An upcoming international conference jointly organized by the University of Münster and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome promises a comprehensive exploration of the Council of Nicaea, held 1,700 years ago, focusing on its enduring theological and cultural significance. Scheduled for mid-October 2025 in Münster, this event will convene scholars from diverse disciplines—including theology, philosophy, history, Jewish and Islamic studies—to probe the multifaceted legacy of the first ecumenical council, held in 325 CE, that shaped the foundational doctrines of Christianity.
The conference emerges as a sequel to a February 2025 meeting in Rome, where emphasis was placed on historical, philological, and philosophical analyses of the Council. This second installment, titled “The Confession of the Council of Nicaea: History and Theology,” will shift focus toward the council’s enduring impact on Christianity’s internal diversity and its complex relations with Judaism and Islam. It promises an interdisciplinary dialogue that transcends traditional ecclesiastical boundaries, intensifying scholarly understanding of Nicaea’s place within broader intercultural and interreligious contexts.
Historically, the Council of Nicaea marks a seminal moment where theological disputes concerning the nature of Christ were addressed with imperial authority. Convened by Emperor Constantine, it was intended to resolve the Arian controversy—a doctrinal dispute questioning the divinity of Jesus Christ. The Council’s declaration that Jesus was consubstantial, “of the same substance” with God the Father, was transformative, establishing a creed that sought unity within a diverse Christian population spread across the Roman Empire. This creed, now famously known as the Nicene Creed, remains a cornerstone of faith in Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant traditions.
The Münster conference aims not only to investigate how the Nicene Creed has been internally interpreted within various Christian traditions—including Protestant and Anglican—but also to critically assess how the creed raises challenging questions when viewed through non-European and postcolonial lenses. Scholars will delve into the implications of imposing a primarily Hellenistic theological framework onto Christian communities rooted in different cultures, thereby exploring how Christianity’s doctrinal formulations interface with diverse worldviews and spiritual expressions outside of the Western tradition.
A significant thread of discussion will address the interfaith perspectives elicited by Nicaea’s theological assertions. Both Judaism and Islam, as monotheistic religions, fundamentally reject the notion of God having a son who is co-equal in divinity—a core claim of the Nicene Creed. This juxtaposition places Christianity in a complex theological dialogue with its sister monotheisms. Experts in Jewish and Islamic studies will contribute to unveiling how these religions historically and contemporarily relate to the Council’s confession, enriching the discourse on doctrinal exclusivity and interreligious understanding.
Adding a prominent voice to the conference’s deliberations, Piero Coda, Secretary General of the International Theological Commission, joins alongside noted scholars such as Alfred Bodenheimer (Jewish studies), Nadine Abbas (Islamic studies), Ben Quash (Anglican theology), Friederike Nüssel (Protestant theology), and Vincent Holzer (philosophy of religion). This distinguished assembly exemplifies the conference’s commitment to an inclusive and multi-perspective approach, incorporating expertise across global and intellectual spectra to reassess the council’s enduring textual and theological legacy.
The theological institutions spearheading the event underscore the intellectual vibrancy that emerges from their collaboration. The Pontifical Gregorian University, administered by the Jesuit Order, is renowned for its integration of rigorous historical inquiry with speculative theological reflection. Meanwhile, the University of Münster’s Faculty of Catholic Theology, the largest theological faculty within a secular university worldwide, brings a dynamic breadth of critical scholarship excelling in dogmatic history and contemporary faith questions across linguistic and cultural contexts. This synergy enriches the conversation with a multifaceted analytical rigor.
Considerable attention will also be given to the shifting theological landscapes within Christianity since the fourth century. Contemporary believers often diverge from ancient creedal dogmas, with many viewing Jesus Christ as primarily a remarkable historical figure retrospectively imbued with divine attributes rather than as inherently divine from the outset. This modern theological trajectory, gaining prominence since the Enlightenment, contrasts with early church dogmatics which employed sophisticated Christological and metaphysical constructs to articulate faith, underscoring the importance of historical theology in understanding present-day belief systems.
Moreover, the conference seeks to unravel the transcultural, ecumenical, and interreligious ramifications of Nicaea’s doctrinal proclamations. The Nicene Creed not only aimed at ecclesiastical unity but also positioned Christianity within the landscape of monotheistic religions, setting theological parameters that continue to influence Christian engagement with Judaism and Islam. This focus highlights how early doctrinal decisions echo through centuries and cultures, challenging theologians and historians to reconcile ancient creeds with contemporary pluralistic contexts.
The highly anticipated event will be hosted in the prestigious aula magna of Münster Castle, facilitating a multilingual and interdisciplinary exchange among academics and practitioners. The conference is a vital component of the University of Münster’s Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics,” which fosters innovative research at the intersection of religious traditions and socio-political dynamics, reflecting the ongoing relevance of theological heritage in understanding modern societal structures.
Adding to the conference’s significance, the current Pope, Leo XIV, has announced a pilgrimage to Iznik and Istanbul in November 2025 to participate in the ecumenical commemoration of the Council of Nicaea, symbolizing the event’s vitality for contemporary Christian unity and dialogue. Previously, Pope Francis had intended to engage personally with conference participants, underscoring the modern papacy’s commitment to bridging historical theology with current ecclesiastical and interfaith conversations, although this meeting was postponed due to his illness.
The conference thus represents an unprecedented forum bringing together global scholars to reconsider a pivotal moment in religious history with far-reaching theological, cultural, and political dimensions. By integrating historical scholarship with systematic theology and interreligious perspectives, the event aims to foster new insights into how the Council of Nicaea continues to shape faith, identity, and religious coexistence in the 21st century and beyond.
Subject of Research: The Council of Nicaea and its theological, ecumenical, and interreligious significance
Article Title: The Confession of the Council of Nicaea: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry into its 1700-Year Legacy
News Publication Date: Mid-October 2025 (conference dates: 15–17 October 2025)
Web References:
– Flyer and program details at University of Münster:
http://www.uni-muenster.de/imperia/md/content/-religion_und_politik/aktuelles/flyer_the_confession_of_the_council_of_nicaea_web.pdf
References: Not specified in the original text.
Image Credits: Cluster of Excellence ‘Religion and Politics’, University of Münster
Keywords: Religion, Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, Ethics, Philosophy, Theology, History of Dogma, Interreligious Dialogue, Council of Nicaea, Nicene Creed, Ecumenism
