![\"Tihi](\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/images_news_Tihi_phd2a.jpg\")
<\/a>Dr Lazi\u0107, who joined Newbold\u2019s Department of Theological Studies in September 2015 as a Lecturer in Systematic Theology, completed the examination process in October when he successfully defended his research viva voce exam in front of a panel of examiners.<\/p>\nDr Lazi\u0107\u2019s thesis, which was titled Remnant in Koinonia: Towards an Adventist version of communio ecclesiology, focuses on rethinking the identity of Adventism in the 21st century, and redefining who we are as Adventists and how we relate to other Christians and non-Christians.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecent tensions that Adventism is experiencing in relation to the issue of women’s ordination, and the nature of church unity and authority, are a strong reminder that we can no longer afford to ignore a foundational task of spelling out a more comprehensive vision of church,\u201d Dr Lazi\u0107 claims. \u201cA more thorough ecclesiological engagement,\u201d he argues, \u201cwill not only enable a deeper understanding of our shared spiritual identity, but will also help Adventist community to retain its global unity, maintain its relevance in the world at large, and participate in a more fruitful and meaningful interaction with others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Lazi\u0107\u2019s thesis was described by Oxford examiners as a \u201cground-breaking and original piece of work that seeks to bring the traditional distinctive ideas of Seventh-day Adventist theology into a dialogue with wider Christian scholarship.\u201d They added, that \u201cit facilitates a recent Adventist ecclesiological quest by proposing ways of reaching a more rounded and systematically articulated concept of church from an Adventist perspective.\u201d They argue that the thesis could assist Adventists to confront some of the most divisive issues they face as a denomination today, such as those regarding church structure, mission, ministry, communal interpretation, unity and reform.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur visions of theology and Christianity in general were quite different, and even conflicting at times, but after long hours of conversing with them, I realised that there is no better path to a deeper self-understanding than a dialogue with somebody who can challenge the unquestioned assumptions that we hold about the world, and stimulate fresh thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf we really want to grow in our knowledge and spirituality,\u201d Dr Lazi\u0107 said, \u201cwe should not avoid hard questions; neither should we shy away from those who think differently than us. If we decide to engage in a dialogue, we should do so with an open mind; not only to teach others, but also to learn from them.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Lazi\u0107 who, through his responsibility for Public Campus Ministry (PCM) in the Trans-European Division, oversees efforts to reduce the ever-increasing number of Adventist students who leave the Church during their university or college studies. He is now incorporating his research and findings into Newbold\u2019s postgraduate Theology degree including a new module, Emerging Perspectives in Ecclesiology. Focusing on the nature of the church, it will next be taught in the Spring semester 2017. The aim is to inspire and equip current and future generations of students with the ability to engage in the important task of developing a mature and more complete vision of what it means to be a church in the 21st century.<\/p>\n To find out more about degree offerings and programmes at Newbold College of Higher Education visit their website<\/a>. [ted<\/em>NEWS]<\/p>\n<\/a>Dr Lazi\u0107 claimed that his favourite moments at Oxford were those he spent debating and interacting with other students and world-leading scholars in an informal context.<\/p>\n
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