Book Description

This Handbook of Theological Education in Africa is a fascinating witness to the explosive status quo of Theological Education. The historical and regional (inter alia) surveys open our eyes and ears to see and hear how fast it has taken root historically, geographically, and ecumenically. The landscape of African Theological Education has changed drastically during the final twenty to thirty years of the last century. There is very much to appreciate about it and what has been achieved. We have grounds to make us rejoice, and for which to thank the Lord. John Mbiti, Theologian and Philosopher, former Director of Bossey Ecumenical Institute The Handbook of Theological Education in Africa is unique, comprehensive and ambitious in its aim and scope. It is: - truly interdenominationally oriented, bringing perspectives from all major Christian traditions on the African continent - broad in geographical extension, collecting voices from all major regions of the vast African continent - life-centered and ecological in orientation, as voices are brought together on an impressive number of new key themes and contextual challenges for theological education in Africa - grounded in expertise, drawing on a pan-African unprecedented gathering of leading African theologians, men and women. We hope that this book, in its print and later digital versions, will make its way into the hands of African theological educators, will inspire students and will be a standard reference volume in all major African theological libraries, in both universities and church-related seminaries. Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC General Secretary The challenges of inclusiveness in African theological education are before us. The challenge to be ecumenical, meaning all Christians together; inclusiveness as serving a multi-religious continent with its islands is before ecumenical theological education. The challenges in terms of responding theologically to the issues that confront Africa - all of Africa - the religious, political, social, cultural issues and the challenges of people's spirituality and identity are to be on the radar of ecumenical theological education if theology is to be relevant in Africa. This Handbook of Theological Education in Africa has something for everybody. Mercy Oduyoye, Director of Institute of Women in Religion and Culture in Accra, Ghana This Handbook of Theological Education in Africa is a wake-up call for African churches to give proper prominence to theological education institutions and their programmes which serve them. We congratulate the editorial team for their magnificent work in bringing this Handbook together. This is a timely gift of the Church in Africa to the worldwide Church and will serve many generations of African theologians to come. Andre Karamaga, AACC General Secretary