Aage Mejrup and Branko Sekulić – New Masters of Ecumenical Studies!

Aage Mejrup from Denmark and Branko Seculić, a Serbian Croatian, completed the academic requirements of the program. They wrote their master’s theses and presented them before the Master’s Commission headed by Fr. Dr. Oleh Kindiy, an assistant professor of UCU.

Mejrup entitled his thesis What is the Ecumenical Potential of Pentecostal Ecclesiological thinking? Presentation, Discussion, and Assessment. Academic advisor of the work was Professor Roman Soloviy STD. He noted that “ecumenical potential of Pentecostal movement was often neglected for many reasons. Therefore, Aage Mejrup’s thesis is focused on the highly important and crucial issue. Though Pentecostals usually are not regarded as proponents of ecumenical vision and practice, the thesis provides an intriguing analysis of the insights of today’s Pentecostal thinkers that develop a creative dialog with main Christian traditions”. The most positive aspect of the research project from prof. Soloviy’s perspective was the student’s enthusiastic attitude, his openness to a wider ecumenical horizon combined with the appreciation of Pentecostal and Lutheran heritage. He added that it was a pleasure to work with Aage on his thesis.

Reviewer of the thesis, Michailo Cherenkov, Ph.D. also underlined the relevance of the raised issue and expressed his hope that Mejrup would deepen his Master’s research to the level of a Doctoral dissertation.

Branko Seculić dedicated his master’s thesis to the theme of social ecumenism Social Sense and Ecumenical Effort: in spite of Ethnoreligious Exclusiveness. Advisor of the work was Professor Zynoviy Svereda, Ph.D. He admitted that the researcher demonstrated great desire to write the thesis, as it was based on his personal experience. Branco analyzed the situation in his country and demonstrated that all people need dialogue and meeting. Therefore, the religious leaders, theology as a science and ecumenism as a process must help all people to rebuild peace and prosperity.

Reviewer of the thesis, Taras Kurylets, the employee of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies, said that the paper corresponded to the highest academic standards and admitted that the issue regarding the danger of the ethnonationalism in former Yugoslavia is now presented in contemporary Russia.

Both works were highly evaluated by the Master’s Commission. The students received the highest grades for the theses and their defense.