Inculturation Theology

EDITORIAL

This issue of the Journal of Inculturation Theology (JIT) is another collection of scholarly articles from reputable academics across the West African sub-region and Europe. The papers were carefully selected and edited from recommendations of the blind peer review panel. The expectation is that theologians, philosophers, educationists, clergy, religious men and women as well as the lay faithful will have source materials for research and discussion on the all-important issue of the Inculturation Theology. This is especially germane in view of the reality and urgency of the theology in Nigeria and many African nations. The authors have elicited rich, responsive and converging reflections and approaches on how to continuously provide enlightened and incisive Practical Inculturation Theology. This will influence the local Church and the wider society, in order to cherish and pursue this trend of Inculturation Theology. The Journal will hopefully serve as a major effort and catalyst towards such enlightenment to pursue the course of Inculturation Theology. Assuredly, this is the thinking that runs across the articles published by JIT in this digital age.

The Church, and indeed, the contemporary society are living through an epochal age. As digital residents, some today refused to migrate into the digital age; hence, they are the digital fugitives. Many of us make effort to explore the opportunities and threats; hence, they are the digital immigrants. While our young people born since 1980, who are versatile with modern technological toys and tools, are digital natives. We must collaborate and co-operate, in order to instruct and communicate the designs of God to His children in this New Era of Evangelization. Patrick Chukwudezie Chibuko, in his article Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Liturgical life of Christians Today: An Anglophone West African Response opens “the academic excursus” by stating the functional relationship between the liturgy and the Information Communication Technology (ICT) on the human person and the larger society. As ICT is person oriented; in the liturgy, the Church celebrates a Personality, namely Christ, not as a theory, philosophy, ideology or figment of imagination. What liturgy recalls in celebration, ICT records and preserves for posterity in gadgets.

In pursuance of this mission of the Church as a communicating community with ICT, Elizabeth Titilayo Aduloju, in her paper, Navigating the Present-Day Digital Media Proliferation: A Challenge for Pastoral Agents in Nigeria, underscores a fact that the new media technologies have revolutionised the entire globe, altering substantially, the way people work, live, learn and how they spend their leisure time. In Nigeria, young people, who are ‘native speakers’/’digital natives’ of the digital language of computers and video game, are already spending more time on new media such as mobile phones, social media and the internet. With the new development, today’s young people encounter a lot of challenges such as gratuitous sex and violence, cyberbullying, trivialisation of news and many others.

The article, The Youth and Legacy of the SECAM Golden Jubilee (1969-2019), by Ferdinand Nwaigbo, calls attention to the problem of the contemporary youth which consists in living out the legacy of Christianity and in preserving their cultural identity and heritage. This is because Christianity is a religion with diversities of cultures, customs, traditions and legacies. The article elaborates the need to renew the commitment of the youth to bear witness to Jesus Christ, in a culture that is encapsulated in exploiting the youth, keeping them out of decision taking processes in a society marked with gender sensitivity and democratic revolutions.

In her write-up, The Impact of Globalization on Youth Identity Formation in Nigeria: The Moral Perspective, Anthonia Bolanle Ojo notes that Globalisation is the force behind the changes across the globe. It provides a series of powerful processes that enable both opportunities and risks to thrive. The paper explores how the young people live and experience the world, becoming more open and accessible while living in their own world in Nigeria.

Benjamin Yakubu Bala, in his article, Rising Spade of Suicide Among Young People in Nigeria: A Christian Moral Response, observes that the increasing spade of suicide among young people in the world and particularly in Nigeria is worrisome. The numbers are quite devastating and very scaring.

Good Governance and Overcoming Insecurity in Nigeria: An agenda for Political Leaders and Agents, by Raymond Olusesan Aina, laments that despite being touted as the biggest economy in Africa, Nigeria remains one of the countries in Africa where multidimensional poverty, daunting and daily crisis abound. Many structures in Nigeria are dilapidated. Violence, insecurity and lawlessness are the order of the day.

Relatedly, Ignatius M.C. Obinwa, in his article, Knowledge from Correct Education as Panacea for Conflicts and Lawlessness: Examining the Nigerian Context in the Light of Isaiah 11:1-9, discusses such manifestations of conflicts and lawlessness in Nigeria as corruption, bloody religious intolerance, nepotism and inter-tribal bloody combats in the light of Isaiah 11:1-9.

