ABOUT THE EVENT

Orthopathema: A New Lens for Mission as Ministry of Reconciliation in the Decade to Come

Reception immediately following lecture.

• Pope Francis invoked the image of the Church as “field hospital” in a world that is facing ever-expanding threats to human dignity and the common good. This was a reminder that the missio Dei calls for radical hospitality, compassion, and embodied care with whatever skills and resources are available and appropriate within a specific context. Consequently, the vision of Mission as a Ministry of Reconciliation needs to grow from being rooted in orthopraxis to include orthopathema; from “right practice” of ministry to also encompass a way of “right suffering” that has two goals: the “sinned-against” not only survive the aftermath of violence but are empowered to flourish in the future; the “sinned-against” find healing so as to not perpetuate further harm similar to how they themselves were harmed.  In the decade to come, this expanded understanding of Reconciliation and Mission through orthopathema will become essential for global Christianity to remain good news to the world.

The lecture draws from Chapter One of Considine’s new book: Analogy of the Wound: A Theology of Communication for Healing and Social Transformation (Bloomsbury/T&T Clark 2025)

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Kevin P. Considine is Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology and the Director of the Robert J. Schreiter Institute for Precious Blood Spirituality at Catholic Theological Union. His most recent book, Analogy of the Wound: A Theology of Communication for Healing and Social Transformation (Bloomsbury/T&T Clark 2025), weaves together insights from methods of contextual theologies, the wisdom of Black and Womanist Theologies, Korean diaspora theologies of 'han', psychologies of trauma and moral injury, and the Catholic tradition of analogy to arrive at a unique synthesis: moments of salvation can be found in carefully communicating woundedness in the midst of building beloved community. His first book, Salvation for the Sinned-Against (Pickwick 2015), focused on reinterpreting Catholic doctrines of salvation.