Mission and Goals
In his epistle to the Romans, Paul
commends Phoebe, already a deacon in the early Christian
Church, as a benefactor to him and many others. He
writes, “I commend
to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the Church at
Kenchreai, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is
fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may
require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and
of myself as well.” (Romans 16:1-2)
Phoebe was probably a prominent wealthy citizen in
Kenchreai, the port for ancient Corinth where Paul stayed
preaching and teaching. As they ministered to each other
and communicated the love of God, so The Phoebe Institute
for Religious Studies will probe the deeper relationships
among and between God, women and men.
Based where Phoebe and Paul ministered, the Institute will:
Examine academically and experientially the process of reconciliation and know its resurrection power;
Explore the pathways which lead beyond the barriers of gender, race, age, culture and faith;
Create forms of worship which celebrate our rich cultural differences and lead to new insights.
These goals are in part summarized within Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians when he writes, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18)
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