"If the concept of a grand party for theologians does not sound too much of a contradiction in terms, this was it! It was like being among a huge gang of friends from all over the world - including some whom I taught, but are now heading up theological institutions themselves", said Chris Wright of Langham Partnership International (LPI).

Wright, who brought Bible expositions to the conference, went on to say that out of the 100 or so present, around 20 had direct connections with LPI - either as Langham Scholars or as members of Langham Partnership Regional Councils.

He said, "It is so rewarding particularly to meet Langham Scholars in these positions of senior leadership."

For many years the Langham Partnership has enjoyed collaborating with the Overseas Council International and its linked movements around the world in helping to resource theological education in the majority world.

This year, its Institute of Excellence, with over 100 Principals from every continent, converged on a mountainside retreat centre near Frankfurt.

The highlights of the week were the 'highly entertaining' addresses by Luis Palau on evangelism and theological education.

In addition, during the week another seminal project was birthed - a small group from OCI, LPI and the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education was formed to look at how doctoral programmes outside the West have the quality of excellence that makes them truly worthy of doctoral degree status and who defines what 'excellence' means in new contexts?

Wright said, "We do not want simply to transplant ancient western models and criteria in contexts where they are not culturally appropriate. Yet there must be some internationally recognisable standard that is not merely culture-relative."