WHY IS THE RSLN IMPORTANT? - June 13 - 17 2022 | Rome, Italy - Reformanda Initiative
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June 13 - 17 2022 | Rome, Italy
WHY IS THE RSLN IMPORTANT?
Evangelicalism currently has an incoherent relationship with Roman Catholicism.
Many evangelicals are uncertain about what Roman Catholics actually believe. Do they
believe in the same Gospel, or something entirely different? This question is important
for leaders of evangelical churches and organizations and for hundreds of millions of
evangelical believers around the world. We are convinced, in line with the historic
Protestant view, that Roman Catholicism is a severely flawed system in need of a
radical biblical reformation in its basic theology and practice.
Currently, the Reformanda Initiative is the only organization with a strategy and
program for evangelical leaders and scholars to study Roman Catholicism from an
explicitly evangelical perspective so that they may equip and educate others as well.
RSLN VISION
The Rome Scholars & Leaders Network was
designed to create a context for evangelical
scholars and leaders:
1. To have access to evangelical scholars and
leaders who are experts on Roman Catholicism
2. To study and evaluate Roman Catholic theology
and practice in the heart of Roman Catholicism,
Rome itself
3. To be trained and equipped to be scholars,
leaders, and communicators of an evangelical
perspective about Roman Catholicism and the
biblical Gospel of salvation through faith alone
WHO CAN ATTEND?
The Rome Scholars & Leaders Network is invitation only. The RSLN would welcome applications from:
1. Evangelicals scholars currently involved in theological research and/or training
2. Existing or emerging evangelical scholars or leaders with at least a Master in a theological field
3. Influential evangelical leaders and trainers serving in, or preparing others for service in a Roman Catholic
context
WHAT IS THE RSLN?
The RSLN is a weeklong seminar in Rome sponsored
by the Reformanda Initiative, partner of the Forum
of Christian Leaders (foclonline.org).
The Rome Scholars & Leaders Network programme
includes:
1. Text-based discussions on pre-assigned reading
selections
2. Integrated lectures on Roman Catholic theology
and practice, evangelical theological distinctives,
historical relations between Roman Catholics and
Protestants, and opportunities for dialogue,
evangelism, and engagement today
3. Papers, written and submitted by participants,
from an evangelical perspective on Roman Catholic
theology and practice that are evaluated by Rome
Scholars faculty
4. Personal mentoring between each participant
and a faculty member
5. Excursions and tours of the Vatican and other
important historical sites in RomeRACHEL CIANO
2022 RSLN FACULTY Rachel Ciano lectures in Christianity in History at
Sydney Missionary and Bible College, Australia.
She loves journeying with students as they see
history come alive and brought into the present,
LEONARDO DE CHIRICO and discover its relevance and implications for
Dr. Leonardo De Chirico is the pastor of Breccia di their world, churches, ministry, and their own
Roma, a church that he helped plant in Rome in walk with God. She particularly loves exploring
2009, and Chairman of Theological committee for the Reformation, and specializes in the English
the Italian Evangelical Alliance. His PhD is from Reformation. With her husband, she has
King’s College (London); it was published as ministered in Australia and the UK. In 2009, they
Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post- planted a church in a multicultural area of Sydney
Vatican II Roman Catholicism. His books include A which is one-third Catholic, and they continue to
Christian Pocket Guide to Papacy (2015), A serve and lead here. She is co-author of 10 Dead
Christians Guide to Mary: Mother of God? (2017) Guys You Should Know, and is currently working
and Same Words, Different Worlds. Do evangelicals on the apt sequel, 10 Dead Gals You Should
and Roman Catholics believe the same gospel? Know.
recently published by IVP. He is a lecturer of
Historical Theology at Istituto di Formazione
Evangelica e Documentazione in Padova, Italy. MARK GILBERT
Additionally, Leonardo is the Director of the Rev. Dr. Mark Gilbert works for
Reformanda Initiative / RSLN Certainty4Eternity, an organisation established
to help churches share the gospel with people
from a Roman Catholic background. Mark grew
GREGG ALLISON up as a committed Roman Catholic, but despite
Dr. Gregg Allison is professor of Christian theology this did not hear the gospel until he started
at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. university. He trained as a doctor before
Gregg received his PhD at Trinity Evangelical retraining as a minister, and has served in
Divinity School. He is secretary of the Evangelical Anglican churches in Sydney since 2000. He
Theological Society and a book review editor for the currently works as a chaplain on the Northern
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. He is Beaches. Mark has published a number of
the author of numerous books, including Roman resources with Matthias Media to help people
Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical share the good news about Jesus with people
Assessment (2014), Historical Theology: An from a Roman Catholic background including The
Introduction to Christian Doctrine (2011) and 40 God Who Saves, The Road Once Travelled and
Questions about Roman Catholicism (2021). Stepping Out in Faith.
