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Three major projects were launched at the recent All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) international symposium to encourage theological education initiatives throughout the African region.
The symposium took place from 3 to 7 December in Nairobi, Kenya, under the title “The church in Africa: opportunities, challenges and responsibilities”.
One of these projects was the establishment of the All Africa Academy for Theology and Religious Studies, which will hold its first session prior to the AACC’s upcoming 10th General Assembly due in Kampala, Uganda in 2013.
The academy will be a forum for African scholars in theology and religious studies to conduct research assignments. They will also be engaged in sharing and exploring current developments in African theological thought.
The African Fund for Theological Education was another project endorsed at the AACC international theological symposium which will serve as an instrument to encourage young African theologians and Christian leaders to engage in constructive research and teaching in Africa. The fund will be operative in 2013.
The AACC Theological Symposium representing a group of some 90 African bishops and church leaders gave special support to the fund, which in future should be sustained by 60 percent contributions from African churches and 40 percent contributions from their ecumenical partners.
The third major project is setting up of the African Theological Institute. The institute will hold its activities before and during the AACC Assembly addressing the theme “God of life, lead Africa to peace, justice and dignity.”
The institute will also provide opportunities for young African theology students to engage and work for African ecumenical initiatives. This will be accompanied by exposure to current African theological trends on issues related to the future of Christianity in Africa.
These initiatives are an outcome of an elaborate process undertaken by the AACC programmes for theology, interfaith dialogue and ecumenism. These departments provide a platform for leading African associations of theological schools to come together and deal with challenges in the field of theological education.
The Ecumenical Theological Education programme of the World Council of Churches serves as advisor to the AACC programmes.
Website of the All Africa Conference of Churches
