Webinar Themes and Dates for 2025–2026
The international planning group for the CODE Forum webinar series has agreed to develop the theme of food including how food is shared, and how food poverty can be addressed in an innovative way. It will also look at food security and sustainability and how Christian social practice can engage with the issue of food justice. In each webinar there will be a space for research, innovative practice and theological reflection.
Webinar 1, 21st November 2025:
Innovative Practice for Sharing Food
– Research, Practice and Reflection
In a time of food poverty which affects many people the question of the diaconal role in food sharing with affected people is increasingly questioned. On the one hand diaconal food sharing is an area for innovative practice, including political practice. The topics covered by this webinar will include research on diaconal food sharing. We will explore local practices of food sharing as community building and as support for action for change.
From a diaconal perspective, sharing food and having a meal are closely related but not the same. Sharing food takes on a deeper meaning against the horizon of sharing a meal together, as the embodiment of community or solidarity. This intrinsic connection between receiving, offering, sharing, and celebrating is visible in the Eucharist. The webinar will therefore pay attention to the theological reflection on the relationship between sharing a meal at the Eucharistic Table, at other tables and diaconal food sharing practice.
Programme / 21st November 2025
9.00 – 9.10
Introduction to the event.
Introduction to the first session and the speakers.
9.10 – 9.55 – Theological Reflection on Diaconal Food Sharing:
- Rosa Huotari Faith-based food assistance and the aim for social inclusion
- Erica Meijers Diaconia and the eucharist in urban contexts
a practice of grace, desire and resistance
Short plenary.
9.55 – 10.20 – Break out rooms.
10.20 – 10.35 – Coffee break
Introduction to the second session and the speakers.
10.35 – 11.15 – Practical Initiatives in Food Sharing
- Katri Valve: ‘Shared Table’ as a Contribution to a Convivial Economy (Finland)
- James Henderson: ‘Your Local Pantry’ – Dignity, Choice and Hope (United Kingdom)
Short plenary.
11.15 – 11.35 – Break out rooms.
11.35 – 11.55 – Feedback from the groups and panel discussion.
11.55 – 12.00
Webinar Closing.
Speakers / 21st November 2025
Rosa Huotari is a postdoctoral researcher in Urban Theology at Helsinki University, Finland.
Erica Meijers is Associate Professor for Diaconal Studies at the Protestant Theological University in the Netherlands.
Katri Valve is the Head of Diaconia for Vantaa Parish Association, Finland
Webinar 2, 24th April 2026:
Innovative Practice for Food Security and Sustainability
– Analysis, Practice and Theology
Food poverty and hunger are not usually ‘accidental’! This webinar will probe the reasons for food insecurity, including the impact of climate change and the impact of civil conflict and war. However food poverty may be seen as an aspect of globalisation where the best land is given over to food production for export (global food chains).
The topics for the webinar will include the analysis of food (in)security as well as practice and research on engagement for food security and sustainability. Ways to ensure food security in areas where there is food poverty and related political engagement for food justice security will be discussed. As well as theological reflection, for example on land or soil as factors influencing food production as well as the churches’ ownership of land which is, or which may be used for sustainable food production will be discussed.
Programme / 24th April 2026
9.00 – 9.10
Introduction to the event.
Introduction to the first session and the speakers.
9.10 – 9.55 Food security, food justice and faith in South Africa: practitioner
perspectives:
- Thabang Kotsedi (Centre for Faith and Community, University of
Pretoria, South Africa), - Liesl Stewart (food activist and researcher, Cape Town, South Africa)
In conversation with Nadine Bowers Du Toit (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
Short plenary
9.55 – 10.20 Break out rooms.
10.20 – 10.35 Coffee break
Introduction to the second session and the speakers.
10.35 – 11.15 Practical and Research Initiatives on food production, ecology, food
sharing and justice
- Allon Makkinga (Protestant Theological University, The Netherlands) ‘On
Loan: research on the management of church-owned land in light of the
ecological challenges of the 21st century. - Christine Wenona Hoffmann (Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany)
‘Vesper Church’ as an example of church action in food justice.
