DOCSLIB.ORG

Child Theology

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Child Theology THEOLOGY IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH Vol. 5 Theological Practices That Matter The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches eology in the Life of the Church series Being the Church in the Midst of Empire. Trinitarian Reflection s, Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths , Simone Sinn (ed.) Identity, Survival Witness. Reconfiguring !eological Agendas , Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) Lutherans Respond to Pentecostalism, Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) !eological Practices that Matter , Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) Transformative !eological Perspectives , Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) eological Practices that Matter !eology in the Life of the Church, vol. 5 Karen L. Bloomquist, Editor on behalf of the Lutheran World Federation Copyright © 2009, Lutheran University Press and !e Lutheran World Federation. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in articles and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. Editorial assistance and layout: LWF/Department for !eology and Studies Design: LWF/Office of Communication Services Artwork on cover: LWF/Office of Communication Services. Photo © LWF/D.-M. Grötzsch Published by Lutheran University Press under the auspices of: !e Lutheran Word Federation—A Communion of Churches 150, rte de Ferney, P O Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland !is book is also available in certain European bookstores using ISBN 978-3-905676-87-7 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data !eological practices that matter / Karen L. Bloomquist, editor. p. cm. -- (!eology in the life of the church ; v. 5) ISBN-13: 978-1-932688-43-6 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-932688-43-9 (alk. paper) 1. Lutheran Church--Doctrines. 2. Christian life--Lutheran authors. I. Bloomquist, Karen L., 1948- BX8065.3.T44 2009 230’.41--dc22 2009042329 Lutheran University Press, PO Box 390759, Minneapolis, MN 55439 Printed in Switzerland by SRO-Kundig Contents 5 Introduction Karen L. Bloomquist 15 Bible, Prayer and Confession: En Route to the Reformation Jubilee Margot Kässmann 25 The Hermeneutic of Resonance: Making Biblical Theology Relevant Toda y Fidon R. Mwombeki 37 Worship as the Heart of Theology: Luther’s Intercultural Approach Jens Wolff 45 Confessions, Ecumenism, Ethnicity: A Lutheran Charism Dirk G. Lange 55 Marked by the Body of Christ: A Lutheran Approach to Practices Martha Ellen Stortz 67 A Response to “Marks of the Church; Marked by the Body of Christ” Lisandro Orlov 71 Narratives of Sexuality and Hope: an African Woman’s Perspective Elieshi Mungure 79 Indigenizing the Church in Africa Ramathate Dolamo 85 A Critique of African Theology’s Anthropology: Why are Children Excluded from the Table ? Kenneth Mtata 85 A Critique of African Theology’s Anthropology: Why are Children Excluded from the Table? Kenneth Mtata Introduction !is article seeks to show that the exclusion of children from the Eucharist in most African Lutheran churches is a result of the social position children have occupied in the hierarchy of the construction of personhood in African thought. It will be suggested here that the communitarian construction of personhood, upon which African theological reflection has traditionally been based, is inadequate with regard to children and other people at the margins. As Gwinyai Muzorewa put it, [t]he concept of humanity, which has largely determined all other African cosmological concepts, is central in traditional religion. How African human- ity has traditionally perceived itself is of primary importance to a developing African theology. 1 Claiming that the African person is communitarian conceals the hierar- chical construction of personhood, which reduces children to less than full persons and results in their being excluded from the Eucharist. !is is contrary to the basic tenets of the Lutheran Confessions that teach that we receive salvation through the means of grace and not because we qualify for them. In other words, a faulty anthropology produces a faulty theology, and a faulty theology produces a skewed anthropology. !ere prevails an un- critical assumption that African personhood, upon which African theol- 1 Gwinyai H. Muzorewa, !e Origins and Development of African !eology (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2000), p. 16; cf. John S. Mbiti, Introduction to African Religion (New York: Praeger, 1975), p. 77. 