Cosmas Okechukwu Ebebe, in his write-up, Ministerial Priesthood and its Ecclesial Setting within an African Context, unveils that priesthood in the Catholic Church is of primary importance. This is because of the centrality of the Sacraments in the life of the Church. Through her perennial teachings, the Catholic Church is called the Church of the Sacraments since Sacraments are indispensable in the life of the Church.

In his contribution, Clergy-Laity Distinction: Testimonies of the New Testament, Wilfred Chidi Agubuchie studies the attestation of the New Testament (NT) to clergy-laity distinction in the Church. The paper argues that although the terms ‘clergy’ and ‘laity’ are not expressly employed in the NT to stratify the faithful, and notwithstanding that various offices were yet undeveloped, there are sufficient evidences showing that the primitive Church had distinction of offices and officers.
In sum, the Journal has to be in the possession of anyone who wants to be better informed on trends and directions of Theological Inculturation. The authors have concurred unanimously and unequivocally that for the Church to be truly the Church of Jesus Christ, she must be both universal and particular.

Emmanuel Chinedu Anagwo
Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL

As Pope Francis announced a Year of St. Joseph to mark the 150th anniversary of the Saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church, the year began on 8th December, 2020 and would conclude on 8th December, 2021. Given that St. Joseph, the husband of Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus Christ, is famous for being the Ideal Worker who ministered to the Holy Family, the missionary work of the Church must go on despite the COVID-19 pandemic saga. More than fifty years ago, Pope St. Paul VI was emphatic that by now, Africans should be missionaries to themselves. The Church of Christ should truly be pIanted in Africa and they have to make it African through honest and result-oriented dialogue with African cultures and values. Theology should attempt to aid Africans to be truly Christians and authentically Africans (Pope Paul VI, “Address to the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, Kampala” 31 July, 1969). Similarly, Alyward Shorter notes that: “Africans have a legitimate desire to reformulate the truths of faith in accordance with their own cultural forms of expression. They need not and should not replicate the intellectual history of Europe in order to understand what the Gospel says about Jesus” (Alyward Shorter, Christianity and African Imagination, Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 1996, 69). Accordingly, efforts have been expended on the reformation and restoration of Inculturation Theology. This edition of the Journal has been put together to help in the theological reforms mandated by the Second Vatican Council. Conscious of this development, the Editorial Board has carefully decided on the peer reviewed array of selected articles.

In this issue of JIT, Benjamin Ogechi Agbara, in his article titled: Formation of a Believing Community as the Role of the First Sign: Insights from John 2:1-12, focuses on the Gospel according to John which was written to evoke faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God (John 20:30-31). Agbara challenges the Church in Africa to live out the implication of the text and eschew anything that runs contrary to it.

Another biblically oriented article, Rereading Leviticus 19:33-34 in the Context of the Current Global Migrant and Refugee Crisis, by Emmanuel O. Nwaoru, decries the plight of migrants and refugees. Nwaoru, therefore, recommends that the modern society should consider dispassionately the enduring and non-restrictive message and show concern for the wellbeing of every migrant (foreigner) on account of their vulnerability.

The set of articles with sacred liturgical-bent kicks off with the paper by Emmanuel Chinedu Anagwo titled: Understanding the New Translation of the Roman Rite in Igbo Language. The article creates a path to understanding the new translation of the Roman Missal into vernacular. The currency of the paper by Anagwo lies in its wide explanation of some of these new changes which are richer in content in order to redirect towards heaven.

Relatedly, Peter Danjuma Uchu, in his paper, The Importance and Development of the Prayer of Absolution in the African Context, sets out to discuss the spiritual cum liturgical benefits of the prayer of absolution. At the end, Uchu gives some commentaries on the prayer and stresses its importance to the Church in Africa.

