The Church as Salt and Light: Path to an African Ecclesiology of Abundant Life

by Stan Chu Ilo (Editor), Joseph Ogbonnaya (Editor), Alex Ojacor (Editor)

Overview

At once prophetic, pastoral, and personal, this book applies the symbols of 'salt' and 'light' as ecclesiological images for reimaging the African Church for today and tomorrow. The proposal of this book is to reconsider the path towards abundant life for God's people in the challenging context of African continent, and through the agency of African Christianity. The contributors stress the necessity of de-Westernizing African Christianity and ask these fundamental questions: What is the face of Jesus in African Christianity? What is the face and identity of the Church in Africa? What positive imprint is Christianity leaving on the lives and societies of African Christians? Does the Christian message have the potential of positively affecting African civilization as it once did in Europe? What is the relevance and place of African Christianity as a significant voice in shaping both the future of Africa and that of world Christianity?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780227680087
Publisher:	James Clarke & Co
Publication date:	10/25/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Stan Chu Ilo is Assistant Professor of Religion and Education, University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto.

Joseph Ogbonnaya is a scholar at the Lonergan Research Institute, Regis College, Toronto, and chaplain of the Igbo Catholic Community of Toronto.

Alex Ojacor is a professor of Religion and Associate Dean of Studies at St. Mary’s National Major Seminary Ggaba in Kampala.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ Introduction 1. Beginning Afresh with Christ in the Search for Abundant Life in Africa / Stan Chu Ilo 2. The Church in Africa and the Search for Integral and Sustainable Development of Africa: Toward a Socio-Economic and Politically Responsive Church / Emeka Xris Obiezu 3. The Church in Africa: Salt of the Earth? / Joseph Ogbonnaya 4. The Church in Africa and the Search for Abundant Life: Signposts for Renewal and Transformation of God's People in Africa / Alex Ojacor 5. Globalization and the African Woman: A Socio-Cultural Analysis of the Effect of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Women / Bosco Ebere Amakwe 6. New Evangelization in Africa: Learning from the Culture of Love in the Early Church / Bekeh Ukelina Utietiang Conclusion Bibliography Contributors Foreword by Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ Introduction 1. Beginning Afresh with Christ in the Search for Abundant Life in Africa / Stan Chu Ilo 2. The Church in Africa and the Search for Integral and Sustainable Development of Africa: Toward a Socio-Economic and Politically Responsive Church / Emeka Xris Obiezu 3. The Church in Africa: Salt of the Earth? / Joseph Ogbonnaya 4. The Church in Africa and the Search for Abundant Life: Signposts for Renewal and Transformation of God's People in Africa / Alex Ojacor 5. Globalization and the African Woman: A Socio-Cultural Analysis of the Effect of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Women / Bosco Ebere Amakwe 6. New Evangelization in Africa: Learning from the Culture of Love in the Early Church / Bekeh Ukelina Utietiang Conclusion Bibliography Contributors

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book serves as a poignant reminder that the mission and identity of the church in Africa or the African Church remain open to a rich variety of theological interpretations, imaginations, and applications. The Church as Salt and Light initiates an African theology of the Church that successfully connects ecclesiology with Christology to produce a rich flourish of possibilities for the Church in Africa. No longer will the Church imagined in this book be considered a merely abstract theological construct; it is a Church of the people, by the people, and for the people. Poised between the historic Des pretres noirs s'interrogent and the Second African Synod, The Church as Salt and Light recalls and applies Vatican II's maxim Ecclesia semper reformanda in ways that are challenging, stimulating, and refreshing. With this book, we can confidently affirm that postcolonial theology has come of age-a new world-Church is possible!"
-Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ
Professor of Contextual Theology and Ecclesiology
Hekima College, Nairobi, Kenya

"To put it simply, here is a book that clearly transcends the all-too-common approaches in African Theology that, to quote an apt phrase from the Introduction, still cling to "Western theologies as canons for doing theology in Africa." Hopefully, the original and insightful approach of this work will inspire definitive change in theological methodologies in seminaries and institutions of higher learning throughout the continent. The Church as Salt and Light overcomes the theologically sterile divisions between, for example, Ecclesiology and Christology, religion and social development, and faith and life to which we are accustomed. Instead, it situates the church's vocation directly in its true setting as 'salt' and 'light' in concrete human locations. The young African scholars whose ideas make up this book reorient us in clear and powerful ways to the necessity of putting at centre-stage of theological thought the meaning of church as practical application of the liberation and solidarity that form the revelation contained in Holy Scripture. Indeed, as Pliny the Elder said two thousand years ago: 'Ex Africa semper aliquid novi,' Africa will always bring forth something new."
-Laurenti Magesa
Professor of Moral Theology
Maryknoll Institute for African Studies, Nairobi, Kenya