86 Theological Practices that Matter ogy is built, is communitarian. !is assumption is inaccurate and distorts African theology. The absence of children in African theological reflection It is neither possible, nor necessary, to give a detailed overview of African theology here. My purpose here is to show that the absence of children in African theological reflection was (and still is) a result of the fact that in African theology the person is presupposed as object rather than subject. In agreement with many other African and non-African theologians, Tinyiko S. Maluleke observed the “dynamism and innovation” in African Chris- tian practice and theological reflection. 2 Although he conflates “African Christianity and African theology,” using the two terms “interchangeably,” I still think he is correct in the creativity he observes in both African Christianity and theology. 3 Although Maluleke is one of the few African critics of the nostalgic embrace of African culture, he has not questioned the construction of African personhood as a faulty base on which to build African theology. A brief investigation into the genealogy of African theol- ogy will support this assertion. The first generation of African theology Josiah U. Young’s categorization of the phases of African theology offers some important insights, 4 even though some important aspects of it have been challenged. 5 !e first generation of African theologians emerged in the early days of independence from colonial rule. Muzorewa suggests that the formalization of African theology dates back to the “inauguration of 2 Tinyiko Sam Maluleke, “Half a Century of African Christian !eologies: Elements of the Emerging Agenda for the Twenty-first Century,” in Journal of !eology for Southern Africa 99 (1997), pp. 4–23, here p. 4. 3 It is appropriate to think of African theology as an academic reflection on African Christian practices in dialogue with existing theological categories whether or not from Western theology. See also Mika Vähäkangas, In Search of Foundations for African Catholicism: Charles Nyamiti’s !eological Methodology (Leiden: Brill, 1999), pp. 10–14. !is debate is not the focus of this paper, but the relevant issue for this discussion is the point of creativity in African theology that Maluleke raises. 4 !e categorization used here is critically borrowed from Josiah U. Young III, African !eology: A Critical Analysis and Annotated Bibliography (London: Greenwood Press, 1993). 5 Maluleke, op. cit. (note 2), p. 6. A Critique of African Theology’s Anthropology 87 the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC)” in Kampala. 6 !is first phase was presided over by an African élite, who had been educated in “mission schools and often pursued their higher education abroad.” 7 !eol- ogy produced by this generation of African theologians resonated with the Pan-African discourse in its affirmation of the African person as a cultural person. Such theologians as Edward Blyden, Bolaji Idowu and Kwesi Dickson focused more on the discovery of the “African personality,” a perspective that sought to redeem African personhood from the “savage” representations of derogatory colonial narratives. Driven by the “cultural nationalism that owed more to Westernization than to popular culture,” this generation of African scholars were more “focused on religio-cultural analysis, with little, if any, social analysis.” 8 One leading figure promoting African religious and cultural tradition was John Mbiti, whose project centered on recovering those aspects of African cosmology and culture that were in continuity with the worldview of the gospel. 9 Mbiti constructed an African ethno-philosophy of time that contradicted Western appropriations of the Christian faith and could be at home in Africa. !ough criticized for essentializing and de-regionalizing African culture, Mbiti’s contribution became the basis for most African theological reflection. One of Mbiti’s major contributions, was his claim that the African was communitarian in his [ sic ] personhood. 10 While this generation of African theologians affirmed African cultural identities, it did very little to deconstruct African culture. !ere was a glaring absence of a clear critique of the oppressive nature of the culture upon which this generation’s theological reflection has been built. Apart from its insensitivity to the plight of African women, this theological project ignored children, since in many African cultures children are not considered to be full persons. !e theology focused on adult males, both living and dead. Children were only mentioned in relation to the taboos of barrenness and infertility in African thought. 11 In other words, the first 6 Gwinyai H. Muzorewa, !e Origins and Development of African !eology (New York: Orbis Books, 1985), p. 57. 7 Young, op. cit . (note 4), p. 13. 8 Ibid ., p. 13. 9 Ibid ., p. 17. 10 John Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy (London: Heinemann, 1969), pp. 108–9. Note that gender was not central to Mbiti’s theology. 11 Ibid ., pp. 142–3. 88 Theological Practices that Matter phase of African theology was designed by adult males, for adult males. !is, however, did not go unnoticed and unchallenged.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Byang Kato: a Theological Reappraisal 3