In his paper, Underscoring the Essence of Christian Funeral Rites within the Context of ‘Befitting Burial’ in Nigeria, Clement Temitope Ogunlusi laments the extent to which Christians today have deviated from the Biblical virtue of prudence but promote the culture of profligacy in burying the dead. Ogunlusi efficiently argues for Christian befitting burial of Christians to be encouraged in order to serve the spiritual purpose in which the souls of the dead are committed to God’s mercy and the living are consoled as well as the lessons of faith concerning death are learnt.

Charles Boampong Sarfo, in his article, Preface of the Solemnity of Christ the Universal King as Catechesis for Repairing the Fractured African Continent, attempts to understand the expectation of Christians in sharing the truth of God both in practice and in word. Sarfo argued that the need to build a new continent free from corruption, moral lapses and chaos, is possible when Christians in Africa could serve as light and avoid compromising their religious obligations.

The article titled: Dogmatic Theology and the Unity of Christian Doctrine, by Cosmas Okechukwu Ebebe, dares to swim the murky waters with a passion for the protection of the doctrine of the Catholic Church from abuse that comes from subjectivism, rubricism, clericalism, passiveness and conservatism. Ebebe did not shy away from his preference for “Dogmatic Theology” as a better term to be used.

Dogmatic Controversy of the Biblical Passage on Ancestor Veneration in Ibibioland, by Anthony Okon Abel, asserts that ancestor veneration occurs in every culture, all over the world. Abel takes up the task on how to correct the wrong interpretation of some Biblical texts by Ibibio people, who after many years of Christianity still hold that there are some Biblical passages that support ancestral veneration.

The last but not the least is an insightful article by Edward Osang Obi titled: Energy Ethics and the Impact of Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa. Anchored on the fact that there is a clear nexus between the onslaught of climate change and the human technological activities. Obi calls for a systematic balance between the natural human need for energy and the levels of environmental destruction permissible in achieving it.

The ideas and experiences captured in this issue of JIT challenge theologians and scholars to be sensitive to the integration of Christian message and culture. The papers, as a whole, significantly contribute to the body of knowledge for Africans and others who need to know the relevance of the mission and vision of Inculturation Theology. It is, therefore, our singular pleasure to recommend this current edition of the Journal to all. You stand to be enriched by reading this issue of JIT as you would not regret doing so.

Emmanuel Chinedu Anagwo
Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL
On 10th October 2021, in Rome, Pope Francis solemnly opened the two-year preparation for the Synod on Synodality with the theme: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.” The Pontiff was emphatic that one of the new ways of being a synodal church, which is more engaging and integral, is the opportunity for a deep reflection, listening in a spirit of mutual trust, and being sensitive to the people’s cultures and contexts, resources and constraints. As scholars and thinkers, this writing apostolate offers opportunity to fertilize ideas on how a synodal church will renew mindsets and the ecclesial structures in order to reflect God’s will for the Church in Africa. While maintaining fidelity to tradition, this new threshold of synodality, proposed by the Holy Father, invites us to be sensitive and responsive to the situational contexts in which the Gospel comes in contact with the existential human challenges. Accordingly, this edition of the Journal of Inculturation Theology (JIT) is timely and fitting to the challenges facing Inculturation Theology. It is part of the academic search to listen, dialogue, pray and discern various ways for the integration of African cultural values and genius of the people into Catholic theology.

Before the main menu, this edition starts with flashback on one of the outstanding papers at the 40th Anniversary of CIWA on 8th December, 2021. In his paper titled: Relevance of the Catholic Institute of West Africa in the Contemporary African Church and Society, Most Rev. Dr. Camillus Raymond Umoh underscores that at the heart of every ecclesiastical institute is the consciousness that it is ordered to the common good of the Church as a participant in the evangelizing process of the Church. Using CIWA as a case study, the paper examines the relevance of CIWA in the African Church and society in the context of what she does or what it sets out to do.

Julian Chukwuemeka Ibe, in his paper titled: 2023 Synod of Synodality: A Celebration of the Church’s Communion, dwells on the first element of the theme of the Synod of Synodality, namely, communion. He observes that the Church’s synodality is a recognition and celebration of the communion which originates from the Blessed Trinity, which is communicated to human beings through the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ and confirmed by the Holy Spirit.
In his paper titled: Biblical and Theological Interpretation of Blessings and Curses in the Old Testament, Most Rev. Patrick Eluke describes the motif of blessings and curses which plays a reoccurring role in the entire Old Testament (OT) narrative. As one reads through, there is hardly a book of the OT that is devoid of incidents where a character is either being blessed or cursed.

