Beneath the roof of the Jesuit School of Theology at Hekima University College, a gathering of “erudite scholars and church leaders” marked a major milestone in African theology on March 18, 2026. The occasion was the launch of African Synodal Theology: A Tall Tree is as Strong as its Roots, a collaborative volume edited by Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ.
The event, moderated by Hekima Registrar Rev. Dr. George Macharia, SJ, was described not merely as an academic exercise, but as a “prophetic intervention” and a “call to conversion” for the global Church.
A Journey from Concept to Lived Reality
In his welcoming address, Rev. Dr. Stephen Eyeowa, Dean of the Jesuit School of Theology, set a somber but hopeful tone. Citing the famous post-WWII confession of Martin Niemöller regarding the dangers of silence and individualism, Dr. Eyeowa argued that synodality is the antidote to modern “leadership deficits” and “clericalism.”
“This book helps us rediscover why we must work together,” Eyeowa stated. “In the African context, we talk about the palaver tree and Ubuntu. We gather because we desire to be one church together.”
Principal Rev. Dr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, acting as associate director of the African Synodality Initiative (ASI), provided the rationale for the project. He addressed a common skepticism, the idea that synodality is a “foreign” invention of Pope Francis.
“Africa does not need to import synodality; Africa embodies it,” Uwineza asserted. He pointed to the “palaver tree”, where communities deliberate, and the “participatory embodied spirituality” of the continent. However, he also issued a challenge, noting that synodality must critique “patriarchal structures that exclude women” and “models of authority that concentrate power.”
Contributors Explore the “Roots” of Synodality
The panel of contributors shared the intellectual and spiritual journeys behind their chapters, illustrating how these abstract concepts translate into practice across the continent.
Women and the Challenge of “Co-Responsibility” Dr. Veronica Ropp, a former Superior General and lecturer at CUEA, highlighted the “glass ceiling” facing consecrated women. While sisters are the backbone of African education and health, Ropp noted that their voices are often absent from decision-making tables. “We want to be heard,” she said, calling for increased theological and philosophical education for young religious women.
Foundations of Shared Mission Dr. David Kaulemu, joining virtually from Arrupe Jesuit University in Zimbabwe, described the project as a “journey of spiritual companionship.” His work explores the Trinitarian foundations of co-responsibility, arguing that in a big and complex mission, working together is “not a luxury, but a necessity.”
Dialogue, Discernment, and Trust Historian and ethicist Dr. Anthony Egan, SJ, addressed the divisions within the Church today. He proposed a three-stage process of “dialogue, discernment, and trust.” He warned against “false trust” rooted in authority and called for a genuine openness to the Holy Spirit, which he believes will be the ultimate test of the synodal process.
Communication as Community From the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Dr. Chijioke Azuawusiefu, SJ, used the “Nginga”, a traditional Igbo woven basket placed over a fireplace, as a metaphor for the Church. Just as the basket is lowered when a community gathers to share a meal, synodality requires a “ritual aspect of faith” that centers on communion and active listening.
Recovering a Lost History Dr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, concluded the panel by tracing synodality back to the Church Fathers, specifically Ignatius of Antioch and John Chrysostom. He argued that the Church’s move toward “pyramidal and juridical structures” was a medieval decline, and that modern synodality is a recovery of the original “radical openness” of the Gospel.
A Gift to the World
The book, co-published by the Daughters of St. Paul and Orbis Books, was presented as a gift from Africa to a global Church currently struggling with polarization and a crisis of credibility. As Dr. Uwineza noted in his closing remarks: “If the roots are solid, we have no reason to fear the wind.”
By Pamela Adinda, HUC Communications and International Office Coordinator