    Palm er Byang Kato: A Theological Reappraisal 3 Byang Kato: A Theological Reappraisal Timothy Palmer The late Byang Kato is a Nigerian theologian who died at a yoWlg age about 30 years ago. In the past two or three decades, he has been praised by some and castigated by others. This paper attempts a reappraisal of his theology. Often Kato is stereotyped as an extremist in terms of African theology. Prof. K wame Bediako is one who devoted much attention to Kato in his writings. In 1983 he submitted a useful Ph.D. dissertation which compares the thought of a few early North African theologians with a few 20th century African theologians. This thesis was published in 1992 Wlder the title of "Theology and Identity." There Bediako says: Byang Henry Kato came to embody the very antithesis of the basic positions emmciated by the African theologians we have studied so far. Virtually everything he wrote was intended as a reaction to, and a rebuttal of, much that went to constitute the 'African theology' of the last two decades. 1 Bediako calls Kato the "dissenting voice in modem African theology" because of his postulate of "radical discontinuity between African tradition and Christian faith." Thus Kato's legacy to African theological thought is "problematic. "2 In an article originally published in 1994, Bediako surveys a few representative African theologians and puts Kato "at the other extreme of the spectrum" because of the "radical discontinuity" which he "stoutly Rev Dr Timothy Palmer holds a BD from Calvin Seminary, an MTh from the Free University of Amsterdam, and a PhD from the University of Aberdeen.
    [Show full text]
  • Download (2MB)
    Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Garde, Terence William (2020) Mining God’s way: towards mineral resource justice with artisanal gold miners in East Africa. PhD thesis, Middlesex University / Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/32993/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. Works, including theses and research projects, may not be reproduced in any format or medium, or extensive quotations taken from them, or their content changed in any way, without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). They may not be sold or exploited commercially in any format or medium without the prior written permission of the copyright holder(s). Full bibliographic details must be given when referring to, or quoting from full items including the author’s name, the title of the work, publication details where relevant (place, publisher, date), pag- ination, and for theses or dissertations the awarding institution, the degree type awarded, and the date of the award. If you believe that any material held in the repository infringes copyright law, please contact the Repository Team at Middlesex University via the following email address: [email protected] The item will be removed from the repository while any claim is being investigated.
    [Show full text]
  • A Theological Account of the Life and Voice of Mercy Amba Oduyoye
    Word and Witness: A Theological Account of the Life and Voice of Mercy Amba Oduyoye by Oluwatomisin Oredein Duke Divinity School Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Willie Jennings, Supervisor ___________________________ Esther Acolatse ___________________________ J. Kameron Carter ___________________________ Eboni Marshall Turman Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology in the Divinity School of Duke University 2017 ABSTRACT Word and Witness: A Theological Account of the Life and Voice of Mercy Amba Oduyoye by Oluwatomisin Oredein Divinity School Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Willie Jennings, Supervisor ___________________________ Esther Acolatse ___________________________ J. Kameron Carter ___________________________ Eboni Marshall Turman An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology in the Divinity School of Duke University 2017 Copyright by Oluwatomisin Oredein 2017 Abstract Theology is dense and multifaceted. It is a dense foray into questions of faith and praxis; it merges multiple interpretations of spiritual wisdom with human expression and action. It holds the progression of relational life. These are a few of its gifts. Its shortcomings, however, are nocuous. Christian theology is the crucible in which practices of racism and sexism can be and have been maintained and spiritualized for the benefit of a few in positions of power. Theology, in this form, must be refuted; this resistance must come from the voices from within it. Most prominent have been and continue to be the voices that have struggled and forced their way in to theological conversation and relevance. The people and communities held within these voices would not be silenced.