Luke Emehiele Ijezie, in his paper titled: Called to Restore the Land: The Cultural Mission of the Servant in Isaiah 49:1-6, uses the cultural text of Isaiah 49:1-6 to describe the call of the Servant entrusted with the task of restoring the cultural identity of Israel. It is a text that promises a new life to a people disoriented by the tragedy of defeat and hopelessness.

The article titled: James 5:1-6: Implications for Justice and Equitable Human Resource Development in Nigeria, by Prof. Caroline Mbonu, discusses social justice as the major theme, not only of the epistle of James, but also of the teachings of Jesus, Paul and other New Testament writings. She presents the background to the epistle and an exegesis of James 5:1-6 which exposes the harsh tone with which the author of the text condemns the rich who exploit the poor for their own ends.

Relatedly, Paul Danbaki Jatau, in his article titled: Paul’s Apostolic Ministry (2 Cor 2:14-17) and the Ministerial Priesthood Today, analytically presents an independent letter of Paul sent to dispel suspicions about his honesty, integrity, and poor physical appearance. However, as the Corinthians themselves recognized, the marks of an apostle are the marks of a Christian.

Another important article titled: Moving from Absolute Anthropocentricism to a New Humanism of Ecological Concern for the Future Earth’s Surface, by Prof. Ferdinand Anayochukwu Nwaigbo, calls for a new breed of young people, scientists and theologians that play new breeding role of ecological concern, which is not devoid of Theocentric-Christocentric-Anthropocentric substances nor dislocated from the organ of Christian faith, hope and love. Ecological concern begins in the family.

In his paper titled: Christmas Crib: Its Symbolism, Spirituality and Rite of Installation, Prof. Patrick Chukwudezie Chibuko re-discovers the tremendous Christian values imbedded in the Christmas crib for fuller appreciation and appropriation into Christian living especially the values of humility and noble simplicity. These values emerge from the liturgical gestures of prostration and kneeling at the Crib.

Emmanuel Chinedu Anagwo & Callistus-Mary Igemhokhai Ikhane, in their paper titled: “Pedagogy for the Celebration of the Word of God in the Homily: The Nigerian Spectrum, underscore that in some of the celebration today homily does not seem to enjoy the pride of place it ought to because of improper preparation of homilies on the part of the minister, as well as the inattentiveness and distractions from the faithful. Ideally, homilies should take into account both the Mystery being celebrated and the particular needs of the listeners.

Charles Boampong Sarfo, in his paper titled: The Significance of the Three Great Pericopes of Year A in the Lenten Season: The Samaritan Woman, The Man Born Blind, The Raising of Lazarus in the Baptismal Itinerary of the African Christian, proposes these biblical passages as points of entry to understand what unfold for the elect during Lent and the essence of the liturgical rite of scrutinies in a three-year cycle for the Rite of Christian Initiation.

