From 21 to 25 August 2026, Utrecht hosted the 23rd Academic Consultation of the European Society for Ecumenical Research, Societas Oecumenica. A total of 86 registered participants attended the conference, including not only members of Societas Oecumenica but also other senior researchers and PhD students who were interested in the consultation’s theme: “Churches in the Midst of Polarisation”.
Seven plenary sessions, attended by invited guests, and a series of short papers, comprising a total of 33 presentations, were devoted to reflections on polarisation in society and within the churches.
The Dutch city of Utrecht hosted the Academic Consultation for the first time in 32 years. On this occasion, several local academic institutions, which had shown great interest in the event, were actively involved in the organisation: Old Catholic Seminary, Protestant Theological University, Theological University Utrecht, and Tilburg School of Catholic Theology. A public lecture on polarisation in the context of local society was co-organised by the Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Netherlands.
1st day, 21 August
The conference began in the beautiful Old Catholic conference centre In de Driehoek with an opening lecture by Simone Sinn, President of Societas Oecumenica, on polarisation from the perspective of the ecumenical movement. This was followed by the first plenary session, devoted to reflections on the interpretation of the Bible in the context of polarisation and on polarisation in the field of ethics, during which Debora Tonelli and Piter Vos presented their papers. The conference participants were warmly welcomed by Bernd Wallet, Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht, who invited those present to an opening reception.
2nd day, 22 August
On the second day, the programme moved to the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology and the nearby Catharijneconvent building. Following a session devoted to short presentations, the second plenary session took place, during which Masiiwa Ragies Gunda and Alena Hoefer spoke on the topic of churches and the processes of colonisation and decolonisation. The following session addressed the role of churches in polarising social contexts in South America (Tim Noble) and in the context of the war in Ukraine (Natallia Vasilevich, Stehne Brown). Representatives from Dutch academic and church life spoke during a public lecture on the relationship between democracy and the role of the law.
3rd day, 23 August
Sunday is traditionally honoured in the academic consultation programme as a day of rest, offering time to attend church services, the chance to explore the host city in more detail, and the opportunity for friendly conversations while walking or sharing a meal. In the morning, therefore, participants dispersed to local congregations and parishes of various Christian churches for Sunday services, while in the afternoon they began with a joint visit to the exhibition on the history of Christian art in the Netherlands at the Catharijneconvent Museum. They then set off on excursions in small groups: some went on a boat trip, others walked to significant sites related to church history, and it was also possible to explore Utrecht from the perspective of people without a fixed home.
4th day, 24 August
The morning plenary session at the Theological University of Utrecht focused on the issues of gender and human identity, which are often polarising topics in both ecumenical and societal contexts, and also highlighted the role of symbols and ritual mediation in the process of reconciling polarisation. Participants heard presentations from Regina Elsner, Pantelis Kalaitzidis, Mattijs Ploegger, Sam Goyvaerts, James Hawkey and Edda Wolff. Following the session of short presentations, which took place at the Protestant Theological University, a general assembly was held. The assembly first reviewed the activities of the Standing Committee for the period 2024–2026 and subsequently decided on the venue and theme for the academic consultation in 2028. It also elected the members of the new Standing Committee.
5th day, 25 August
The academic consultation concluded with a series of short lectures and a plenary session on the theme “Truth-Finding in the Context of De/polarisation”, during which Sara Gehlin and Annemarie Mayer delivered presentations.
The five-day consultation offered much material for reflection on the pressing issue of polarisation from the perspective of ecumenical theology. It provided an opportunity for listening, debate, but also for prayer, for building new friendships and professional contacts, and for deepening ecumenical communion.
Photos: Rudolf Scheltinga and Societas Oecumenica