    [Show full text]
  • Canada Du C~Mad~
    National Library Bibliothèque nationale of Canada du C~mad~ Acquisitions and Direction des acquisItions et Bibliographie Services Br~nch des services bibliogr~phiquc$ 395 Wellington Slrccl 395. nIt) WelhnQIl111 Oltawa.OnlJno Ollaw" (Ontario) K1AON4 K1AON4 \.'", ',,' \,.r,,· """"~" " NOTICE AVIS The quality of this microform is La qualité de cette microforme heavily dependent upon the dépend grandement de la qualité quality of the original thesis de la thèse soumise au submitted for microfilming. microfilmage. Nous avens tout Every effort has been made to fait pour assurer une qualité ensure the highest quality of supérieure de reproduction. reproduction possible. If pages are missing, contact the S'il manque des pages, veuillez university which granted the communiquer avec l'université degree. qui a conféré le grade. Some pages may have indistinct La qualité d'impression de print especially if the original certaines pages peut laisser à pages were typed with a poor désirer, surtout si les pages typewriter ribbon or if the originales ont été university sent us an inferior dactylographiées à l'aide d'un photocopy. ruban usé ou si l'université nous a fait parvenir une photocopie de qualité inférieure. Reproduction in full or in part of La reproduction, même partielle, this microform is governed by de cette microforme est soumise the Canadian Copyright Act, à la Loi canadienne sur le droit R.S.C. 1970, c. C-30, and d'auteur, SRC 1970, c. C-30, et subsequent amendments. ses amendements subséquents. Canada • AFRICAN TBEOLOGf AND SOCIAL CHANGE. AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL APPROACB by rail Ritchie. Faculty of Religious studies MCGill university, Montréal.
    [Show full text]
  • Ghanaian Appropriation of Wesleyan Theology in Mission 1961-2000
    Casely B. Essamuah © 2004. Not to be modified, reproduced, transmitted, published or otherwise made available in whole or in part without the prior written consent of the author. For further details see file: copyright notes. Methodist Missionary Society History Project November 25-26, 2003 Sarum College, Salisbury. United Kingdom Ghanaian Appropriation of Wesleyan Theology in Mission 1961-2000 Casely B. Essamuah, [email protected]. Abstract: The historiography on African Christianity has tended to emphasize two facets: the role of western missionaries and the continuing growth of African Independent Churches. In more recent times, the explosive revival of Pentecostalism has attracted attention. What is lacking is an in-depth study of mainline, missions-founded churches, which have integrated the strengths of western missions, African Independency and Pentecostalism. This study uses the post-missionary era of the Methodist Church, Ghana, 1961-2000, to examine how Ghanaian Methodists have appropriated Wesleyan theology in their mission endeavors. Special attention is given to liturgical renewal, especially the use of ebibindwom (sacred lyrics) and the dynamics of ethnicity in missions in Ghana during this period. The Methodist Church, Ghana, began as an indigenous initiative in 1831 with a Fante Bible Class in Cape Coast before Wesleyan missionaries joined them in 1835. Tracing its growth through the ministries of Thomas Birch Freeman, the Nananom Mpow incident, the effect of the William Wade Harris and the Sampson Oppong revivals, this study asserts that the Methodist Church, Ghana had a decisive indigenous beginning. Is the Methodist Church, Ghana, therefore an indigenous church? Would it have been so if the MMS missionaries had not been part of it? What is the role of Ghanaian Methodism in the political evolution of Ghana? What do Ghanaians think of present-day Methodism? These and other questions would be addressed in this paper and thus offer a more comprehensive understanding of African Christianity.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Ghana College of Humanities “I Believe That You Are the Christ” (John 11:27): the Christology of Women In
