The Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication (ARC), in cooperation with the Mission, Education, and Research (MER) initiative of the Australian Province of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), launched its 2026 Online Public Lecture Series with a call for more compassionate leadership, intercultural dialogue, and care for creation in today’s divided world.
The online lecture on May 16 focused on the theme “Integral Human Development in a Fragmented World” and brought together participants from across Asia and Australia, including missionaries, educators, Church leaders, and scholars.
ARC, established in 1999 at St. John’s University in Bangkok, promotes research in religion and social communication across Asia and beyond.
Opening the session, Father Anthony Le Duc, SVD, executive director of ARC and coordinator of the MER team, said the world today is marked by deep social, political, ecological, and technological fragmentation.
He pointed to growing individualism, hostility toward migrants and refugees, environmental exploitation, and the ethical challenges posed by rapid technological developments such as artificial intelligence.
Against these realities, he said the lecture series seeks to promote “integral human development,” emphasizing the flourishing of the whole person socially, spiritually, culturally, and ecologically.
The first keynote speaker, Father Vien V. Nguyen, SCJ, provincial superior of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in the United States, reflected on how the crucifixion of Christ challenges traditional ideas of masculinity and power.
In his presentation, “The Scandal of the Cross: Masculinity Subverted,” Nguyen explained that ancient Greco-Roman society valued dominance, strength, and public honor as signs of true masculinity.
Jesus, however, presented a radically different model.
“The Gospel portrays Jesus as vulnerable, humble, and closely connected with the poor and marginalized,” Nguyen said. “He offers a version of masculinity that values sacrificial service over dominance, care over conquest, and love over power.”
Nguyen described the Cross as a model of “kenosis,” or self-emptying love, through which Christ rejected domination and embraced humility and service.
Drawing from the writings of St. Paul and theologian Michael J. Gorman, he introduced the concept of “cruciform masculinity,” a form of leadership rooted in self-giving love rather than control or superiority.
He said this vision has important implications for Church leadership, ministry, mission, and environmental responsibility.
Nguyen encouraged Church leaders to move away from hierarchical and paternalistic styles of leadership and instead embrace more collaborative and synodal approaches inspired by Pope Francis.
“A leader is not simply a commander,” he said, “but a facilitator who helps communities discern together the movement of the Spirit.”
He also stressed that missionaries must approach local cultures with humility and respect, recognizing that God is already present and active within them.
On ecological concerns, Nguyen warned against interpreting humanity’s role in creation as domination over nature.
“We are not the owners of the world,” he said, “but caretakers entrusted with protecting the integrity of creation.”
The second keynote speaker, Father Roger Schroeder, SVD, professor of mission and culture at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and former missionary in Papua New Guinea, focused on the Church’s understanding of mission through what he called “prophetic dialogue.”
Schroeder explained that the concept emerged from the missionary experiences of the Church in Asia and Latin America, combining dialogue with cultures and religions with a prophetic commitment to justice and advocacy for the poor.
“Mission is not simply about doing things for people,” Schroeder said. “It begins with being with people, listening to them, and sharing life with them.”
He described dialogue as one of the most important developments in the Church since the Second Vatican Council, moving the Church away from confrontation with the modern world toward engagement and mutual learning.
Using the image of removing one’s shoes before entering a sacred place, Schroeder said missionaries and ministers must approach others with humility, respect, and openness.
At the same time, he stressed that authentic dialogue must also remain prophetic by confronting injustice, violence, exploitation, and environmental destruction.
He highlighted justice, peace, and integrity of creation (JPIC) as essential dimensions of Christian mission and integral human development.
Schroeder also warned against paternalism and “savior complexes” in missionary and humanitarian work, encouraging Church workers instead to accompany communities and empower local people to speak for themselves.
Integral human development, he added, goes beyond material assistance and requires understanding the culture, history, and lived experiences of the people being served.
The lecture concluded with a shared call for Christians to become agents of reconciliation, humility, and solidarity in a world increasingly marked by division and conflict.
The 2026 MER-ARC lecture series will continue in the coming months with additional sessions exploring various dimensions of integral human development amid today’s global challenges.
