness of “dominion” to mutuality to address the ecological challenges in a meaningful manner.
Current Affairs Forum Lecture
Prof. Dr. George K. Alex discussed the historical development of Indian secularism and its present challenges. He warned that Indian democracy is in danger, with political oligarchs controlling power and guiding governance, while weaker voices remain unheard. A gradual shift from democracy to a theocratic state is visible in the current scenario. India has unitary state and federation features, but gradually the federal features are purposefully removed. It is evolving into a unitary state, removing the financial freedom of states and intruding into the education system. Recent events in the country call for public alertness, as they indicate a drift from democratic values toward concentrated political control.
Sharing of Concerns and Experiences in Pastoral Ministry
Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa graciously found time to engage with the programme participants. Thirumeni challenged the participants to take up ministry with utmost sincerity, to address the needs of every individual in the parish, and to build the people of God in faith.
Rev. Jolly Thomas led a meaningful session sharing the personal experiences of 46 years of ministry. He emphasised the need to gather ultramodern knowledge and transfer it into meaningful ministry.
Very Rev. Dr. Samson K. Jacob reflected on his experiential journey in pastoral and missional service. He emphasised that mission is our committed participation, as God’s people, in the redemption of God’s creation. The challenge proposed was for “creating churches inside churches” to nurture smaller, vibrant faith communities.
All these sessions were great opportunities for the participants to gain insights from senior clergy and their invaluable experiences—to be motivated and to be challenged.
Prepared by,
Rev. Anil Abraham
Rev. Rony Ninan Philip