    University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh UNIVERSITY OF GHANA COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES “I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST” (JOHN 11:27): THE CHRISTOLOGY OF WOMEN IN JOHN’S GOSPEL BY AMELIA DODOO 10389607 THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MPHIL FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS DEGREE DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS JULY 2018 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION This is to certify that this thesis is the result of research undertaken by Amelia Dodoo, under the supervision of Dr. Nicoletta Gatti and Rev. Fr. Dr. Alexander Salakpi, to- wards the award of M.Phil. Degree in Study of Religions in the Department for the Study of Religions, University of Ghana (Legon). ____________________________ ___________________________ AMELIA DODOO DATE (Candidate) ____________________________ ___________________________ DR. NICOLETTA GATTI DATE (Supervisor) ____________________________ ___________________________ REV. FR. DR. ALEXANDER SALAKPI DATE (Co-Supervisor) ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT Women in John’s Gospel played important roles in the ministry of Jesus. They con- tributed to theologizing and shaping the readers’ understanding of Jesus’ identity. Against this background, the research analysed how the narrator guided his readers to discover Jesus’ identity through the words and the actions of four female characters, placed by the author in key moments of his narrative: Mary the Mother of Jesus (2:1- 11); the anonymous Samaritan woman (4:4-42); Martha (11:17-27) and Mary of Magdala (20:11-18). The thesis further explored how the process of women involve- ment in Christological reflections continues in our African context through the words and actions of Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • African and African Diasporic Women in Religion and Theology Conference
    African and African Diasporic Women in Religion and Theology Conference Nyame Biribi Wo Soro - God, there is something in the heavens. Theme - Hope is as Strong as a Woman’s Arm: Mobilizing Amidst Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa and Its Diaspora July 8-14, 2012 Talitha Qumi Centre Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana Welcome from Mercy Oduyoye Daughters of Anowa, Akwaaba, Welcome to Talitha Qumi Centre and to Ghana. Welcome to Africa. Daughters of Anowah, the motherland says Awaa waa etuu – Africa embraces you. You are at Talitha Qumi Centre where and from where has emanated language that is empowering to women. From here the Institute of Women in Religion and Culture has orchestrated and accompanied women’s efforts towards gender justice and gender sensitivity. From here women from the Circle and other faith communities in Africa have gathered the courage and inspiration to face stigmas of all sorts. We have given voice to what violates the theological and faith communities, and persons, including men, and have come to join in singing, God help us live your future today. Welcome, bein venue, Ekaabo, Mercy Oduyoye 3 Letter from Conference Coordinators Dear Conferencing Sisters: The idea for this gathering came about during spring 2008, when Evelyn L. Parker (as co-chair of the steering committee for the American Academy of Religion’s Womanist Approaches to Religion and Society Group) posed this question to the Group: “What programs or emphasis might we consider for the future?” The roots of this gathering are much deeper, going back to 1989 and earlier, as you will read in the letters of greeting included in this program.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecumenical Formation in the Service of a Renewed Church John S
    Ecumenical Formation in the Service of a Renewed Church John S. Pobee However important theology, formation, education, ministry, ecclesiology and ecumenism are, it is ecumenism that gives them perspective. They foster the develop- ment of the ecumenical imperative and a praxis founded in scripture, as well as the formation of persons to work in the service of ecumenism. Envisioning In some circles, especially in the World Council of Churches (WCC), envisioning is often understood as being “prophetic”. My aim is rather to forthtell, to articulate what we should or could be doing, so as to be viably church, faithful to the ecumenical imperative. Forthtelling engages with the contemporary reality of the context and lessons of history. Envisioning can also become ingenuous invention that does not exactly respond to the local contextual reality. For the vision to move peoples to live the ecumenical imperative, it must also be emotionally satisfying so that it challenges people to action. It should take seriously the language and idiom of the field of action. In the case of Africa, it may mean acquainting the people with the basic facts of ecumenism pre- cisely because ecumenical formation has been minimal. Memory As we embark on this exercise, we need memory, not just to recall the past, but to make present and real the insights and teachings of history, experience and scripture (Luke 22:19). Memory and memorial are key to the central Christian rite of the eucharist; they are at the heart of the Jewish feast of Pesah (Passover), Sabbath, Yom Kippur, and the celebration of the holocaust.
