
ROUNDTABLE
ISAC's online roundtable brings scholars to analyze recent or up-coming events that impact, engage, or speak to Asian Catholics.
UP COMING EVENT
Tuesday, 20 May 2025
20:00 Singapore Time

This year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the famous Council of Nicaea—a pivotal moment in the history of Christianity. While this event might seem distant and formal, many Christian churches continue to celebrate its legacy. But what relevance does it hold for 21st-century Asian Christians? How can this council be more than just a doctrinal milestone?
Following the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire in 311, various heretical movements emerged more publicly, leading to public disputes and divisions. In response, a non-Christian emperor convened all the bishops at his summer residence to determine whether the theological ideas of the priest Arius were compatible with the Church’s faith. This gathering, held in May–June 325, led to significant outcomes. Under the auspices of an emperor who would later be baptized by a heretical bishop, the prelates issued a confession of faith—what would become the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed—and made important decisions regarding clerical discipline and Church governance.
Seventeen centuries later, each of these aspects speaks profoundly to Asian Christians, who often live in contexts marked by deep ecclesial, cultural, and theological divisions, and under political systems that are not always inclusive. Bringing together four experts from different backgrounds, our roundtable explores how the Council of Nicaea—its convocation, proceedings, resulting text, and decisions—can still resonate with and offer insight to 21st-century Asia.
Guest Speakers:
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Dr. Stephanie Ann Puen, Assistant Professor, Department of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University
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Mr. Charles Bertille, Ecclesial Analyst, Student in Theology, Synodality in the Malaysian Church context.
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Dr Joseph Prabhakar Dayam, Dean of doctoral studies, Gurukul Lutheran Theology College, Chennai.
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Dr. Yang Fenggang, Professor of Sociology, Purdue University.
Moderator:
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Dr. Bubbles B. Asor, De La Salle University, Manila.
To register and stay informed about upcoming roundtables, please register:
May 2025: The Asian Legacy of Pope Francis, Interreligious Dialogue, Migration & Geopolitics
February 2025: Trump Policies & their Implications for Christians in Asia
September 2024: Pope Francis in Southeast Asia
August 2024: The Crisis in Bangladesh and Its Impact on Local Christians
June 2024: The Results of India's General Election and their Significance for Christians
February 2024: Discerning the Dissent in the Syro-Malabar Church of India
December 2023: The Warming Trend of the Vietnam Vatican Relations
September 2023: Facing Sexual Abuses in Catholic Asia
July 2023: The Never Ending Korean War & Catholicism
May 2023: The Difficulties of Radio Veritas Asia: Catholic Information and Communication
February 2023: A New Catholic Prime Minister in Taiwan, Domestic and International Implications
December 2022: The Crisis in Myanmar - Its Impact on Catholics and Other Minorities
October 2022: The Sino-Vatican Agreement and its Geopolitical Significance
August 2022: Creating 6 new cardinals from Asia and sending many more messages
July 2022: The GotaGoGama Crisis in Sri Lanka: What does it mean for Catholics?
June 2022: The Philippines 2022 Presidential Election and the Catholic Church
Past Events
