Bücher der Reihe African Christian Studies

In this book, Ikenna Okafor tackles an interesting and timely topic and demonstrates competence and maturity in developing his insight into Igbo humanism--to make liberation theology from an African perspective into a theology of solidarity and fraternity. With a good narrative style, Okafor critiques the Latin American liberation theological project. And inspired by the hermeneutical implications of ""UBE NAWANNE,"" the evangelical positioning of material poverty and pathos for the poor as defining Christian discipleship is persuasively presented. The potent nwanne idiom guides his critical evaluation of the social teachings and praxis of the Catholic Church.In fact, it is clear that Okafor embarked on a subject matter that is of theological moment and has creative pastoral implications for the Church of Nigeria, the Churches of Africa, and the World Church.

What is post-colonial theology? How does it relate to theology that emerged in historically colonial situations? These are two questions that get to the heart of Robert S. Heaney''s work as he considers the extent to which theologians predating the emergence of post-colonial theology might be considered as precursory to this theological movement. Heaney argues that the work of innovative theologians John S. Mbiti and Jesse N. K. Mugambi, important in their own right, must now also be considered in relation to the continued emergence of post-colonial theology. When this is done, fresh perspectives on both the nature of post-colonial theology and contextual theology emerge. Through a sympathetic and critical reading of Mbiti and Mugambi, Heaney offers a series of constructive moves that counter the ongoing temptation toward acontextualism that continues to haunt theology both in the North and in the South.""This work breaks new ground in the field of African theology and will be a significant contribution to contemporary research."" --Christopher Rowland, Dean Ireland''s Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture, Queen''s College, Oxford""This is a timely and unique guide to help generate biblical, theological, and missiological attention on the richness, breadth, depth, and often underappreciated relevance of African theology for the World Church. For many years to come, this will act as a dynamic resource for theologians and church leaders across the globe who are involved in the contextualization of African theology and its call for transformative and liberative application.""--Rev. Canon Alfred uw''Imana Sebahene, Director of Extension Education and African Public Theologian and Christian Ethicist, St. John''s University of Tanzania""Robert Heaney provides necessary clarification of the content of post-colonial theology by considering two of its formative figures. Through the visions of Mbiti and Mugambi, whom he has known as well as studied, Heaney describes how African experience can shed fresh light on Christian life generally. This is a ground-breaking work that enhances consideration of how belief and practice can cohere with authenticity, contextually and beyond, for Anglicans and for people of all confessions.""--William L. Sachs, Executive Director of the Center for Interfaith Reconciliation at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia""Mbiti and Mugambi are towering figures in the study of African religious traditions. However, through a number of constructive moves, Heaney brings their voices squarely into the field of post-colonial thought, enabling their work to help us think deeply about coloniality and power. Their voices bring both judgment and hope for those seeking to subvert hegemonic power and serve a God who is seen, most often, in the margins.""--Jonathan S. Barnes, MDiv, PhD, Executive of Mission Education, Global Ministries/DOM""Robert Heaney has written a book of outstanding quality and depth. By employing critical cultural theories and comparative theological methods, he shows the strengths and promise of post-colonial African theologies represented in the writings of Mbiti and Mugambi. Heaney''s book is a tour de force on the changing landscape of African theologies.""--Stan Chu Ilo, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies, DePaul University, ChicagoRobert S. Heaney is Assistant Professor of Christian Mission and Director of the Center for Anglican Communion Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary.

This book is an attempt at a critical, constructive, and creative theological praxis of social transformation in Africa. The authors apply a multi-disciplinary approach to examining how Christianity in Africa is engaging the problems of Africa's challenging social context. This is a prophetic work that applies the symbols of ""salt"" and ""light"" as ecclesiological images for reenvisioning the path towards procuring abundant life for God's people in the African continent through the agency of African Christianity. The contributors to this volume ask these fundamental questions: What is the face of Jesus in African Christianity? What is the face and identity of the Church in Africa? How can one evaluate the relevance of the Church in Africa to African Christians who enthusiastically embrace and celebrate their Christian faith? In other words, 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?

In the last fifty years, the history of World Christianity has been disproportionally shaped, if not defined, by African Pentecostalism. The objective of this volume is to investigate and interrogate the critical junctures at which World Christianity invigorates and is invigorated by African Pentecostalism. The essays of the thinkers gathered here examine the general relationships between World Christianity and Africa and the specific interplays between World Christianity and African Pentecostalism. Scholars from multiple disciplines, continents, and countries evaluate how the theological scholarship and missional works of eminent African intellectual Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu have contributed to the scholarly understanding of how Global Christianity has been mediated by its reception in Africa. They also investigate how African Pentecostalism has been shaped by its contact with the diverse forms of Christianity in Africa and the rest of the world.With contributions from:Opoku OnyinahHarvey C. KwiyaniKirsteen KimCraig S. KeenerCharles PrempehKenneth R. RossTrevor H. G. SmithVivian DzokotoChammah J. KaundaFelix Kang EsohPatrick Kofi AmissahCaleb NyanniMarleen de WitteOluwaseun AbimbolaPhilomena Njeru NwauraFaith LugaziaDietrich WernerAllan H. Anderson

About the Contributor(s):Charles Sarpong Aye-Addo (PhD, Drew University) is the Founder and Executive Chancellor of Yeshua Institute of Technology, Ghana. He is Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Montclair State University, and the Senior Pastor of International Central Gospel Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. He and his wife, Gertrude, have three children--Akusika, Nyansafo, and Nhyira--all of whom are pursuing degrees in their respective fields of study.