By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
The African Continental Synod Assembly has called for genuine conversion, growth and reformation of African churches through collaborative participation of all stakeholders.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the African Synodal Continental Assembly, organised by SECAM in Addis Ababa, between March 1 and March 6.
The communiqué, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan, was signed by SECAM President and Archbishop of Kinshasa, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo and SECAM General Secretary, Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine.
According to the communiqué, the assembly, with 250 delegates of the church in Africa and the Vatican, deliberated on how to reinforce the lay people’s roles in supporting, speaking up and restraining their priests when they stepped out of line.
“We commit ourselves to overcoming rigid hierarchical structures, unhealthy autocratic tendencies, harmful clericalism and isolating individualism that undermine and weaken relationships among bishops, priests and laity.
“These weeds confront us with a challenge to deepen our experience of synodality, to reflect on what it means to walk together in times of tension.
“A Synodal Family of God in Mission as the Synodal Family of God in Africa, we do not flee from the lived realities of our continent; the wounds of Africans are also the wounds of the Synodal Family of God,” it stated.
The Continental Synod Assembly added that during the Continental Synodal Assembly, the religious stakeholders felt the pains and sufferings of the sisters and brothers in Africa.
It added that the Synodal Family of God walked with those who were affected by war, ethnic strife, religious intolerance, terrorism and all forms of conflicts, tension and violence.
It emphasised the vibrancy of the church in Africa, owing to the energy, passion and creativity of the youth.
According to the assembly, their contributions to the mission and ministry of the church are a gift for the edification of a truly synodal church in Africa.
“Young people have an important place and a pivotal role in the Synodal Family of God in Africa.
“During our Continental Synodal Assembly, we journeyed with the women who were active participants in the process of listening, dialogue and discernment.
“We have learned from them how to be a synodal church. African women hold the church together; they are the majority and the backbone of the Church.
"So, to journey together as a synodal church means recognising their giftedness, talents, charisms and contributions.
“For women in Africa and across the world, synodality is an opportunity for full and equal participation in the life of the church,” it stated.
The stakeholders said that the assembly desired to engender new forms of leadership, be they episcopal, priestly, religious or lay.
“We desire to form the synodal family of God in the practice of integral and life-giving leadership that is relational and collaborative, and capable of generating solidarity and co-responsibility.
“To achieve this, the synodal family of God in Africa pledges to create spaces and enlarge our tent for the possible exercise of various forms of lay ministry.
“The synodal family of God desires to grow in a spirituality that will sustain the practice of synodality, a spirituality that enables the synodal church to grow in interiority and conscience, and in encountering and listening to the Holy Spirit,” it said.
Enlivened by the spirit of inter-culturality, ecumenism and interfaith encounter, the body said it had walked together with others.
“These few days, as the Synodal Family of God in Africa, our journey is a journey of conversion, reform and growth at personal, communal and institutional levels of the church.
“We want to walk together joyfully. We thank God who has brought us together and guided us by the Spirit of the Risen Christ.
“To the clergy, lay men, women and children of Africa, we say: this is a time to rejoice; let us not allow the weeds to hinder us; let us allow the Holy Spirit to lead us forward to continue to sow new seeds and harvest abundant fruits of synodality,” it stated (NAN)
Post a Comment