SOUND THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION FOR EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE AFRICAN PASTORAL MINISTRY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

The explosive growth of the African church is not devoid of peculiar challenges. These issues demand the development and execution of a sound theological education, which will create and sustain a critical, dynamic, and spirit-filled pastoral ministry that addresses the challenges. In this study, we reimagine and recast the significance and the traditional content of theological education with reference to the paradoxes of the modern African church. We argued for the integration of the threefold content of theological education into a wholistic pastoral training program that will produce academically competent and spiritually sound African pastors. Such pastors will establish and tend critical but spirit-filled local church congregations in the 21st century through faithful preaching of the word and the right administration of the sacraments. We demonstrated that the sustainable sound theological education stands or falls with the robust and constant funding of theological institutions in Africa.