More Information
ISBN: 9781783687664
Imprint: HippoBooks
Format: Paperback
Dimensions (mm): 229 x 152 x 24
Publication Date: 30/04/2020
Pages: 450
Language: English

African Public Theology

£19.99

Africa needs leaders and Christians from every walk of life to rediscover their identity and purpose in all spheres of society. African Public Theology sounds a clarion call to accomplish this vital task. God created all humans equally, intending for us to live in community and take responsibility for the world around us – a mandate we need to act on.

Through faithful application of Scripture to contexts common in the continent today, contributors from across Africa join as one to present a vision for the Africa that God intended. No simplistic solutions are offered – instead African Public Theology challenges every reader to think through the application of biblical principles in their own community, place of work and sphere of influence. If we heed the principles and lessons that God’s word has for society, culture and public life, then countries across Africa can have hope of a future that is free from corruption and self-promotion and is instead characterized by collective stewardship and servant-hearted leadership.

Author Bios

Sunday Bobai Agang
(Edited By)

SUNDAY BOBAI AGANG is Associate Professor of Ethics, Theology and Public Policy at ECWA Theological Seminary Kagoro, Nigeria. Sunday holds a BA (JETS), MDiv (Palmer Theological Seminary, Phildalphia, Pensylvania), and a PhD (Fuller Seminary, Pasadena). He has published several articles on various theological issues as well being a regular contributor to Christianity Today. An ordained minister with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) as well as a member of the Institute for Global Engagement, he is founder and chair of the International Foundation for Entrepreneurial Education (IFEE) and co-founder and Vice President of Gantys Aid to Widows, Orphans and Needy (GAWON). Sunday Bobai Agang is a just peacemaking advocate.

Dion A. Forster
(Edited By)

DION A. FORSTER is professor of public theology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands, and a research associate in the faculty of theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He holds a PhD in systematic theology and a second in New Testament studies. He serves as the chair of the editorial board of the International Journal for Public Theology, and as an editor for The Methodist Review. He is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.

H. Jurgens Hendriks
(Edited By)

H. JURGENS HENDRIKS is Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology and Missiology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and a founding member and programme coordinator of the Network for African Congregational Theology (NetACT).

Endorsements

Though there are thirty authors from different backgrounds and disciplines, there is unity of purpose, clarity and continuity in this highly readable book. African Public Theology is one of the most important theological books to come out of Africa in 2020 and should be a pacesetter for future African theologies.

Samuel Waje Kunhiyop, PhD
Former General Secretary of Evangelical Church Winning All (EWCA)
Author of African Christian Ethics and African Christian Theology


This is an important primer for an introduction to public theology in Africa. However, this book is by no means relevant only to Africans; Christians in other contexts can also gain much from the insights offered here.

Rudolf von Sinner, Theol Habil
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology,
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Campus Curitiba, Brasil
Chairman of the Global Network for Public Theology


The writers seek to discover how the church can truly be light and salt, heralding transformation and change. This is essential reading for all theological colleges and concerned Christians.

The Most Rev Benjamin A. Kwashi, DMin
Bishop of Jos, Nigeria
General Secretary, Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON)


This book will help us to be both faithful disciples and responsible citizens, both a faithful public church and an engaged institution of civil society, in local, global, continental and cosmic contexts.

Nico Koopman, DTh
Vice-President, Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel,
Professor of Public Theology and Ethics,
Stellenbosch University, South Africa


Readers will not only gain information, but will also be empowered to understand issues affecting African communities. This book will go beyond mere reading to become a resource for the academy.

Rev Gertrude Aopesyaga Kapuma, PhD
Senior Lecturer,
Practical Theology (Pastoral Care and Counselling),
Zomba Theological College, Malawi


This book presses right where it hurts. Once again, African theologians have demonstrated their willingness and ability to tackle issues that matter to the church in Africa. This is a praiseworthy initiative that I salute.

