Nairobi — A special journal of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Ecumenical Review, has challenged the Church in Africa to do away with denominational thinking and instead incorporate ecumenical one as a way to tackle pastoral challenges ahead.
To get the African thinking on the issue, the journal has invited several African theologians to air their views on the issue. More than 10 of them have been given a chance to air their views on the issue.
Mozambican theologian Elias Massicame, in an article entitled Ecumenism in Mozambique: In search of Ecumenism that is Life-giving and Healing, says the churches and the ecumenical movement in Mozambique are being invited to promote ecumenism through formation programmes that stress interdenominational and inter-religious dialogue, fellowship, solidarity and communication.
In this way, he argues, information, skills and experiences can be shared at the local, regional and international levels.
The Mozambican theologian strongly feels that the dialogue between the communities and churches, especially those who are not yet members of the Christian Council, is more important in the search for ecumenism.
On a sound ecumenical basis, the churches in Africa can address such crucial issues as poverty, malaria, cholera, HIV/Aids and other diseases, corruption and violence, the Mozambican theologian says.
On Reflections on Denominationalism and Ecumenism, Namibian Anglican priest, Nangula Kathindi, says he cannot deny that "being ecumenical for me is a way of life, even though I am very sure of who I am and I am definitely proud of being an Anglican. I encourage each and every Christian to affirm his or her denomination's contributions to the gospel-and to be open to other Christians."
Maake Masango of the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa, in an article, Churches Moving Beyond Denominationalism: A new United Church of Africa, reminds readers that the Church in Africa is by nature an ecumenical church.
"We were led to and strengthened in this situation because of poverty; we learnt to unite," he says.
"In order to survive, because our culture is inclusive, we operate on the basis of a group system, that is clan, tribe, village or body-an image used by the scriptures," the theologian stresses.
Mirama Diambaye from Central African Republic, in an article: An Ecumenical Contribution to Resolving Conflict, laments that while the churches are called to unity as the gospel requires, "unfortunately certain legacies of missionary history have as yet prevented the Central African churches from achieving the gospel ideal of unity".
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The theologian reckons that women are leaven of ecumenism in the Central African Republic. "We are continuing to learn and benefit from each experience granted to us so that we can keep moving forward in our work as women of faith-women with bare hands, women of courage, energy and spirit."
Nigerian woman theologian Titi Dina of the Church of the Lord (Aladura), in an article-Life-giving and Healing Ecumenism in Africa, challenges African church leaders to look beyond their own denomination to seek the welfare of all. They must seek to promote Christ and His desires beyond their own individual, limited settings, she says.
On ecumenism in a multi-religious context, Tanzanian Catholic clergyman Method Kilaini says ecumenical effort cannot end with inter-religious dialogue, but must go beyond inter-religious dialogue.
This will bear more fruit for all Christians, Muslims, and those following traditional religions, if it is done ecumenically, the Tanzanian clergyman has said.
Kwame Labi (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa) advised that African ecumenism must cease to be the mere extension of a global ecumenism whose framework "is not ours. It has to become an ecumenism that is oriented to Africa's self-understanding, her needs, circumstances and priorities".
Addressing himself to Health and Wholeness: ecumenical perspectives from Africa, Walter Paul Khotso Makhulu, archbishop of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (Anglican) observed that since churches in Africa are, by and large, based on the model of churches in the ideals of health and wholeness, they should engage traditional African ideas on health and wholeness.