REID KARR CLAY KANNARD
Reid Karr is the pastor of Breccia di Roma San Clay Kannard is co-pastor of the church Breccia di
Paolo. He has been employed by the International Roma. In 2013, his family was sent to Rome, Italy
Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention from Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock,
since June of 2009. He is working on his PhD on the Arkansas, through WorldVenture, to serve as a
theology of evangelization in contemporary Roman resource to Italians in communicating and living
Catholicism (Union School of Theology). out the Gospel, developing new leaders, and
Additionally, Reid is the Associate Director for the planting new churches. Clay earned a Bachelor of
Reformanda Initiative, which aims to equip Science in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible
evangelical leaders to better understand and Institute and a Master of Theological Studies with
engage with Roman Catholicism. emphasis in Preaching and Pastoral Ministries
through Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary.
ROBBIE BELLIS
Robbie Bellis is a pastor of the Eglise Protestante
Evangélique de Louvain-la-Neuve, a church he
helped plant in 2020. Previously Robbie was
assistant pastor in Woluwe, Brussels from 2015-
2019. He studied French at the University of
Durham, Theology at the Institut Biblique de
Bruxelles and obtained a ThM from Westminster
Seminary Philadelphia. His Masters Thesis was on
the decline of the belief of penal substitution in the
Roman Catholic Church during the 20th Century.
Additionnally, Robbie teaches one day a week at
the Institut Biblique de Bruxelles helping train
future pastors and church workers in Belgium. He is
married to Lizzie and has four children.
HOW DO I APPLY TO WHAT IS THE COST?
THE 2022 RSLN?
CONFERENCE FEE (LUNCH INCLUDED)
If you are interested in applying €200 EARLY REGISTRATION: APPLY BY JANUARY 1ST
for the Rome Scholars & Leaders €250 REGULAR REGISTRATION: APPLY BY FEBRUARY 28TH
Network, please fill out an €300 LATE REGISTRATION: APPLY BY MAY 31ST
application at:
*PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAVEL , ACCOMMODATION EXPENSES AND
www.reformandainitiative.org/rsn/apply DINNERS. A LIST OF HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS WITH PRICE RANGES WILL BE PROVIDEDHEAR WHAT RSLN
PARTICIPANTS ARE
SAYING:
HEAR WHAT KEY EVANGELICAL LEADERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT THE ROME SCHOLARS & LEADERS NETWORK: From a professor of biblical and
theological studies:
"The conference was helpful in so
Stefan Gustavsson, General Secretary, Swedish many respects. It helped me better
conceptualize and understand the
Evangelical Alliance
RCC as a system rather than isolated
‘Today many evangelicals have a shallow
and individual doctrines. The
understanding of the difference between the
conference helped me understand
Evangelical faith and the faith of the Roman Catholic that when approached from a
Church. This ignorance leads easily to either prejudices systemic perspective, the differences
about or naïve affirmation of Roman Catholic theology. between Protestants and Catholic are
What is needed instead is a thorough and greater than I previously envisioned.
knowledgeable assessment of the two systems of Thusly, the importance of my work and
belief. In this area of great need the Reformanda ministry in a Catholic context is only
Initiative and its Rome Scholars Network provides heightened."
timely and unique resources for evangelical leaders. I
recommend it with great enthusiasm!’ From a European theological trainer:
"I grew up in the Roman Catholic
Church, I have ministered for years in a
Wayne Grudem, Professor of Theology and Biblical culture dominated by it, received a
four-year graduate theological degree
Studies, Phoenix Seminary
from a highly respected evangelical
‘The Reformanda Initiative is providing a much- institution and yet participation in the
needed, well-informed, gracious, insightful, and RSN was, in many ways, an eye opener
biblically-faithful perspective by which evangelical for me. The people who lead the
Protestants today can understand our Roman Catholic project wonderfully combine their love
friends and Roman Catholicism more generally. Its and commitment for the Gospel with
leaders clearly understand not only our similarities but immense historical, academic and
also the deep and important differences between personal expertise in the complex
evangelicals and Roman Catholics today.’ reality of Roman Catholicism. This is a
very needed initiative that enriches
and equips the Church for its ever-
Augustus Nicodemus Lopez, Vice-President of challenging mission to proclaim true
Presbyterian Church of Brazil Gospel of Jesus Christ to the dying
world around us."
‘For quite a long time evangelicals have been critical
of the Roman Catholic Church here in Brazil. Sadly to
From an experienced missionary in a
say, most of the time without even knowing the
Roman Catholic country:
reasons why....We need to know more about the
"Although being a church planter in a
Roman Catholic Church and find the best approach to
highly Catholic context, I was pretty
our Catholic friends, especially when the Reformed ignorant to the in-depth teaching of
faith is taking a surprising turn in Brazil and growing the Vatican. RSN was a great
fast among young people. The Reformanda Initiative opportunity to meet with people from
and the Rome Scholars Network will prove to be a all over the planet and sit under the
powerful tool to help evangelicals to better teaching of world-class Evangelical
understand and interact with Roman Catholicism.’ scholars on Roman Catholicism. I
learned a great amount and left with a
desire to continue learning and
engaging with Roman Catholicism, so
The Reformanda Initiative exists to identify, unite, equip, and resource
that I can be better prepared to share
evangelical leaders to understand Roman Catholic theology and practice, to the one true gospel of Jesus Christ
educate the evangelical Church and to communicate the Gospel.
with my Catholic friends."You can also read
