We Want to Speak for Ourselves…!”, the Agenda of African Initiated Churches on Decolonised and Transformative Theological Education in Southern Africa

Abstract

Viva, away with colonised education away…!" This slogan and others similar to it became common in South Africa recently. Protest marches were seen at tertiary institutions crying out loud against what is called a colonised education and curriculum. Debates from various academic spaces were triggered in search for what could be a decolonised education in Africa, South Africa in particular. There was a need for a decolonised education based on a relevant curriculum as a solution to the problem at hand. Theological education is not immune to this problem because it is also a product of the apartheid and colonial project. The answer to the question as to what is a relevant theological education today, that is decolonised based on a 'peoples' curriculum still stands unanswered. This article seeks to present a contribution from the ignored or rather despised voices on this debate, the African Initiated Churches. It proposes a solution from the African Initiated Churches' perspective where they speak by themselves, hence the title of this article; "We want to speak for ourselves…!" The author regards the African Initiated Churches as "church groups related to colonial resistance" (Molobi 2000:11). Thus, the author will approach this project by outlining the background information in investigating who the African Initiated Churches are, the reasons for their birth, etc. He will further investigate their ecclesiology, theology and ecumenical mission praxis. The position of women and the youth will also be embraced. On ecumenism, focus will be on African Initiated Church bodies like the Organisation of African Initiated Churches though their ecumenical partners will be acknowledged. The African Initiated Church position on social justice as a means of understanding the strength behind their anti-colonial drive will also be addressed.

Disability and digital ecclesiology: Towards an accessible online church

“…Pentecostalism, Charismatic movements, and Prophetism also brought another new dimension to expressions and essence of being church (Nel 2020;Ojo 1988;Omenyo & Atiemo 2006;Resane 2017). In Africa, the emergence of African Indigenous Churches and/or African Initiated Churches gave opportunities for Africans to freely express themselves in meaningful and realist ways mostly digressing from Western forms of being church (Anderson 1995;Masuku 1996). The church has survived through many transitions, and we are yet at another juncture: the new normal.…”