Yacouba Sanon, PhD
Professor, Universit. de l’Alliance Chr.tienne d’Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire
President of the Board and General Editor, Africa Bible Commentary


This is a fresh and innovative book that addresses crucial issues of faith and public life for ordinary people in Africa and argues for a redeeming Christian presence in the world. I am sure that this remarkable collection of studies will influence public opinion, inspire public action and impact public policy. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Corneliu Constantineanu, Theol Habil
Professor of Public Theology,
Director of Intercultural and Interconfessional Research Centre,
Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania

Table of Contents

  1. Foreword
  2. Preface
  3. Acknowledgements
  4. Contributors
  5. Part 1 Introduction to Public Theology
    1. The Need for Public Theology In Africa
    2. The Nature of Public Theology
    3. The Bible and Public Theology
    4. The Trinity and Public Theology
    5. Public Theology and Identity
  6. Part 2 Public Theology and Public Life 65
    1. Democracy, Citizenship and Civil Society
    2. Work
    3. Economics
    4. Poverty
    5. Rural Community Development
    6. Education
    7. The Environment
    8. Science
    9. Health
    10. Human Rights
    11. Gender
    12. Migration and Human Trafficking
    13. Refugees and Stateless People
    14. Interfaith Relations
    15. The State
    16. Police and Armed Forces
    17. Land Issues
    18. The Media
    19. The Arts
    20. Leadership
    21. Intergenerational Issues
  7. Part 3 Public Theology and the Church
    1. Christianity and the Church in Africa
    2. Mobilizing the Church in Africa
    3. Towards the Africa God Wants
  8. Appendix: Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want
  9. Bibliography

Contributors

Samuel Waje Kunhiyop

SAMUEL WAJE KUNHIYOP, PhD (Nigeria) is professor of Theology and Ethics at Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS), where he previously served as Provost. Prior to that, he served as head of the Postgraduate School, South African Theological Seminary. He holds a BA (JETS), MAET (Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon), and PhD (Trinity International University, Illinois) He is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA).


Hassan Musa


Tersur A. Aben

Tersur Aben (PhD, Calvin Theological Seminary, USA) is a professor of systematic and philosophical theology at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria, where he once served as college president. He is an ordained pastor in the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST) in Nigeria.


Jane Adhimabo Chiroma


Piet Naude


Collium Banda

COLLIUM BANDA is a Langham Scholar who studied at the Theological College of Zimbabwe, the University of South Africa (Unisa) and at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, where he completed a doctoral thesis in 2016 entitled Empowering Hope? Jürgen Moltmann’s Eschatological Challenge to Ecclesiological Responses in the Zimbabwean Context of Poverty. He has held a church pastorate and military chaplaincy in Zimbabwe and lectures on systematic theology and theological ethics at the Theological College of Zimbabwe. His research interests include Christian doctrines in the African public space, African traditional religions, African indigenous knowledge systems and Christianity in African contexts of poverty.


Olo Ndukwe

Olo Ndukwe (PhD, Stellenbosch University, South Africa) is the rector of Hugh Goldie Lay/Theological Training Institution, Arochukwu, Abia State, Nigeria, and an associate research fellow at Stellenbosch University. He teaches systematic theology, public theology and theology and development and has published books and articles in reputable journals.


Ester Rutoro

Ester Rutoro (PhD, Zimbabwe Open University) coordinates the Research Based Curriculum Development Unit at the Reformed Church University (RCU) in Zimbabwe, where she is also in charge of quality assurance. She teaches research methods and statistics. Ester was deeply involved in teacher education from 2007 to April 2019 when she joined RCU. She has served as dean of students and gender advisor at Morgenster Teachers’ College (MTC), Masvingo, Zimbabwe.


Samuel Peni Ango

Samuel Peni Ango (PhD, Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso) is a professor of Christian education at UMCA Theological College, Ilorin, and currently the provost of the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), Bukuru.


Ernst M. Conradie

Ernst M. Conradie (PhD, Stellenbosch University, South Africa) is senior professor in the Department of Religion and Theology at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa where he teaches systematic theology and ethics.


Danie Veldsman

Danie P. Veldsman (PhD, University of Pretoria, South Africa) is the head of the Department of Systematic and Historical Theology, Faculty of Theology and Religion, at the University of Pretoria, where he teaches systematic theology.


Daniel Rikichi Kajang

Daniel Rikichi Kajang (PhD, St Clement University, British West Indies) is currently a senior governance specialist in procurement with the World Bank. He has previously served as a public health officer with the Kaduna State public service and as head of the Procurement and Asset Management Division at the National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA), Abuja, Nigeria. Dr Kajang is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA).


Kajit J. Bagu


Esther Mombo

Esther Mombo is a Professor at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya. She teaches in the Faculty of Theology of St. Paul’s University and her research interests span the fields of church history, and theology and gender in church and society. She is a founder member of the Tamar Campaign in Kenya, a mechanism that seeks to acknowledge the existence of gender-based violence in the society and empower and facilitate churches to address this concern. She is a member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. She is a graduate of St. Paul’s University, University of Dublin, and University of Edinburgh.


