Anglican Communion News Service

The Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion (CUAC) will be holding its next Triennial Meeting in Tokyo from March 15-18 in Tokyo at Rikkyo (St. Paul's) University, an Anglican university that is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Japan. There are nine Anglican universities in Japan, as well a Christian universities of other denominations.

CUAC is an organization of about 140 colleges and universities around the world which have or retain a direct link to the Anglican Communion. Most of these are universities or colleges in a general sense, and may teach anything from the arts and sciences, to social work, medicine, education and technical areas. Some teach theology and religious studies, but theological colleges and seminaries are as yet not organized under CUAC.

The theme for the Tokyo conference has been set as "The Role of a Christian University in a Secular and Multi-Faith Society". This theme is to focus attention on the kinds of problems the world will face in the 21st century, and the role a specifically Christian university has in facing them. As well as participants coming up with individual conclusions on the topic, the conference will set up the goals and objectives for the next three years of CUAC's functioning.

Some outstanding Resource speakers have been chosen to provide input for the conference. The Revd Canon John L Peterson, General Secretary of the Anglican Consultative Council will be the preacher, and general advisory resource to the conference. A very interesting special speaker will be Archbishop Joseph Pittau, s.j., who is former President of Sophia University (Tokyo), but who is now Secretary of the Holy See (Vatican) Dept. for Catholic Education. He will lead the conference in reflection on issues that a Christian university within a faith tradition must address as it is set within a particular culture and context. The Rt. Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St. Albans, will function as theological reflector, and focus issues the church must address as it provides a ministry within higher education.

The conference is open to members of CUAC, either whose institutions are members of CUAC, or who are or wish to become "Friends" of CUAC. Conference details may be found on the CUAC website www.cuac.org or requested from the CUAC office:

Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion
815 Second Ave, Suite 315
New York, New York
U.S.A. 10017-4294
tel (212) 716-6149
fax (212) 986-5039

Photo: All Saint's Chapel and statue of Bishop Channing Moore Williams, founder of Rikkyo University