Challenges and Prospects of the Church in Africa: Theological Reflections of the 21st Century

Abstract

In this first volume of ESEAT, the contributors have made theological reflections on some key challenges that the Church in Africa will continue to grapple with in the 21st century. The views presented in each of these articles clearly depict African theologian's thinking about issues unique to Africa and therefore best addressed by Africans in the diverse theological perspectives represented in the continent. The first chapter underscores the need for such an approach while highlighting the constraints, challenges, lessons and possibilities that go with such an undertaking. As I read the book one thing that struck me the most is the contributors' emphasis on the need for the church in Africa to rethink and address the challenges that face women in light of the dominant patrilineal practices in the majority of societies. Women bear the major burden of sustaining the family and thus the community in spite of the oppression, abuse and disregard by the male dominated culture of which the church is a part. It is worth pointing out, however, that the articles in this book address diverse subjects highlighting unrelated challenges looked at from different points of view. Some of the issues discussed beg for justification in their theological reflections.