Babatunde Adedibu

DR BABATUNDE ADEDIBU holds a PhD in Missiology from North West University, South Africa. He is an Associate Professor and the Provost of the Redeemed Christian Bible College, Lagos, an affiliate of Redeemer University, Ede, Nigeria. He is also Research Associate with the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide, Cambridge, UK.


Benaya Niyukuri

Benaya Niyukuri holds a PhD in clinical pastoral care from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. He is a research fellow at the University of Stellenbosch and a founder of Paraclete Counselling Mission in Windhoek, Namibia.


Johnson A. Mbillah

Johnson A. Mbillah (PhD, University of Birmingham, UK) teaches world religions/comparative study of religions, Islam and Christian-Muslim relations at Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Accra. He was formerly general advisor to the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA), Nairobi, Kenya.


Theodros Assefa Teklu

Theodros Assefa Teklu (PhD, University of Manchester, UK) teaches theology and ethics at the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology, and is a research fellow in systematic theology and ecclesiology at Stellenbosch University.


Sipho Mahokoto

SIPHO MAHOKOTO is a senior lecturer in the systematic theology and ecclesiology department, and the director of the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology at Stellenbosch University. He has PhD in systematic theology and also serves as a part-time Minister of the Word in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). He is the co-editor of Broken Bodies and Redemptive Tables: The Lord’s Supper and its Theological, Historical, and Socio-Political Dimensions (Bybel Media, 2020).


Dwight S. M. Mutonono

DR DWIGHT S. M. MUTONONO is the executive director at Africa Leadership and Management Academy (ALMA) in Harare, Zimbabwe. During his many years as a pastor, administrator and educator in Zimbabwe he has witnessed many abuses of power which have strengthened his commitment to the importance of stewardship.


Bimbo Fafowora

Bimbo Fafowora (PhD candidate, Stellenbosch University, South Africa) holds a master’s degree in communication and language arts from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her research interests are media, fake news, gender and politics.


Rahab N. Nyaga

Rahab Njeri Nyaga (PhD, Kenyatta University, Kenya) is a senior lecturer in communication in the Department of Communication, Languages and Linguistics at Pan Africa Christian University, Nairobi, Kenya. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) and chaired the 2019 Taskforce on Public Relations and Communication Management Law in Kenya. She is a lead author of the book An Introduction to Communication and has also published several peer-reviewed articles on communication and public relations. Dr Nyaga has headed departments of communication in two different universities and has served as PAC University’s academic dean and as dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.


Ofonime Inyang

Ofonime Inyang (PhD, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa) teaches courses in media drama, directing, oral literature, contemporary theatre and advanced research in the creative industries at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He studies the intersection of cultural policy in sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa with emphasis on the Nigerian and South African contexts.


Idaresit Inyang

Idaresit Inyang (PhD candidate, Stellenbosch University, South Africa) is affiliated with the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. She develops creative arts programmes for children and youth.


Maggie Madimbo

Maggie Madimbo (PhD, Eastern University, USA) is vice chancellor of the African Bible College, Lilongwe, Malawi. She specializes in leadership studies and is the author of Transformative and Engaging Leadership: Lessons from Indigenous African Women.


Nathan Chiroma

NATHAN CHIROMA is the Dean of the school of Theology and acting Head of department of Children and Youth ministry at Pan Africa Christian University, Nairobi Kenya and a research Associate, department of practical theology and Missiology, University of Stellenbosch. He has been serving in theological education for the last 30 years, following his work as a pastor spanning different countries. Nathan has a PhD in Practical Theology from the University of Stellenbosch.


Matthew Michael

MATTHEW MICHAEL is presently a Research Fellow at the Department of Old and New Testaments at Stellenbosh University, South Africa and the Academic Dean of ECWA Theological Seminary in Kagoro, Nigeria. He has published several articles on the literary and artistic features of the Hebrew narratives.


Alfred Sebahene

ALFRED SEBAHENE is a full-time lecturer, researcher and consultant at St John’s University of Tanzania, Dodoma. He gained a PhD in Systematic Theology, Public Theology and Ecclesiology from Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. He is on the editorial board of the African Journal for Transformational Scholarship (AJTS) and assists NGO’s, churches and other organizations in understanding, formulating and responding to public policy. He is a priest in the Anglican Church and prior to working in higher theological education, Alfred spent fifteen years with the Diocese of Kagera, Tanzania.


Zablon Bundi


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