Tiendrebeogo, A. Anatole (2012) Authority in the Church as God’s Family toward a Relevant and Credible Church in Africa. PhD thesis, Santa Clara University Berkeley, California.
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Abstract
The First African Synod which took place in 1994 declared that “the mainquestion facing the Church in Africa consists in delineating as clearly as possible what it is and what it must fully carry out, in order that its message may be relevant and credible.” It reaffirmed that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelization and added that it is a mission that the Lord entrusted to his Church, inviting its members to a responsible stewardship. This debate on the relevance and credibility of the Church’s message entailed a consideration of the very credibility of those who proclaim this message. The Synod declared that “the credibility of the Church in Africa depended upon bishops and priests who followed Christ’s example and could give witness of an exemplary life; upon truly faithful men and women religious…; upon a dynamic laity…” Elaborating on the Synod’s insights this dissertation contends that the theology behind the governance of the Church in Africa –and consequently the governing, must change to allow for more openness, dialogue, and participation in the spirit of Vatican II leading to an inculturation in depth. Such change would be more congruent with the theological nature of the offices of ministry in the Church and would be relevant to the present historical situation. It would give the laity a better sense of ownership of the Church and empower them to take more responsibility to face the daunting challenges in the African continent. This change would open more aptly new avenues toward the building up of a Church as God’s family, the new “guiding idea for the evangelization” of the continent. Fifteen years after the First Synod, the Second African Synod which took place in October 2009 admitted that despite the huge increase in the number of Catholics the questions raised then still remain. It is all the more urgent to face them head-on!
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BT Doctrinal Theology |
| Divisions: | Africana Afro-Christiana Jesuitica |
| Depositing User: | Tim Khabala |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Aug 2017 11:50 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Aug 2017 11:50 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/2120 |
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