In conversation with Thijs Tromp (Protestant Theological University, The Netherlands)
Short plenary
11.15 – 11.35 Break out rooms.
11.35 – 11.55 Feedback from the groups and panel discussion.
11.55 – 12.00 Webinar Closing.
Speakers / 24th April 2026
Thabang Kotsedi is a research coordinator for the Centre for Faith and Community at
the University of Pretoria. She serves on the executive committee of the newly formed
Union against Hunger in Pretoria, which seeks to eradicate hunger and malnutrition as
social justice issues.
Liesl Stewart has spent two decades building and convening an alternative food
network in Cape Town, connecting small-scale producers with consumers and
reimagining food systems that honour God’s love for all of Creation. She is driven by a
deep conviction that how we grow, share, and eat food is an act of faithfulness to God
and neighbour.
Nadine Bowers Du Toit is professor of Theology and Development and the director of
the Unit for Religion and Development Research (URDR) at the University of
Stellenbosch.
Allon Makkinga is a PhD-researcher at the Protestant Theological University (PThU) in
the Netherlands. His research concerns action research conducted in collaboration with
Protestant churches and diaconal organizations, aimed at developing a theologically
responsible and context-sensitive policy on land owned by the church.
Christine Wenona Hoffmann is the professor for Practical Theology at the Goethe
University, Frankfurt, Germany. She holds a diploma from the Ruth Cohn Institute for
Theme-Centered Interaction (TCI) International and is a certified supervisor with the
German Association for Supervision and Coaching (DGSv).
Thijs Tromp is professor of Diaconal Studies at the Protestant Theological University,
Utrecht, The Netherlands. His research focusses on diaconal and the contribution of the
diaconal work to social inclusion. He is a team member of the SOIL project at the
University.
Notes
Both Webinars will be at the following time:
8.00-11.00 UK/9.00-12.00 CET/10.00-13.00 EET
The Webinar language is English
It is not necessary to be at the first webinar to join the second in the series.
Zoom link: https://diak-fi.zoom.us/j/68978790188
(No pre-registration is required)
Howspace
The materials, including PowerPoint presentations and recordings from the previous webinars in this series continue to be collected on Howspace. The availability of the recordings and presentations depends on the permission of each presenter. The page also includes details of the upcoming webinar.
Presentations may be downloaded and used for educational purposes. The address is:
https://international-diaconia-webinars.in.howspace.com/welcome
Access to this Howspace can be obtained from Ville Päivänsalo ville.paivansalo@diak.fi.
More Information
Information about Webinar web pages and the password for Howspace can be obtained from ville.paivansalo@diak.fi.
If you have any questions about the Webinar series or would like to receive updates, please contact one of these addresses:
Oksana Prosvirnina
oksana.prosvirnina@outlook.com
Tony Addy
praxis@pro-vocation.org
The CODE forum
The CODE Forum is:
an open international network focused on community development (local practice) and diaconia (Christian social practice)
a space which welcomes teachers, researchers, practitioners and students
a dialogical, reciprocal space for sharing and discussing ideas and concepts which inform and are informed by practice (‘we do what we study’)
a research and development network which sets local practice in a wider context
a network which organises a webinar each semester, international projects and a
biennial meeting
The CODE Forum is a recognised network of the International Society for the Research and Study of Diaconia and Christian Social Practice (ReDi).
The CODE Forum international diaconia webinars are jointly organised by Diaconia University of Applied Science and the National Church Council (Finland), VID Specialized University (Norway), the Protestant Theological University (The Netherlands), DWI Diakoniewissenschaftliche Institut (Germany), Jabok College of Applied Social Studies (the Czech Republic) and the International Academy for Christian and Social Action in Eastern and Central Europe (interdiac).
Image by permission of Shared Table, Vantaa, Finland