Dom Hélder Câmara Lecture 2026
The Dom Hélder Câmara Lecture, named after the liberation theologian Hélder Câmara, is an annual lecture on contextual biblical interpretation. This year, the lecture will be delivered by Palestinian theologian Grace Al-Zoughbi on the topic of ‘Theological Education for Women in the Middle East’.
Dom Hélder Câmara Lecture
The Dom Hélder Câmara Lecture is an annual lecture on contextual biblical interpretation. The lecture is named after the Brazilian archbishop and liberation theologian Dom Hélder Câmara (1909–1999), who was known for his commitment to the poor, human rights, and social justice.
Professor Al-Zoughbi
This year’s lecture will be delivered by Assistant Professor Dr Grace Al-Zoughbi. Professor Al-Zoughbi is a Palestinian theologian affiliated with the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) and the Middle East and North Africa Association for Theological Education (MENATE). Kirsten van der Ham and Hanneke de Pater will also contribute to the evening, offering reflections based on their work and research.
Theological Agency
The evening will explore theological agency in various challenging contexts of theological formation, including theological education for women in the Middle East, missional contexts, and reading groups addressing racism in churches in the Netherlands. The lecture is entitled Theological Education and the Flourishing of Arab Christian Women in the Middle East.
Together, we will explore what theological agency means, who can exercise it, how it can take shape, and which factors enable or hinder the search for and discovery of theological meaning in different contexts. Can those who have traditionally been regarded as recipients of theology—women, laypeople, and non-believers—take a more active role in shaping, producing, and interpreting theology? And what is needed to make this possible?
Practical Information
- Date: 19 November
- Time: 7:30 - 9:00 PM
- Location: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
- Registration: Register here
