CD WORKSHOP, CALUEQEMBE, ANGOLA, 20-23 JANUARY, 2013.

The Future of Theological Education in Sub-Saharan Africa:

Proposals

WHAT DO “THEY” SAY?

Theological Education in Contemporary Africa (Grant Le Marquand and Joseph D. Galgalo. Eldoret (eds.), Kenya, 2004). Papers from the Limuru Consultation onTheological Education, St Paul’s United Theological College in Nairobi http://academic.sun.ac.za/theology/netact/CHALLENGES%20FOR%2021ST%20CENTURY.pdf

Regional Theological Associations and Theological Curriculum

Development in East Africa: Challenges and Prospects – Dr. Philomena Njeri Mwaura (Kenyatta University, Nairobi, 2009) http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p5/ete/Regional%20Theological%20 Associations%20and%20Theological%20Curriculum%20Development%20in%20East%20Africa%20-%20Philomena%20Mwaura.pdf

The Challenges of Theological Education in Africa. Dr. Tharcisse Gatwa

(Theological consultant for the All Africa Conference of Churches, member of its Theology, Ecumenical and Interfaith Department), 2010. http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/ p5/ete/ The%20Challenges%20 of%20Theological%20Education%20in%20Africa%20-%20Tharcisse%20Gatwa.pdf.

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Africa needs more trained Christians/Mais Cristaõs treinados

“The only way to correct this situation is for theological education to supplement programmes that are being offered through residential institutions to increase their enrolment and the number of graduates released each year to serve in the growing church.”

Godfrey Nguru Training of lay church workers/Treinamento feito pelo

Cristãos elementares Theological Institutes should admit and train lay men and

women who have a call to serve the church in ministries other than the ordained ministry. They will also help to bring the realities of the world into theological colleges.

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Urban missions/Missoẽs urbanas

The majority of theological institutes are more rural orientated – this should change. Urban missions should be part of curriculum – here life is more complex, people are more busy, more individualistic. People are crowded in slums and use less their mother tongue.

The cost of education/Custo de educação/formação

The cost of theological education is high and this effect theological education.

Some students live outside campus in poor conditions Good practical work also needs money – it should be budgeted

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Residential and distance education/Custo de educação/formação

The major drawback of the traditional system is that it limits access to theological education to only a few selected people.

Internet and e-mails (technological challenges)/Tecnologia Internet has revolutionized higher education in many ways.

Accreditation and Standardisation/Acreditação e

uniformidação de nivel

Complicated processes – need knowledge and skill!

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Publishing, marketing and access to African theological literature/Aliteratura teologica Africana “If it is true that Christianity is dynamic and growing in

the continent, where is the evidence of that dynamism and growth in African theological literature? For many years African scholars have observed that the Church in Africa is growing numerically but not theologically.” (Mwaura)

“For African theologians and the associations to influence theological curriculum they have a responsibility to write and publish textbooks of the courses they teach and ensure that they are on the course outlines.” (Mwaura)

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Global responsibility for God’s mission/Responsabilidade global “The growth of the church in Africa and many questions raised regarding the uncertainty affecting Christianity in Europe, have urged many different calls towards African theologians to fulfil in maturity and responsibility God's mission in a global changing world.” (Gatwa)

Disconnect between academy and mission

practitioners/Academia & missão

“There is also no guarantee that church leaders and those involved in policy decisions in the churches are reading what we write. There is therefore a disconnect between the academy and mission practitioners. Are church leaders uncomfortable with the liberating approach to theology and some of the issues addressed for example, gender justice, women’s empowerment and option for the poor?”

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Contextualisation of Theology/Contextualização

Realities that should receive attention in curricula: Neo-colonialism and exploitation Dictatorial and oppressive governance Poverty Social inequality and injustice The ecological crises Hunger and diseases – especially HIV and Aids Theology of Development, Crises management, Peace and reconciliation, Mission and evangelism, Elementary accountancy, Ministry to the poor, Ministry in the context of HIV/AIDS

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Other areas that need attention Ecumenism vs. denominationalism:

Excessive denominationalism and lack of a willingness to cooperate leads to: “the dissipation of energies and resources, and to isolation, hardening of positions, and ultimately to mediocrity.” (Gatwa)

The women’s movements Islam and other faith communities especially African Traditional

Religion Studies that promote justice, dismantling a culture of violence,

etc. Human rights

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Prophetic African theology/Profetica teologia africana Curricula should take notice of South African Black Theology and the

African liberation theology Curricula should reflect racism, tribalism, oppression, injustice, etc.

Therefore:

Re-write curricula/Rescrever curriculo

This is all the more reason for us to consider the re-writing of

curricula, the review of our theological methods and the way we teach theology in Africa to be urgent tasks. It is of little comfort to possess the necessary theoretical knowledge regarding sound doctrine when such knowledge cannot be brought to bear on our worship, life and faith, and everyday living.

– Joseph D. Galgalo

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Need for need-oriented curricula With special reference to the situation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Enhancing spiritual maturity of students: “Quite often, theological colleges take the spiritual maturity of their students for granted.”

Sammy Githuku

CHALLENGES: 1. More trained Christians 1. Mais Cristaõs treinados

2. Training lay Christians 2. Treinamento feito pelo Cristãos elementares

3. Urban missions 3. Missoẽs urbanas

4. Cost of education 4. Custo de educação/formação

5. Distance education? 5. Distãnçia educação

6. Technology 6. Technologia

7. Accreditation and standardization 7. Acreditação e uniformidação de nivel

8. African theological literature 8. Aliteratura teologica Africana

9. Global responsibilities 9. Responsabilidade global

10. Academy & mission disconnect 10. Academia & missão

11. Contextualization of theology 11. Contextualização

12. Prophetic African theology 12. Profetica teologia africana

13. Re-writing curricula 13. Rescrever curriculo

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MEETING OUR CHALLENGES:

WHAT DO WE HAVE?

(WHAT ARE OUR STRENGTHS?)

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Examples?

African histories and lessons from our histories – South Africa, Angola?

African culture (non-individualistic and compassionate).

African ingenuity.