Nnadiebube Journal of Religion, Culture and Society

In this work, we articulated an understanding and expression of Church authority rooted in African culture in light of the Catholic ecclesiology of communion. This inculturation effort is inspired by the need to help the Church in Africa discover a renewed model of ecclesial authority that moves beyond clericalism and the abuse of power. To reach this solution, we used theological analysis and anthropological inquiry. The theological approach examined both the Church's model of communion and its understanding of authority. We also applied cultural anthropology methods to examine understandings of authority and social organisation in African traditional societies. Among other things, we found that the ‘palaver’ model of leadership, which involves patient listening, broad consultation with the people, and deliberation at multiple levels to reach consensus, is typically African. Building on this leadership model, we inculturated Church authority in the African context, in light of the ecclesiology of the Church as the family of God, the African version of communion ecclesiology. Rooted in African palaver, this vision of the Church was ultimately interpreted through the lens of synodality, an ecclesiology that saw a resurgence with Pope Francis's papacy.

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