Bachelor of Arts in Theology

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1998 - 19993

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    Reconciliation as a Model of Mission In Contemporary Africa.
    (Tangaza University College, 1999-02) Chinedu, Ojiekwe Ephraim
    It is God's wish to establish a community where brothers and sisters live in unity, through His Son, Jesus Christ.' In this community or society there will be no exploitation and oppression, no more war, hunger and thirst. There will be no more division. Hence, it will be a community of happy and prosperous people. Today, the reverse has been the case. In Africa, there are wars and violence of one kind or another. Poverty and the trauma of the displaced has been the African experience. The words "love", "hospitality", and "peace" which have been important words in the African vocabulary of life have lost their meaning. There appears to be nobody brave enough to accept responsibility for the situation. I believe that the task of building a peaceful, loving and caring African society can only be achieved if individuals and the community as a whole could go into themselves and discover, why they have problems, what they are and what the reasons for them are. Moreover, being able to enter into dialogue and to admit responsibility where it is necessary. This is because, "a civilization that cannot solve the problems it has caused is a decadent civilization'. Hence, the selfexamining, soul - searching and provocative questions which are valid for Africans today are: Why has Africa remained such a shameless beggar in the world of independent men and women? Why is the continent the laughing stock and dumping ground of the civilized world? What has been the nature of the African Church's mission? Has it been quite successful? What model of mission is suitable for Africa today? It is in the line of these questions that I was inspired to write this long essay under the topic: "Reconciliation as a model of mission in contemporary Africa". I am doing so with feelings of eagerness, longing and great desire to see African continent restored to her normal status. It is also my conviction that by taking Jesus as the "focal point" of our mission, we can break all barriers and engage in dialogue with ourselves and other people. Thus, we can build a humanized society where every member experiences the freedom and solidarity of the people of God. In the light of the goal and methodology of the project therefore, I would like to formulate the outline of the project into three chapters thus: CHAPTER 1. SEE: The need for reconciliation in contemporary Africa - What are those areas of life that need to be restored to harmony? CHAPTER 2. JUDGE: The church as mission - Has the Church been a reconciling community in the faces of these conflicts and divisions? CHAPTER 3. ACT: Reconciliation as a model of mission for contemporary Africa - What does God want? In chapter 1, after giving a general view of the African society, I will analyze the present political, socio - economic, and religious conditions experienced by the people. Moreover, I will illustrate more concretely these points with Nigeria and Senegal. In the second chapter, I will try to deliberate on the notion: "The Church as Mission". I shall look at the church's role in this situation. Is their approach to the situation very successful? Lastly, in the third chapter, I will take on what I would call the core of this project namely: in the light of the situation of the contemporary Africa and in the light of our evaluation from a missiological perspective, what line of action are we to adopt? What are to constitute our strategies in addressing the issue? With a general conclusion, I close my long essay.
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    Youth Culture and Mission
    (Tangaza University College, 1998-02) Vaz, Rosario
    Today youth constitute not only an ever increasing percentage of the world's population, but also makes their presence felt in their search for meaning and purpose in life. In their aspiration and vision of a just, fraternal and humane society youth challenge anything irrelevant to them and accept only values that are authentic. While youth are a decisive force in shaping society, they are themselves subject to many influences which are not always positive. Youth today are seeking change - a change from what is irrelevant to them and they do it in their own way, such as the way they dress, speak etc. In order to tell their elders that they are different. The elements that portray their quest for change are what we call 'youth culture'. There is a whole list of features that influence this culture. The whole purpose of this essay is to identify the areas of change and make our youth aware of it, both positive and negative, and then let them make a choice. In this context, to journey with youth, as they pursue their goal, is the task not only of parents but also of educators, pastors, and in fact the whole Church. It is our task to make them aware of the world that they are living in and to give them guidance that will set them on the right path to becoming good citizens not only of this world but also of heaven. This work is intended to make all those who are concerned in any capacity with youth aware of the problems and needs of the young. It is hoped that it will help them understand modern youth better, so that they may be able to give young people the helping hand they so urgently need.
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    Tourism and Mission With Particular Reference to Kenya
    (Tangaza University College, 1998-02) Sambua, Sosthenes Aloyce
    On March 25, 1980, the SCC issued a document entitled "Norms Jim the cooperation among the local Churches and Jim better distribution of the clergy". In No.1 the document emphasises that the aim of cooperation is to fulfill the mandate of Christ: "Go to the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature" iMK 15:15). This is the task for the whole Church; bishops, priests, Religious, clergy and laity. Attention is drawn to the local Churches and the need to re-structure so as to meet the challenges of the 'signs of the times'. This is because there are new phenomena that require specialised attention. Some of these are: Trans-migration into industrial regions, Urbanisation and Tourism' A lot of reflection and work has been done on migration and urbanisation already, but hardly has tourism been reflected upon. It is the task of theologians to articulate the areas in tourism that require Church and/or missionary attention. The aim of this paper is to contribute, though modestly, to that articulation by showing that modern tourism is economically very beneficial to many countries and individuals. At the same time tourism cannot be confined to private enterprise. Our argument is that tourism is an international as opposed to personal enterprise, involving multi-nationals hence it is related to international political system and economic order which can be a strong force of exploitation, oppression and as a consequence very destructive to traditional economic, social and cultural systems, hence destruction of families and human dignity. However, we will not treat the question of origin and development of tourism, neither will we talk about what is called 'theological fourism"2. Instead we will look at how modern tourism affects individuals, communities and countries and see the challenges it offers to Christian mission. A further question may be asked as to what has tourism to do with Christian? Or mission? Our first answer is the words of Cardinal Lavigerie: "Every human cause is a missionary cause". We may add that every missionary cause is a Christians business. In other words, whatever affects human life and dignity affects missionaries and Christians at large. Tourism does exactly that. In his encyclical Redemptoris Mission, Pope John Paul II affirmed strongly the validity of the missionary activity of the Church today. It is the primary service the Church can offer to humanity. He continues: "But what moves me even more strongly to proclaim the urgency of tnissionary evangelisation is the fact that it is the primary service which the Church can render to every individual and to all humanity in the modem world"(RM 2c). The second answer is that Christianity is a sustained effort to reflect and discover the situations affecting individuals, scrutinise these with the word of God and come up with ways of liberating them. This is what we attempt to do in this paper. The first part then discusses definitions, concepts, trends in tourism and its effects. The second part looks at the challenge posed to mission by the effects of tourism and how tourism can be used for evangelisation, while the third part outlines some structures and spirituality for missionary tourism. My main source of information and material is CONTOURS'.