Ani, Ikechukwu TOWARDS AN INDIGENOUS AFRICAN CHURCH. In: A POSTT-SYNODAL THEOLOGICAL REVIEW OF THE AFRICA SYNOD IN THE CONTEXT OF NIGERIA, ENUGU STATE.
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Abstract
While today reviewing the relevance of the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops to Enugu Diocese, I want to make a reference to the controversy which arose as a result of the Angelus announcement of Pope John Paul II on 6th January 1989. The bone of contention was in connection with the expressed wish of some African Theologians and Bishops to convene an African Council. Critical minds wondered and questioned the idea behind the announcement of a Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops by the Pope who was well informed about the preparations going on to effectively confront the challenging issues the African Council wanted to discuss. One of the reasons advanced for the sudden conversion of the African Council into a Special Synod of Bishops for Africa was that Africa had not yet produced competent Theologians to organise a "Church Council" . Furthermore, it was observed that the African Theologians and Bishops could not agree among themselves on the issue of who actually should or could convene an African Council. Consequently, some "special" Africans saw themselves obliged to approach the Pope, asking him, as it were, to come to our rescue, hence the announcement of the African Synod. Those who knew the history of the quest for an African Council could not but ask the question, who actually wanted the African Synod and in whose interest was it being organised?' The named controversy leaves one with the impression that Africans have once again refused to take their destiny into their own hands. It was A. Kabou, a Cameroonian woman, who critically observed that the Africans are the only human beings on earth who believe that every other person other than Africans themselves should work for their development'. We are aware of the fact that, following the specification of Vatican II, the Pope enjoys the privilege to convene a synod to discuss issues with his follow Bishops'. One would as well not doubt the fact that some inspiring reflections might have resulted from the meetings and discussions during the African Synod of 1994. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to know, whether the Synod has now succeeded in handling the issue of Social Communication in a way that will make the Catholic Church in Africa wake up to face the challenges facing her today through the recent developments in the Means of Social Communication. I will first of all try to summarize the reflections and recommendations of the Synod Fathers. Secondly, I shall survey some of the issues raised in the context of Nigeria and Enugu Diocese. With regard to the need for the presence of the Church in the media, I shall thirdly expose some challenges facing us today as Ministers of Evangelisation of the Good News of Salvation in Enugu Diocese, before I then conclude.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | A General Works > AC Collections. Series. Collected works |
| Depositing User: | GOUNI ICT |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jan 2019 09:32 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jan 2019 09:32 |
| URI: | http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/1019 |
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