Internationale Stimmen zur Eröffnung der Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Forschungsstelle für Öffentliche Theologie

Nico Koopman, Director of the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Chair of the Global Network for Public Theology

„We received the news of a Research Center for Public Theology that is named after Dietrich Bonhoeffer with gratitude and excitement! Congratulations to the colleagues at Bamberg University on this marvellous development. We look forward to cooperation with you in the years to come. The legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer provides crucial parameters for doing Public Theology in the context of glocality in the 21st century.“

Professor Dr. Dirkie Smit, Professor of Systematic Theology (Dogmatics) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa

"Very warm and enthusiastic  congratulations! ... We really look forward to serious, intensive and  continuous co-operation with the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Research Center for Public Theology in Bamberg! As you know well, so many of us in South Africa have deep emotional ties with Bonhoeffer and deep commitment to public theology, and now you succeed in joining both theological themes so close to our hearts and our own self-understanding! This is absolutely great, and we are very happy that  some of us are already there to share in this momentous day [January 29 2008]. Our Dean, Elna Mouton, spoke about the Center in our Faculty Committee last week and will again in the full Faculty meeting this Thursday [February 01 2008], so be assured that we are all very aware of what is happening in  Bamberg this week. From a very warm and sunny Stellenbosch, looking  forward eagerly to your next visit to us,  Dirkie Smit."

Reverend Professor Dr. James Haire, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Charles Sturt University,
Director of the Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre, Canberra, Australia

„In Australia we greet the Formation and Opening of the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Research Center for Public Theology at the University of Bamberg with great joy and anticipation.   Public Theology must lie at the heart of the churches’ existence in the new, united and innovative Germany, and within the churches’ wider context of the European Union.  For those of us in many parts of the world the name of Dietrich Bonhoeffer stands as central to the life of a public theologian.   We look forward very much to the development of the incisive work already begun at Bamberg."

Professor Dr. Botond Gaál, Chair of Systematic Theology, Debrecen Reformed Theological University, Debrecen, Hungary

“I was glad to learn about the foundation of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Research Center for Public Theology in Bamberg and its opening event in January 2008. For us, Central-Eastern European theologians this Center carries special importance as our country started to reorganize and restructure its life less than two decades ago in order to meet democratic standards, which brought along many questions. For being able to give relevant answers to the emerging concerns this Center will be of great help. It is of special joy for me that I can experience the importance of this Center at the very start as one of my doctoral students can be a partaker of its work in the preparation of his doctoral dissertation with Prof. Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm. I believe that this is the start of a fruitful relationship and a nice perspective of the future cooperation between the István Hatvani Theological Research Center in Debrecen, Hungary and the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Research Center for Public Theology in Bamberg, Germany… Hopefully, the Center’s work will be an international endeavor of many theologians who can give a new impulse to the ecumenical movement of churches.“

Professor Dr. Dr. Oneide Bobsin, Principal and Professor Rudolf von Sinner, Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research and 
Faculdades EST, Lutheran School of Theology, São Leopoldo, Brazil

"As partners in the Global Network of Public Theology, we greet you in the name of faculty and staff of the EST – Lutheran School of Theology at São Leopoldo, Brazil, and  would like to congratulate you and all the faculty and staff on the inauguration of the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Research Center for Public Theology. This is an important step forward in establishing research on Public Theology beyond the English speaking world, and we feel strengthened by your success in our own plans to create an Institute for Ethics and Public Theology at our School.
It is most appropriate that Dietrich Bonhoeffer serve as the patron for such a venture. As in so many countries, his theology and testimony has inspired also in Brazil many outstanding representatives of the Theology of Liberation and of resistance against military and economic oppression, and continues to be an important reference as we strive to formulate a new, liberative, contextual and public theology in a changed Brazilian and world context. On this way, we are constructing a meaningful South-South exchange with the Beyers Naudé Center for Public Theology, which is also an important partner of your Center.
We are open for future co-operation with your Center within the Global Network and would be pleased to welcome you personally to our School for lectures and exchange."

Pasteur Pascal Bataringaya, Vice-président de l'Eglise Presbytérienne au Rwanda

"Au Prof. Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm:
Cher ami,
C'est avec une très grande joie que nous avons appris la nouvelle de votre initiative pour l'ouverture du centre de recherche Dietrich Bonhoeffer sur la théologie publique à l'Université de Bamberg. Nous sommes sûrs et certains que ce centre de recherche vient au moment opportun pour apporter sa contribution  à la recherche des solutions aux grands défis actuels auxquels la société humaine et le monde entier en général sont confrontés aujourd'hui. D'une manière particulière Dietrich Bonhoeffer dont ce centre porte le nom reste pour le monde théologique et pour l'actualité une personne de référence par excellence. L'ouverture d'un tel centre est donc pour la théologie une ouverture des horizons mais aussi une fierté et un renouveau avec lesquels nous entrons dans cette nouvelle année 2008. Pour moi personnellement, ce centre devient une réponse à mes aspirations au moment même où je suis en train de mener des recherches sur les impulsions de l'Ethique de paix de Dietrich Bonhoeffer dans le domaine théologique. Ainsi donc, par la présente nous vous adressons nos vives félicitations et notre sincère soutien dans cette tâche si importante. Que Dieu vous bénisse."