Leadership, violent conflict and reconciliation in Africa: the theological-sociocultural engagement of Luke’s Gospel in social transformation (original) (raw)
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is article considers anew the important role of leadership in a meliorating violent conict and achieving reconciliation in African societies, using the Lukan Jesus' model of subversive leadership. e article critically engages Luke's narrative of Jesus' leadership style in achieving reconciliation in the context of violent conict by using theological-sociocultural hermeneutical lenses. e Lukan Jesus, his leadership style and the manner in which he sought reconciliation in contexts of violent conict oer African socio-political and religious leaders a model of eective leadership that could assist them in dealing with the social challenges Africa faces, such as poor leadership, violent conicts and underdevelopment.
The Leadership Style of Jesus Christ in the New Testament and its Relevance for Africa
Micheal T. Katola & Bernard Gechiko Nyabwari, 2013
The world today needs leaders who meet the physical, spiritual, economic and political needs of the people. This kind of leadership was practiced by Jesus Christ. The New Testament records the life, teachings and service of Jesus Christ the founder of Christianity. His teachings on leadership served as guiding principles to His disciples and even the presentday leaders in the church. Christ’s leadership style was characterized by compassion, love and servant-hood. In this paper it is established that an analysis of African leadership styles reveals elements of Christ’s leadership style. With the coming of Christianity to Africa, it was easy for Africans to adopt the Christian teachings of servant leadership because that form of leadership was already being practiced. The paper discusses the leadership of Christ, its similarities with African traditional leadership and how relevant that style of leadership is highly needed in Africa today.
Galaxy International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 2021
Various individuals, scholars and ecumenical organizations have made attempts at addressing the issue of religious conflicts; a situation that has resulted in the killings of innocent people in the name of faith affiliations. While some chose the comparative dialogue method to expose to adherents of various faiths that what they are practicing is the same, but in a different approach, others chose the use of ecumenical centres such as Inter-religious Dialogue Commission, Liberian Council of Churches and Islamic Study Group of Nigeria (ISGON) among others to advocate for peace. However, the Jesus approach to solving religious conflicts has often been neglected or not properly looked into. This is the gap created that this paper intends to fill. Using the secondary sources of data collection, this paper will use the evaluative method of important scriptures to expose to readers and concerned peace brokers that this is the mind of Christ on religious crisis cum conflicts in the African context. The paper recommends that the issue of peaceful coexistence with different religious faiths lies with the relationship with one's neighbour as revealed by Christ, when he said in Mathew 22:29: And the second is like it 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself 'δὲ δευτέρα ὁμοία αὐτῇ Ἀγαπήσεις σου πλησίον ὡς σεαυτόν'
Christ and Reconciliation: Implications for the Luo-Nandi Ethnic Conflicts in Kenya
Transform Journal, 2024
Conflicts in contemporary societies are evident in human relationships worldwide. Their effects have been experienced in community social, spiritual, economic, and political breakdown. Hostilities, hatred, and animosity are significant indicators of the need for reconciliation among the Luo and Nandi peoples. Reconciliation thus becomes a critical underpinning factor in bringing the warring communities to a shared relationship and coexistence. The biblical and theological understanding of the function of Christ illustrates the Christian view of the possibility of human reconciliation both amongst themselves and with God. Reconciliation in Christ encompasses renewed cosmological relationships. Jesus, in his function as the Messiah and Christ, has brought about a renewed relationship expected in community living. In that regard, enmity and hatred among God’s people are dealt with in finality. Therefore, accepting Jesus as a reconciler transforms human relationships with God and others, enabling genuine peace and compatibility of relationships in Africa. His enablement and calling for a reconciled community facilitate the development of true humanity in promoting God, neighbours, and the creation of reconciliation. Reconciliation heals the past and builds the future.
