This compendium of original essays by leading Catholic African scholars explores the meaning of synodality for the African church, with reference to the established method of African theology: “palaver,” or talking—and listening—together.
Opening with messages by Pope Francis and Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, the contributions offer explications of vital themes such as “Proclaiming the Word of God to Young People,” migration, theology of the people, “Ubuntu,” a postcolonial critique of clericalism, the social dimension of synodality, the way of the laity, contested moral issues, the role of basic ecclesial communities, and the missionary role of communications.
Contributors
- John Okoye, Bishop of Awgu Diocese, Nigeria
- Paulin Sébastien Poucouta, Director, Spiritus, Paris, France
- Emilce Cuda, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Vatican City
- Stan Chu Ilo, DePaul University, USA
- Josée Ngalula, Catholic University of Congo
- Nicholaus Segeja, Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Kenya
- Raymond Olusesan Aina, National Missionary Seminary of St Paul, Nigeria
- Ignace Ndongala Maduku, Institute of Religious Studies, University of Montreal, Canada
- Francis Appiah-Kubi,
- Kwame Nkrumah, University of Science and Technology, Ghana
- Lucio Adrian Ruiz
Ikenna U. Okafor is a priest of Nnewi diocese Nigeria, a senior research fellow in Intercultural Theology at the University of Vienna and a pastor in the Archdiocese of Vienna. He is a member of the European Society for Catholic Theology (ESCT) and Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN).