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The Dual Reality of Salvation and the Church in Nigeria

by Gabriel T. Wankar (Author)
©2017 Monographs XII, 238 Pages

Summary

This book proposes an approach to the connection between salvation theory and ecclesial spirituality in Nigeria, indicating how the factors of economic, political, and religious co-existence are related, with implications for a deeper understanding of salvation. Considering African Synods I and II, the author proposes a paradigm shift toward a new pastoral option for the Church in Nigeria in the program for seminary formation, which prioritizes strengthening of ecumenical/interreligious structures of dialogue and collaboration as a process of rapprochement to enable an emancipatory praxis to come to existence for the Church’s ministry and witnessing to "become flesh" in the reality of people’s lives. This entails a deeper spiritual and practical understanding of religion, couched in terms of dialogue that translates into alliances and cooperation for the common good based on ties common to all religions and, most importantly, the possibility of forming synergies with civil society organizations in pursuit of the common good.

Table Of Contents

  • Cover
  • Title
  • Copyright
  • About the author
  • About the book
  • This eBook can be cited
  • Table of Contents
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • Theology of Historical Reality?
  • Chapter 1. State of the Question: The Historical Reality of Nigeria and the Need for Salvation
  • An Overview of Nigerian Historical Reality
  • Specific Traditional and Social Factors
  • Corruption, Injustice, and Unrest
  • The First Republic: 1960–1966
  • The Second Republic: 1979–1983
  • The Fourth Republic: 1999–2007
  • The Fourth Republic: 2007–2010
  • The Fourth Republic: 2010–2015
  • The Nigerian Church
  • Colonial Antecedents and the Origins of the Catholic Church in Nigeria
  • Numerical Growth of the Catholic Church in Nigeria and the Need for Salvation
  • An Overview of Seminary Formation in Nigeria
  • Chapter 2. The Church in the World as Revealed in Recent Magisterial Documents
  • Biblical and Patristic Background to the Relationship Between the Church and the World
  • God’s Relationship to the People of God in the Old Testament
  • The Church as the “Continuation of the Mission of Jesus” in the New Testament
  • The Church’s Mission in the World: Patristic Developments
  • The Church Retreats From the World: Post-Enlightenment and Post-French Revolution Developments
  • Recent Developments in Papal Teachings:From Leo XIII to Francis
  • Leo XIII
  • Post Leo/Pre-Vatican II
  • The Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), 1965
  • Post Gaudium et Spes: Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis
  • What Lessons for Church and Salvation in Nigeria?
  • Chapter 3. Interpreting the Church in Action: Icons and Martyrs
  • The Icon of El Salvador
  • Archbishop Oscar Romero and the Salvadoran Reality
  • Ignacio Ellacuría: The Church as the Historical Sacrament of Liberation
  • Jon Sobrino: Jesus the Liberator
  • Martyrs of the Philippines
  • African Examples of Incarnated Christianity and Tragedy: Malawi, South Africa and Rwanda
  • Malawi
  • South Africa
  • Rwanda
  • What Lessons for Church and Salvation in Nigeria?
  • Chapter 4. “The Word Became Flesh”: Discerning a Pastoral Option for the Nigerian Church Considering African Synods I and II
  • African Synod I and II
  • A Paradigm Shift in Seminary Formation and Ecclesial Imagination
  • A Paradigm Shift in Seminary Formation
  • A Paradigm Shift in the Liturgy and Ecclesial Imagination
  • Systemic Reconciliation: Effective Ecumenical/Interreligious Structures for Dialogue and Healing
  • Effective Ecumenical Structures for Dialogue and Healing
  • Effective Interreligious Dialogue and Healing
  • An Alternative Pastoral Option for the Church in Nigeria: Linkages With Arms of Civil Society and the Formation of Self-Help Associations
  • The Nigerian Bar Association
  • National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
  • The Nigerian Labor Congress
  • The Academic Staff Union of Universities
  • The Council for Women Societies in Nigeria
  • What Lessons for Church and Salvation in Nigeria?
  • Chapter 5. Invigorating the Call of the African Synods I and II in Living Out of the Christian Faith in Nigeria
  • Implications for Following Christ in Nigeria Considering African Synods I and II
  • The Church as Family
  • Education of the Laity
  • Commitment to Justice in the Church
  • Church Support for Liberation of Women
  • An Exemplary Church: Simplicity of Lifestyle
  • Commitment to Justice and Peace
  • Commitment to Leadership by Service
  • Following Christ in Nigeria: The Example of Jesus
  • Concluding Observations
  • Conclusion
  • Doing the Will of God on Earthas It Is in Heaven
  • Recommendations for a Way Forward: Context and Pastoral Response
  • An Adequate Education in Catholic Social Teaching
  • An Adequate Spirituality of Social Engagement
  • An Adequate Focus Level of Efforts for Social Change
  • Appendix I
  • Appendix II
  • Bibliography

Gabriel T. Wankar

The Dual Reality of
Salvation and the Church
in Nigeria

About the author

Gabriel T. Wankar is a Catholic priest of the diocese of Gboko, Nigeria. He is currently involved in pastoral ministry in the archdiocese of San Francisco, California. Dr. Wankar earned his doctoral degree in systematic theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. He also holds a Master of Science degree in development studies. His research interests are in the areas of Church and society, ecclesiology, and community organizing and development.

