SECAM: Seminar for African theologians on the vision of the Church 2025-2050

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) organised a seminar for on the “Vision of the Church-Family of God in Africa and its islands for the next 25 years: 2025-2050”. At the end of this seminar, on the 2^nd and 3^rd April 2025 in Accra, Ghana, a document was drawn up and will be sent to the bishops for deliberation.

The capital town of Ghana, Accra, hosted a seminar of African theologians on the vision of the Church in Africa to 2050. The meeting was officially opened by Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior, Secretary General of SECAM.

At the beginning of the seminar, Fr. Alfred Bebodu, SECAM’s Deputy Secretary General in charge of the Evangelisation’s Commission, set out the context for the meeting, which is taking place in “a continent brimming with youthful energy, cultural richness, spiritual depth, and a growing Christian population” and which faces “enduring challenges: political instability, poverty, environmental degradation, and cultural shifts”.

The meeting was moderated by Fr. Prof. Albert Ngengi Mundele, priest of the diocese of Kenge in the Democratic Republic of Congo and director of the Catholic Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM-CEBAM), the Nairobi-based organ of SECAM responsible for promoting the biblical apostolate in Africa.

The reflections focused on twelve themes based on six pillars, each representing a major priority for the Church’s journey. These pillars are: 1. evangelisation; 2. ongoing formation and co-responsibility; 3. justice, peace and integral human development; 4. Climate and environment; 5. Ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue; 6. Technology and digital evangelisation.

The 12 pillars are as follows: 1. Evangelisation (Catholic education and theological tradition); 2. A self-reliant Church; 3. A family model of leadership; 4. Formation on missionary discipleship and synodality; 5. Care for creation; 6. The youth and the renewal of the Church; 7. Justice, peace and integral human development; 8. Ecumenism and interfaith dialogue; 9. Mission in the digital environment; 10. The health of the people of God; 11. Liturgical life of the African Church; 12. Church and politics.

Prior to and during this seminar, theological reflection focused on these twelve themes, and relevant proposals for the Church and African society emerged from the exchanges between theologians and pastoral workers to guide pastoral action during the quarter of a century that begins with this Holy Year, a Jubilee Year for the Catholic Church on the theme: ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

Plenary sessions and group work sessions alternated during the seminar, and the fruits of their labours were presented before the closing ceremony on Thursday evening, 3 April 2025. The document setting out the ‘Vision of the Church-Family of God in Africa and its islands for the next 25 years: 2025-2050’ will be given to the members of the Theological Commission (Comitheol) at the end of this meeting, for a final review before being presented to the bishops for deliberation at their next plenary assembly in July-August 2025.

Charles Ayetan