African Contextual Realities, ASET Series, Cumbria, Langham. 113-126, 2018
The contemporary world epoch has been exemplified by the upsurge of conflict, hostility and the deepening of ethno-political schism. In the last few Years more violent type engagement in sub-Sahara governments in Africa has been seen. The conflict phenomena experienced in the world today continues to devastate and disintegrate the web of societal co-existence including deaths, destruction of properties and displacement of people. Reconciliation therefore stands at the heart of contemporary African Christian Theology (ACT) in light of peace-building. In healing African continent against the threats of war, a critical change on character, attitude and social structure, and obligations is necessary. The African Christian Theological Reconciliation Scheme can be considered a peace-building design critical in African socio-political society. ACTRS, is idealized as a tool that promotes (1) deeper appreciation of meaning of life in Christ, (2) strengthen personal identity and (3) reinforce community solidarity. Is also promotes key principles regarding life, value for creation, integrity and community. It challenges the culture of egoism, destructive competition, self-righteousness and unconcern. It is therefore critical that Individual members’ character must be transformed, Ethnic communities of Africa must engage their attitude, and African societies must embrace social transformation.
2013
The practice of ministry is an intricate issue which involves the combination of individual efforts from diverse backgrounds. This diversity has been a breeding ground for conflict between the clergy and all the stakeholders involved in parish administration. This article tried to highlight some of these conflicts, using the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, as a case study. The approach employed was the African hermeneutic reading of Luke 9:18–22 in which the clergy’s leadership has been likened to that of Jesus. The presence of the many distracting agents did not perturb his ministry; instead, he remained focussed. Conclusively, it has been observed that the clergy often face conflict within the ministry because they ignore the fact that: (1) they are expected to know their mission more than anyone else. (2) The diverse backgrounds of their followers are potential causes of conflicts. (3) They are several distracting agents within the ministry. In short, Jesus’ model of conflict management has been a recommendation to the clergy, for an effective pastoral ministry.
Peace, Conflict and Christianity in Africa
This research was on the role of Christianity in peace and conflict in Africa. Research questions like, How does African Christians create peace?” were used. The fact that the researchers had limited time for this research was one of its limitations. The researchers employed the descriptive survey method in this investigation. Data was collected from a sample of fifty church members through questionnaires and through interviewing five pastors of these churches. Data from the questionnaires was presented in tables. Interview data was categorized according to their general themes, presented in descriptive form and narrative interpretations were made in the discussions. Data was qualitatively analysed. Some conclusions were drawn like that the spread and influence of Islam has led to many Christian-Moslem conflicts. The researchers came up with recommendations like that there should be religions tolerance in Africa. For example Christians should tolerate the spread of Islam to avoid Christian-Moslem clashes.
LITURGICAL LEADERSHIP AS CHRIST'S BRAND: A CHALLENGE TO LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA
GRACE & TRUTH: A JOURNAL OF CATHOLIC REFLECTION FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA VOL 33 NO 3, 2016
The question of inept and corrupt leadership style in Africa persists as one of the most basic factors to turn around the fortunes of the people. The study maintains that the current leadership style is very defective. Unlike Christ's brand of leadership that shows protection, care, attention, and above all, the love of the Good Shepherd to the sheep, it is disheartening that a lot of misgivings surround the understanding of leadership positions in the African continent today. Some people in leadership positions in Africa have not grasped the elementary idea of leadership as service delivery, and even when such is done, it is very distorted and shallow. An ideal liturgical leadership facilitates “the community’s worship of God and the sanctification of the people.” Every worshipping community for its survival must have good leaders whether cleric or laity who direct her affairs, to transform and effect positive changes in the ecclesial community and the society. Employing descriptive and analytic methods, the paper concludes that political leaders in the 21st century African society are therefore challenged to rise up to the Christ’s brand of servant leadership concretized in the concept of liturgical ministry in order to be effective and efficient servants of the people.
Leadership crisis in Nigeria: Theological study of John 10:11-15
OGIRISI: a New Journal of African Studies
The circumstance of every nation is determined by the quality and vision of her leaders. Since after independent, Nigeria has been so unfortunate not to have gotten competent, effective and purposeful leaders capable of turning her highly great natural potentials into real economic and political powers. Both leaders and the lead fail to identify the essential values that sustain various societies constituting the nation and infuse such values into the nation’s social system. This incompetence has led to leadership crisis and has now clogged on its wheel of striving for development. It is this bad leadership and perhaps the poor handling of many ethnic groups in the country that have triggered the conflict and anxiety that have trailed quest for national integration since after independence. This paper therefore, using the periscope John 10:11-15 which deals with the parable of the Good Shepherd, examines the leadership qualities of Jesus Christ and recommends it to Nigerian leaders....