About the book

This book proposes an approach to the connection between salvation theory and ecclesial spirituality in Nigeria, indicating how the factors of economic, political, and religious co-existence are related, with implications for a deeper understanding of salvation. Considering African Synods I and II, the author proposes a paradigm shift toward a new pastoral option for the Church in Nigeria in the program for seminary formation, which prioritizes strengthening of ecumenical/interreligious structures of dialogue and collaboration as a process of rapprochement to enable an emancipatory praxis to come to existence for the Church’s ministry and witnessing to “become flesh” in the reality of people’s lives. This entails a deeper spiritual and practical understanding of religion, couched in terms of dialogue that translates into alliances and cooperation for the common good based on ties common to all religions and, most importantly, the possibility of forming synergies with civil society organizations in pursuit of the common good.

This eBook can be cited

This edition of the eBook can be cited. To enable this we have marked the start and end of a page. In cases where a word straddles a page break, the marker is placed inside the word at exactly the same position as in the physical book. This means that occasionally a word might be bifurcated by this marker.

table of contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Theology of Historical Reality?

Chapter 1. State of the Question: The Historical Reality of Nigeria and the Need for Salvation

An Overview of Nigerian Historical Reality

Specific Traditional and Social Factors

Corruption, Injustice, and Unrest

The First Republic: 1960–1966

The Second Republic: 1979–1983

The Fourth Republic: 1999–2007

The Fourth Republic: 2007–2010

The Fourth Republic: 2010–2015

The Nigerian Church

Colonial Antecedents and the Origins of the Catholic Church in Nigeria

Numerical Growth of the Catholic Church in Nigeria and the Need for Salvation

An Overview of Seminary Formation in Nigeria←vii | viii→

Chapter 2. The Church in the World as Revealed in Recent Magisterial Documents

Biblical and Patristic Background to the Relationship Between the Church and the World

God’s Relationship to the People of God in the Old Testament

The Church as the “Continuation of the Mission of Jesus” in the New Testament

The Church’s Mission in the World: Patristic Developments

The Church Retreats From the World: Post-Enlightenment and Post-French Revolution Developments

Recent Developments in Papal Teachings: From Leo XIII to Francis

Leo XIII

Post Leo/Pre-Vatican II

The Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), 1965

Post Gaudium et Spes: Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis

What Lessons for Church and Salvation in Nigeria?

Chapter 3. Interpreting the Church in Action: Icons and Martyrs

The Icon of El Salvador

Archbishop Oscar Romero and the Salvadoran Reality

Ignacio Ellacuría: The Church as the Historical Sacrament of Liberation

Jon Sobrino: Jesus the Liberator

Martyrs of the Philippines

African Examples of Incarnated Christianity and Tragedy: Malawi, South Africa and Rwanda

Malawi

South Africa

Rwanda

What Lessons for Church and Salvation in Nigeria?

Chapter 4. “The Word Became Flesh”: Discerning a Pastoral Option for the Nigerian Church Considering African Synods I and II←viii | ix→

African Synod I and II

A Paradigm Shift in Seminary Formation and Ecclesial Imagination

A Paradigm Shift in Seminary Formation

A Paradigm Shift in the Liturgy and Ecclesial Imagination

Systemic Reconciliation: Effective Ecumenical/Interreligious Structures for Dialogue and Healing

Effective Ecumenical Structures for Dialogue and Healing

Effective Interreligious Dialogue and Healing

An Alternative Pastoral Option for the Church in Nigeria: Linkages With Arms of Civil Society and the Formation of Self-Help Associations

Details

Pages
XII, 238
Year
2017
ISBN (PDF)
9781433145612
ISBN (ePUB)
9781433145629
ISBN (MOBI)
9781433145636
ISBN (Hardcover)
9781433145605
DOI
10.3726/b12038
Language
English
Publication date
2017 (October)
Published
New York, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt am Main, Oxford, Wien, 2017. XII, 238 pp., 11 tables

Biographical notes

Gabriel T. Wankar (Author)

Gabriel T. Wankar is a Catholic priest of the diocese of Gboko, Nigeria. He is currently involved in pastoral ministry in the archdiocese of San Francisco, California. Dr. Wankar earned his doctoral degree in systematic theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. He also holds a Master of Science degree in development studies. His research interests are in the areas of Church and society, ecclesiology, and community organizing and development.

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