"Rooted in the conditions and vibrant imagination of African Christians, this collection explores a new ecclesiology for bringing abundant life among the suffering African people. At once prophetic, pastoral, and personal, this rich tapestry weaves sub-Saharan African struggles, wisdom, and tradition as strong and integral threads into the tradition of the universal (Catholic) church. This book of highly relevant theology, courage, and vision also invites ecumenical solidarity for compassionate justice and peace."
-Marilyn J. Legge
Associate Professor of Christian Ethics
Emmanuel College of Victoria University, Toronto, Canada

"Given that the church is an interpretative source of theology the authors aptly anchor their thoughts on the necessity of de-Westernizing African Christianity in a manner that will bring about the realization of 'God's dream for Africa.' In the now vociferous call for paradigm shift in both contemporary ecclesiology and Christology this collection is both topical and seriously thought provoking."
-Felix Nwatu
Professor of Systematic Theology and Dean of Theology
Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Nigeria

"The authors provide us with a biblical, theological, and integrated social analysis and some concrete pastoral proposals for a post-synodal African Church. This is a prophetic work with depth, and a refreshing attempt at a constructive and creative transformational praxis for a Church that truly and fully offers abundant life to all Africans in their very challenging social context. These young African scholars have offered the African continent and the universal church an important contribution to reimaging the African church for today and for tomorrow."
-Bishop John Okoye, STD
Professor of Biblical Theology
Spiritan International School of Theology, Enugu, Nigeria

"This book comes at a very crucial moment in the life of all Africans. Africa is summoned to reposition herself in the New World Order and there is no way this can be done than for African Scholars to help reflect on this reality and identify obstacles that hinder the fullness of life in Africa and how they can be overcome. This work is a bold demonstration of the resilience of Africans to define themselves and to swim above the tide. The authors succinctly post signposts of renewal and transformation for God's people in Africa in the midst of the present prophets of doom. This book is, therefore, a must-read for all who wish Africa well and all Africans who wish to work within the church for a better and a hopeful Africa."
-Benedict Ssettuuma Jr.
Dean of Studies
National Major Seminary Ggaba, Kampala, Uganda

Editorial Reviews

"This volume offers many unique insights into the way that Christianity can be performed in such a way that it counters and overcomes the oppressive paradigms."Nathan Crawford, Reviews in Religion and Theology Vol.20 Issue 3. July 2013'This is a fine cutting-edge book by energetic, young black African Roman Catholic theologians. They tilt against the legacy of colonialism and current centralising tendencies in Rome. They long for freedom to increase inculturation, lay involvement, and the part played by women in the life and administration of the RC Church.'Graham Kings, Church Times, 18 October 2013"The Church as Salt and Light discusses how Christians in Africa can develop distinct, thriving communities that contextualize the gospel and abundant life of Jesus. [...] The passionate essays suggest steps of evangelization beginning with the 'demand for a richer and more intimate contact with Christ'. [...] The essays are grounded in christocentric biblical theology and are designed to be 'prophetic and personal'." Craig Stephans, Church of the Redeemer, USA, in Theological Book Review (tbr), Vol. 25, No.1, 2013"The Church as Salt and Light may contribute towards an understanding of how African ecclesiology should be viewed."Peter Nagel, Religion & Theology, vol 21, issue 1-2, 2014

From the Publisher

The contributors write with accuracy and with the motive of addressing Christians and Christian Churches in Africa in particular (and the world in general), to position the African Church […] where it is biblically placed by the Lord of the Church - i.e. representing Christ...as Salt and Light, rather than maintaining the status quo, the culture, and the history of Africa into which the Christian religion and faith was born.

Volume 125.12 - Lawrence Oladimeji

The Church as Salt and Light may contribute towards an understanding of how African ecclesiology should be viewed.

Religion & Theology, vol 21, issue 1-2 - Peter Nagel

‘This is a fine cutting-edge book by energetic, young black African Roman Catholic theologians. They tilt against the legacy of colonialism and current centralising tendencies in Rome. They long for freedom to increase inculturation, lay involvement, and the part played by women in the life and administration of the RC Church.’

Church Times - Graham Kings

This volume offers many unique insights into the way that Christianity can be performed in such a way that it counters and overcomes the oppressive paradigms.

Reviews in Religion and Theology, Vol.20 Issue 3. July 2013 - Nathan Crawford

The Church as Salt and Light discusses how Christians in Africa can develop distinct, thriving communities that contextualize the gospel and abundant life of Jesus. [...] The passionate essays suggest steps of evangelization beginning with the 'demand for a richer and more intimate contact with Christ'. [...] The essays are grounded in christocentric biblical theology and are designed to be 'prophetic and personal'.

Theological Book Review, Vol. 25, No.1, 2013 - Craig Stephans