EDITORIAL
Despite the global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, that ravaged and is still ravaging the world today, the Editorial Board of Journal of Inculturation Theology (JIT) puts together here a collection of robust and well-researched articles that would contribute towards the development and dissemination of Inculturation Theology. Largely, the papers shed light on the magisterial teachings of the Church by focusing on a solidly constructed theology of inculturation whereby the faithful can express in their lives, and manifest to others, the mystery of Christ and the real nature of African Christianity. It is salutary to recall that this issue of JIT comes out at a time that the Universal Church is encouraging Inculturation Theology, so that theological construct will flow from the people's cultures, sentiments and languages. Assuredly, Pope Francis affirms that, "Each country or region, moreover, can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its traditions and local needs" (Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love, Vaticana: Libreria Editrice, 2016, no.3). Avoiding the usual blizzards of theological jargons but focusing on the essential discourse, the authors through their papers have shown that African scholars have learnt to do things in total commitment and dedication in order to turn the vision of the Journal to mission.
The edition begins with an article by James Chukwuma Okoye entitled, Priestly Spirituality in the New Testament: Some Challenges for Pastoral Ministry in Nigeria. It points out that still within the dogma of the Church, there is a biblical approach that is sensitive to context and historical development on the ministerial priesthood. Relatedly, the paper entitled: Ignorance of the Spirituality of the Diocesan Priests: Practical Challenges for the Church in Nigeria by Andrew Adeiza Otu, reflects on the wrong assumption among some religious and diocesan priests that the diocesan priesthood does not have its unique spirituality. For the author, it seems the expression even finds its ambient within major seminarians. Conceptually, they neither have the spirituality of the diocesan priests as a course nor as a topic for discussion in their seminary formation.
On the wider breath, Cajetan Okechukwu Ani, in Christian Family Spirituality as a Means for the Formation of Children: Implications for the Church in Africa decries the delinquent role of some parents in the formation of the children; hence, some morally debased children abound in the African society and beyond.
Another set of articles addresses the theme of ecology including ecological harmony, in order to promote environmental care. Jude Abidemi Asanbe, in Charting the Waters for Canonical Legislation at the Service of a Sustainable Ecosystem, laments that there is no canon in the code of canon laws that specifically addresses the issue of environmental concerns. Reiterating the theme on ecology, Charles Boampong Sarfo, in his paper entitled: Liturgical Celebration of the “Sabbath” and its Implications for Ecological Harmony in Laudato Si’, postulates that the observance of the Sabbath commandment (Sunday observance) can assist to break into humanity’s routine and what is judged normal.
The discussion which follows is on death and the doctrine of eternal life. Patrick Chukwudezie Chibuko, in Igbo Funeral Rites: A Theological Perspective, sets out to do a comparative study of burial rites in Igbo culture (of Nigeria) and Roman Catholicism. Admittedly, Igbo funeral rite is seen as a rite of passage from the mortal world to the world of immortality. Whereas Christian funeral rite is replete with both theological and doctrinal themes not only for reflection but also for further development towards better and deeper understanding and richer celebration. Closely related to the inevitability of death, Stanley Onyema Anyanwu, in his write up entitled: On the Doctrine of Eternal Life, examines the theological nuances encapsulated in the Christian doctrine of Eternal Life. The paper probes the lingering questions raised against Christian hope by new theories of history and development, especially as they concern the eschatological dimension of the Christian faith.
Paul Danbaki Jatau’s important article, An Exegetical Study of Paul’s Mission to Proclaim the Gospel (Romans 1:1-7) in Nigerian Context, observes that the letter to the Romans continues to remain the focus of much scholarly debate and intense study. The paper exegetically examines the text of Romans 1:1-7 where the Apostle Paul was unreservedly committed to Christ and to the ministry of the Gospel.
On a note of optimism, Emmanuel Chinedu Anagwo, in The Role of Theological Education in Economic Recovery in Nigeria evaluates the role of theological education in achieving economic recovery. After all, the educational value of theology has long since been recognised from the time of the Church’s struggle with Gnosticism, through the Christological controversies, to the reforms and counter-reforms of the sixteenth century as well as the renewal of the Church through the Second Vatican Council.
The remaining paper is on The Impact of the Church towards Cultural Liberation for Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria by Timothy Barga. The writer argues in support of the position that the Nigerian cultures, mostly encourage merely a pietistic and ritualistic form of heritage which, are often silent and dumb in the face of economic and political marginalization of her peoples. Inhuman cultural practices aggravated the level of culture of poverty in Nigeria.
The checklist above, listed scholars in the area of biblical studies, systematic theology, spiritual theology, canon law, sacred liturgy and Christian studies in general, who presented balanced synthesis, information and attitudes that can lead to positive transformation and advancement of Inculturation Theology. The Journal is highly recommended to all who wish to know more about the subject matter and its allied themes. The Editorial Board looks forward to seeing the impact of these articles when well read, appropriated and applied to the various spheres of human endeavours towards glorificationis Dei et sanctificationis populi (the glorification of God and the sanctification of the people), as they are potent instruments for scholarship and evangelization. They are indeed relevant and timely for the Journal of Inculturation theology! 

Emmanuel Chinedu Anagwo
Editor-in-Chief