On May 26, 2021, Baptists theologians and leaders from around the world participated in a joint conversation with Orthodox theologians and leaders at the International Theological Conference at Bucharest University.
BWA Vice President Otniel Bunaciu, Professor of Theology at Bucharest University, led the colloquium, which focused on “The Nature and Dignity of the Human Person.” Dr. Daniel Barbu, University of Bucharest, began the conference with the presentation “How to Become Human.” Orthodox participants and panelists included: Pr. Prof. Dumitru Vanca, University “1 December 1918” Alba Iulia; The Rev. Dr. John Behr (Scotland), Regius Professor of Humanity, University of Aberdeen; Dr. Tamara Grdzelidze (Georgia), Associated Professor in Religious Studies, Ilia State University, Tbilisi; Dr. Brandon Gallaher (England) Senior Lecturer of Systematic and Comparative Theology, University of Exeter; and Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou (USA), Archbishop Demetrios Professor in Orthodox Theology and Culture at Fordham University, Senior Fellow and co-founder, Orthodox Christian Studies.
Baptist presenters and panelists included: The Rev. Dr. Paul Fiddes, (England), Professor of Systematic Theology, Oxford University, Fellow British Academy; The Rev. Dr. Steve Harmon (USA), Professor of Historical Theology, Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity; Dr. Elizabeth Newman (USA), Professor of Theology, Adjunct (Duke Divinity School); The Rev. Dr. Parush Parushev (Bulgaria), Rector of St. Trivelius Institute Sofia; Dr. Valérie Duval-Poujol (France), The Catholic Institute of Paris, and The Rev. Tony Peck, (England), General Secretary, European Baptist Federation. The BWA Commission on Baptist Doctrine and Christian Unity assisted in the planning of the conference, which approximately sixty participants attended.