    [Show full text]
  • Middlesex University Research Repository an Open Access Repository Of
    Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Smith, Trevor (2018) Christian theology emerging from the Akan single-tiered unitive perspective on reality. PhD thesis, Middlesex University / Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/24205/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. Works, including theses and research projects, may not be reproduced in any format or medium, or extensive quotations taken from them, or their content changed in any way, without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). They may not be sold or exploited commercially in any format or medium without the prior written permission of the copyright holder(s). Full bibliographic details must be given when referring to, or quoting from full items including the author’s name, the title of the work, publication details where relevant (place, publisher, date), pag- ination, and for theses or dissertations the awarding institution, the degree type awarded, and the date of the award. If you believe that any material held in the repository infringes copyright law, please contact the Repository Team at Middlesex University via the following email address: [email protected] The item will be removed from the repository while any claim is being investigated.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter Eighteen Half a Century of African
    Chapter Eighteen Half a Century of African Christian Theologies: Elements of the Emerging Agenda for the Twenty-First Century Tinyiko Sam Maluleke The topic of this essay is an ambitious one; I cannot and do not mean to satisfy it. Proceeding topically rather than chronologically, I wish to highlight certain themes and sub-themes with which African theology has been occupied in the twentieth century. From these, I hope to sketch an outline of the emerging face of African Christian theologies in the next century. I. DYNAMISM AND INNOVATION From the early 1980s, calls for African theologies and African churches to either recognize the "paradigm shifts"679-which are occurring before their own eyes-or to effect some "paradigm shifts" themselves, have increased. 680 679 David J. BOSCH, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Mission Theology (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1991 ), uses the idea of paradigm shifts to explain the manner in which theologies of mission have changed over the centuries. It is an idea borrowed from the scientist Thomas Kuhn. 68° Cf. e.g. David B. BARRETT et al, World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World AD 1900-2000 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982); John S MBITI, The Bible in African Christianity (Nairobi: Oxford University Press, 1986); Charles VILLA-VICENCIO, A Theology of Reconstruction: Nation-Building and Human Rights (Cape Town, Cambridge: David Digitised by the University of Pretoria, Library Services, 2013 470 African Christianity More significantly, major works on African theology during the 1990s indicate that African Christian Theology will not be allowed to degenerate into an immutable museum ornament.
    [Show full text]
  • SALVATION AS HEALING? an Analysis of Jesse Mugambi and Mercy Oduyoye’S Soteriologies in the Context of African Prosperity Gospels
    SALVATION AS HEALING? An analysis of Jesse Mugambi and Mercy Oduyoye’s Soteriologies in the context of African Prosperity Gospels by Kefas Kure Umaru Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Theology in the Faculty of Theology, at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Dr. Nadia Marais Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology December 2017 i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated). That reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. December 2017 Copyright © 2017 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Dedication This thesis is dedicated to the glory of God Almighty and my dear parents through whom I developed the desire of loving God that I have been able to stand till now. To my late father, Rev Umaru Kure, in particular, I would have wished if you were still here to attest to what you embedded in me from childhood. Great thanks, however, to my mother for believing in my abilities. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgements I would like to express my esteem gratitude to few people who have been of tremendous encouragement to me both before and during this period of study. First, and most important is the Lord God Almighty who has been my inspiration throughout in the journey of life and academic pursuit.
    [Show full text]
  • Challenges Faced by African Women in Theological Education 1 by IA Phiri
    MAJOR CHALLENGES FOR AFRICAN WOMEN THEOLOGIANS IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION (1989-2008) Isabel Apawo Phiri 1 Introduction The aim of this paper is to reflect on the major challenges for African women theologians in theological education (1989 – 2008). Going back to 1989 when the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (hereafter the Circle) was launched in Ghana, I have identified four major challenges that the African women theologians who are members of the Circle have had to contend with and which are still present. These are: (1) re-defining the identity of African women theologians; (2) promoting more women to study theology and be on permanent staff; (3) inclusion of African women’s theology in the theological curriculum; and (4) collaboration with male theologians; As Oduyoye, has pointed out, there are many Africas, hence this paper is mainly based on my own social location. I am an African woman: whose theological education has only been through state universities; who benefited from the World Council of Churches, Programme on Theological Education scholarship fund for women without seeking permission from my Presbyterian church in Malawi; who has taught theology in an Ecumenical environment for twenty-four years, within five state universities in three countries in Southern Africa (Malawi, Namibia and South Africa); has been a member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians since its inception in 1989; and Coordinated the Pan African Circle from 2002 to 2007. It is this background that will mostly influence my analysis of the challenges that African women theologians face in theological education in Africa. I also realise that some of the issues raised affect all women globally, although with different emphases.
    [Show full text]